--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most histories are written by the winners…" description: "\"“Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are often more interesting.”\" — Brian Herbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg" --- # Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts… ![“Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are often more interesting.” quote by Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg) > ““Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are often more interesting.”” [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History written by victors dominates, but accounts from losers, if preserved, offer richer, alternative perspectives. **In simple terms:** Loser narratives provide deeper insight. Key Takeaway Seek diverse historical voices. Themes history perspective truth Mood critical inquisitive Type historical analytical When to use this quote - education - research - media analysis Key Concepts power dynamics memory bias Questions to Reflect On - Why are loser stories important? - How can we uncover hidden histories? A Different Perspective Survivor accounts may be scarce or biased themselves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If history is written by victors, then memory is written by losers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saed-kakei/if-history-is-written-by-victors-then-memory-is-written-by-losers/) Saed Kakei > [“it is easy to see that history is truly written by losers with time on their hands and a protected academic position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/it-is-easy-to-see-that-history-is-truly-written-by-losers-with-time/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [There's already a lot of self-exculpatory history being written. Right across the board. And it's my task to make sure that such self-exculpatory histories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reeves/there-s-already-a-lot-of-self-exculpatory-history-being-written-right/) [Eric Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reeves/) > [The only good histories are those that have been written by the persons themselves who commanded in the affairs whereof they write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-that-have-been-written-by-the/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“What are we if we are not products of our history? History is not in our past but forms us in the present. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-o-charles/what-are-we-if-we-are-not-products-of-our-history-history-is-not-in/) [H.O. Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-o-charles/) > [As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/as-a-historian-i-understand-how-histories-are-written-my-enemies-will/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Do you really believe ... that everything historians tell us about men – or about women – is actually true? You ought to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moderata-fonte/do-you-really-believe-that-everything-historians-tell-us-about-men-or/) [Moderata Fonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moderata-fonte/) > [The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [History is written by the winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/history-is-written-by-the-winners/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [You know the old saying: "History is written by the winners. And also, the team of hand-picked historians that the winner keeps hidden away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-know-the-old-saying-history-is-written-by-the-winners-and-also/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [History gets written by the winners...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/history-gets-written-by-the-winners/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [History is written by winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/history-is-written-by-winners/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [People say history was written by the winners. No, it wasn't. It was written by the bullies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/people-say-history-was-written-by-the-winners-no-it-wasn-t-it-was/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [When you say, "History is written by the winners," you like to think about someone who isn't you. You want to think, "Oh, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/when-you-say-history-is-written-by-the-winners-you-like-to-think/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“It's not quite true that history is written by the winners. It's written by the best publicists on the winning team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fagone/it-s-not-quite-true-that-history-is-written-by-the-winners-it-s/) [Jason Fagone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fagone/) ## More by Brian Herbert > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [It's so much more interesting to study a ... damaged world. I find it difficult to learn anything in a place that's too civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/it-s-so-much-more-interesting-to-study-a-damaged-world-i-find-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“We could be dreaming all the time, but we do not perceive those dreams while we are awake because consciousness (like the sun obscuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/we-could-be-dreaming-all-the-time-but-we-do-not-perceive-those-dreams/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“There is no reality -- only our own order imposed on everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/there-is-no-reality-only-our-own-order-imposed-on-everything/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [Opportunities are a tricky crop, with tiny flowers that are difficult to see and even more difficult to harvest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/opportunities-are-a-tricky-crop-with-tiny-flowers-that-are-difficult/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“The Unknown surrounds us at any given moment. That is where we seek knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/the-unknown-surrounds-us-at-any-given-moment-that-is-where-we-seek/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“Discovery is dangerous . . . but so is life. A man unwilling to take risk is doomed never to learn, never to grow, never to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/discovery-is-dangerous-but-so-is-life-a-man-unwilling-to-take-risk-is/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“Address the solvable first, instructs the father by way of teaching his son crisis management. That way, he counsels, there is less distraction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/address-the-solvable-first-instructs-the-father-by-way-of-teaching/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/the-capacity-to-learn-is-a-gift-the-ability-to-learn-is-a-skill-the/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [Humans are different in private than in the presence of others. 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Although honor requires us to make altruistic decisions, even acting for the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/we-are-animals-yet-are-expected-to-be-so-much-more-although-honor/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Explore all 75 Brian Herbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) C-DASH > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are often more interesting.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Herbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/most-histories-are-written-by-the-winners-of-conflicts-but-those/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/most-histories-are-written-by-the-winners-of-conflicts-but-those/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/brian-herbert-9052_history_most-histories-are-written-by-the-winner_255816.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are…” — Brian Herbert", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Brian Herbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Most histories are written by the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/most-histories-are-written-by-the-winners-of-conflicts-but-those/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/most-histories-are-written-by-the-winners-of-conflicts-but-those/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```