--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it can seem that history is…" description: "\"Sometimes it can seem that history is turning in a wide arc, toward an unknown shore. Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/george-w-bush-64_action_sometimes-it-can-seem-that-history-is-tu_2812728.jpg" --- # Sometimes it can seem that history is turning in a wide… ![“Sometimes it can seem that history is turning in a wide arc, toward an unknown shore. Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and every great movement of history comes to a point of choosing.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/george-w-bush-64_action_sometimes-it-can-seem-that-history-is-tu_2812728.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/george-w-bush-64_action_sometimes-it-can-seem-that-history-is-tu_2812728.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/george-w-bush-64_action_sometimes-it-can-seem-that-history-is-tu_2812728.jpg) > “Sometimes it can seem that history is turning in a wide arc, toward an unknown shore. Yet the destination of history is determined by human action, and every great movement of history comes to a point of choosing.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History’s path is shaped by human choices; decisive moments define collective destiny. **In simple terms:** Human action directs history. Key Takeaway Make conscious, impactful choices. Themes history choice agency Mood reflective inspirational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - social movements - community planning Key Concepts determinism collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What choices are you making today? - How can societies foster responsible decision‑making? A Different Perspective Complex events may not hinge on single choices alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Arcs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arcs/) [Destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destination/) [Destination History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destination-history-3531117/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-comes-1142769/) [History Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-determined-1012671/) [History Turning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-turning-3531116/) [Human actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-actions/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shore/) [Shore Destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shore-destination-3531118/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) ## Related quotes > [You don't change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/you-don-t-change-the-course-of-history-by-turning-the-faces-of/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [The tide of history is turning women from beasts of burden and sexual playthings into full-fledged human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-kristof/the-tide-of-history-is-turning-women-from-beasts-of-burden-and-sexual/) [Nicholas D. Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-kristof/) > [The course of human history is determined, not by what happens in the skies, but what takes place in our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-keith/the-course-of-human-history-is-determined-not-by-what-happens-in-the/) [Arthur Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-keith/) > [“The course of history is determined not by battles, by sieges, or usurpation, but by the individuals. The strongest army is, at its most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/the-course-of-history-is-determined-not-by-battles-by-sieges-or/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/a-library-is-the-delivery-room-for-the-birth-of-ideas-a-place-where-2/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [In my world, history comes down to language and art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-bikel/in-my-world-history-comes-down-to-language-and-art/) [Theodore Bikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-bikel/) > [I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-grew-up-in-europe-where-the-history-comes-from/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [In my world, history comes down to language and art. No one cares much about what battles were fought, who won them and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-bikel/in-my-world-history-comes-down-to-language-and-art-no-one-cares-much/) [Theodore Bikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-bikel/) > [The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-force-of-history-comes-from-the-fact-that-we-carry-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Presidents come and go. History comes and goes, but principles endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/presidents-come-and-go-history-comes-and-goes-but-principles-endure/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Most of the mess that is called history comes about because kings and presidents cannot be satisfied with a nice chicken and a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/most-of-the-mess-that-is-called-history-comes-about-because-kings-and/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) > [“Every people has a past, but the dignity of a history comes when a community of scholars devotes itself to chronicling and studying that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/every-people-has-a-past-but-the-dignity-of-a-history-comes-when-a/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [History comes and history goes, but principles endure, and ensure future generations will defend liberty not as a gift from government but as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/history-comes-and-history-goes-but-principles-endure-and-ensure/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [History , as it comes into our daily lives, is charged with surprise and shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-heilbroner/history-as-it-comes-into-our-daily-lives-is-charged-with-surprise-and/) [Robert Heilbroner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-heilbroner/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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