--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principle office of history I take to…" description: "\"The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/anonymous-1_action_the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-t_75099.jpg" --- # The principle office of history I take to be this: to… ![“The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/anonymous-1_action_the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-t_75099.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/anonymous-1_action_the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-t_75099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/anonymous-1_action_the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-t_75099.jpg) > “The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It asserts that history should preserve good deeds and condemn wrongdoing, ensuring moral memory influences future generations. **In simple terms:** History as moral ledger Key Takeaway Preserve virtue, deter evil Themes memory morality legacy history reputation Mood reflective solemn Type aphorism maxim When to use this quote - educational curricula - public commemorations - media retrospectives - family storytelling Key Concepts historical record ethical accountability Practical Applications - museum exhibit design - policy on historical monuments Questions to Reflect On - How does collective memory shape societal values? - What mechanisms best safeguard moral narratives? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Infamous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamous/) [Infamous Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamous-reputation-973813/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posterity/) [Prevent Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevent-virtuous-973812/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) [Principle Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-office-973816/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Posterity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-posterity-973815/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous/) [Virtuous Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtuous-actions-973814/) ## Related quotes > [This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion to which a want of records would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/this-i-hold-to-be-the-chief-office-of-history-to-rescue-virtuous/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [We must face facts. 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That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. 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I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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