---
title: "12 History Want Quotes by 12 authors"
description: "Browse 12 History Want quotes by 12 authors. Discover the best History Want sayings and thoughts."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg"
---

> [History is what you want it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg)

> [I don't want to go into history; I want to go into the Canal Zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-torrijos-herrera/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-to-go-into-the-canal-zone/)

[Omar Torrijos Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-torrijos-herrera/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/omar-torrijos-herrera-67245_canal_i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-t_2683121.jpg)

> [I'm tired of reading about history, I want to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-savio/i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-want-to-make-it/)

[Mario Savio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-savio/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/mario-savio-41595_history_i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-wan_548443.png)

> [I don't look back on history. I want to look forward to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-janssen/i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-look-forward-to-the-future/)

[Vincent Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-janssen/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/vincent-janssen-13925_back_i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-l_1416370.jpg)

> [I think we take the history we want to take in order to back up the stories we want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kingsnorth/i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-take-in-order-to-back-up-the/)

[Paul Kingsnorth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kingsnorth/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/paul-kingsnorth-28955_history_i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-t_3030360.png)

> [I will write on the pages of history what I want them to say. I will be myself. I will speak my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-what-i-want-them-to-say-i-will/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/maya-angelou-104_history_i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-wha_2906001.jpg)

> [We can rewrite history all you want, but the simple fact is that we're in a much more unstable place because America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but-the-simple-fact-is-that-we-re/)

[Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jeb-bush-1082_america_we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but_2615635.png)

> [There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or-the-teacher-of-church-history/)

[Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/boyd-k-packer-1854_church_there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or_2221259.png)

> [This is what I think is fun about fiction - you get to use as much history as you want as scaffolding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fiction-you-get-to-use-as-much/)

[Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/robin-sloan-1513_change_this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fictio_3104645.png)

> [I like characters and stories that challenge the status quo. Lately, I'm really interested in history because I find that in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-like-characters-and-stories-that-challenge-the-status-quo-lately-i/)

[Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/jessica-chastain-2332_education_i-like-characters-and-stories-that-chall_908311.png)

> [“It's bad idea to try to prevent people from knowing their own history. If you want to do anything new you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich/it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-from-knowing-their-own-history/)

[Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich-5762_bad-idea_it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-f_1421836.jpg)

> [If people really want to know and learn from history, why do they want bad history? Why don't they want good history?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-weir/if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn-from-history-why-do-they-want/)

[Alison Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-weir/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/alison-weir-13208_bad_if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn_1635474.png)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/#itemlist",
            "name": "History Want Quotes",
            "numberOfItems": 12,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "History is what you want it to be.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Anonymous"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“History is what you want it to be.” — Anonymous",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I don't want to go into history; I want to go into the Canal Zone.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Omar Torrijos Herrera"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-torrijos-herrera/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-to-go-into-the-canal-zone/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/omar-torrijos-herrera-67245_canal_i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-t_2683121.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/omar-torrijos-herrera-67245_canal_i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-t_2683121.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/omar-torrijos-herrera-67245_canal_i-don-t-want-to-go-into-history-i-want-t_2683121.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I don't want to go into history; I want to go into the Canal Zone.” — Omar Torrijos Herrera",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I'm tired of reading about history, I want to make it.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Mario Savio"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-savio/i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-want-to-make-it/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/mario-savio-41595_history_i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-wan_548443.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/mario-savio-41595_history_i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-wan_548443.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/mario-savio-41595_history_i-m-tired-of-reading-about-history-i-wan_548443.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I'm tired of reading about history, I want to make it.” — Mario Savio",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I don't look back on history. I want to look forward to the future.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Vincent Janssen"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-janssen/i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-look-forward-to-the-future/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/vincent-janssen-13925_back_i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-l_1416370.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/vincent-janssen-13925_back_i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-l_1416370.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/vincent-janssen-13925_back_i-don-t-look-back-on-history-i-want-to-l_1416370.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I don't look back on history. I want to look forward to the future.” — Vincent Janssen",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I think we take the history we want to take in order to back up the stories we want to hear.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Paul Kingsnorth"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kingsnorth/i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-take-in-order-to-back-up-the/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/paul-kingsnorth-28955_history_i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-t_3030360.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/paul-kingsnorth-28955_history_i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-t_3030360.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dac/paul-kingsnorth-28955_history_i-think-we-take-the-history-we-want-to-t_3030360.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I think we take the history we want to take in order to back up the stories we want to hear.” — Paul Kingsnorth",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 6,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I will write on the pages of history what I want them to say. I will be myself. I will speak my own name.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Maya Angelou"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-what-i-want-them-to-say-i-will/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/maya-angelou-104_history_i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-wha_2906001.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/maya-angelou-104_history_i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-wha_2906001.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e1/maya-angelou-104_history_i-will-write-on-the-pages-of-history-wha_2906001.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I will write on the pages of history what I want them to say. I will be myself. I will speak my own name.” — Maya Angelou",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 7,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "We can rewrite history all you want, but the simple fact is that we're in a much more unstable place because America pulled back.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Jeb Bush"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but-the-simple-fact-is-that-we-re/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jeb-bush-1082_america_we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but_2615635.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jeb-bush-1082_america_we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but_2615635.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c30/jeb-bush-1082_america_we-can-rewrite-history-all-you-want-but_2615635.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“We can rewrite history all you want, but the simple fact is that we're in a much more unstable place because…” — Jeb Bush",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 8,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Boyd K. Packer"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or-the-teacher-of-church-history/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/boyd-k-packer-1854_church_there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or_2221259.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/boyd-k-packer-1854_church_there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or_2221259.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/121/boyd-k-packer-1854_church_there-is-a-temptation-for-the-writer-or_2221259.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it…” — Boyd K. Packer",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 9,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "This is what I think is fun about fiction - you get to use as much history as you want as scaffolding and then go beyond it and change it and mutate it.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Robin Sloan"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fiction-you-get-to-use-as-much/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/robin-sloan-1513_change_this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fictio_3104645.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/robin-sloan-1513_change_this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fictio_3104645.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/robin-sloan-1513_change_this-is-what-i-think-is-fun-about-fictio_3104645.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“This is what I think is fun about fiction - you get to use as much history as you want as scaffolding and…” — Robin Sloan",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 10,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I like characters and stories that challenge the status quo. Lately, I'm really interested in history because I find that in my public school education, I didn't learn about women in history. I want to introduce the world to some great stories and incredible heroes.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Jessica Chastain"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-like-characters-and-stories-that-challenge-the-status-quo-lately-i/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/jessica-chastain-2332_education_i-like-characters-and-stories-that-chall_908311.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/jessica-chastain-2332_education_i-like-characters-and-stories-that-chall_908311.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/jessica-chastain-2332_education_i-like-characters-and-stories-that-chall_908311.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I like characters and stories that challenge the status quo. Lately, I'm really interested in history…” — Jessica Chastain",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 11,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "“It's bad idea to try to prevent people from knowing their own history. If you want to do anything new you must first make sure you know what people have tried before.”",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich/it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-from-knowing-their-own-history/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich-5762_bad-idea_it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-f_1421836.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich-5762_bad-idea_it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-f_1421836.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f1/ernst-hans-josef-gombrich-5762_bad-idea_it-s-bad-idea-to-try-to-prevent-people-f_1421836.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“It's bad idea to try to prevent people from knowing their own history. If you want to do anything new you…” — Ernst Hans Josef Gombrich",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 12,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "If people really want to know and learn from history, why do they want bad history? Why don't they want good history? Wouldn't you rather know the truth, rather than the legend?",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Alison Weir"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-weir/if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn-from-history-why-do-they-want/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/alison-weir-13208_bad_if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn_1635474.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/alison-weir-13208_bad_if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn_1635474.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/alison-weir-13208_bad_if-people-really-want-to-know-and-learn_1635474.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“If people really want to know and learn from history, why do they want bad history? Why don't they want good…” — Alison Weir",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/",
            "name": "History Want Quotes",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/anonymous-1_history_history-is-what-you-want-it-to-be-208684_2086841.jpg"
            },
            "description": "Browse 12 History Want quotes by 12 authors. Discover the best History Want sayings and thoughts.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "History Want Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-want/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
