Historians apply standards of comparison with the past.

历史学家采用与过去进行比较的标准。

This dreadful aggregation of misfortunes suggested many thoughts; at my first step into social life I found a standard of comparison by which all other events and circumstances must seem petty.

这种不幸的可怕聚集引发了很多想法；在我迈入社会生活的第一步时，我找到了一个比较标准，所有其他事件和情况都必须通过这个标准来衡量。