"The historian must have some conception of how men who are not historians behave. Otherwise he will move in a world of the dead. He can only gain that conception through personal experience, and he can only use his personal experiences when he is a genius"

This quote by E. M. Forster highlights the value of personal experience for a historian. He suggests that without individual experience, a historian will be unable to understand how people who are not historians behave. This understanding is important for a historian to be able to accurately interpret the past. Forster suggests that only a genius can utilize their personal experiences to get this understanding. This implies that individual experience is an effective tool for a historian, and that it can be utilized to gain insight into the past. Ultimately, Forster recommends that individual experience is vital for a historian to be able to precisely analyze the past.