---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true history of my administration…"
description: "\"The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to see it.\" — George W. Bush"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg"
---

#  The true history of my administration will be written 50…

![“The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to see it.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg)

> “The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to see it.”

[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.

Historical judgments will be made long after leaders are gone, so actions should be judged by future standards.

**In simple terms:** Future generations will judge our actions.

Key Takeaway

Act with long‑term perspective.

Themes

leadership legacy history politics

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

political reflective

When to use this quote

- policy making
- public service
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

historical perspective accountability temporal distance

Questions to Reflect On

- What legacy do you want to leave?
- How can leaders balance present needs with future judgment?

A Different Perspective

Present pressures may skew long‑term judgment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm going to put people in my place, so when the history of this administration is written at least there's an authoritarian voice saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-going-to-put-people-in-my-place-so-when-the-history-of-this/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“it was better written than 50 Shades of I Can’t Write for Shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finocchiaro/it-was-better-written-than-50-shades-of-i-can-t-write-for-shit/)

Michael Finocchiaro

> [You get to thinking that because you've written 50 or 100 songs, you think maybe you know how to do it. But when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/you-get-to-thinking-that-because-you-ve-written-50-or-100-songs-you/)

[John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/)

> [One of the things important about history is to remember the true history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-the-things-important-about-history-is-to-remember-the-true/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/myth-is-much-more-important-and-true-than-history-history-is-just/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [I know that the history of man is not his technical triumphs, his kills, his victories. It is a composite, a mosaic of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/i-know-that-the-history-of-man-is-not-his-technical-triumphs-his/)

[Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/)

> [Look rather at the teachings of history, true history, not the history written by Party hacks: genuine democracy, the only valid democracy, is nourished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wei-jingsheng/look-rather-at-the-teachings-of-history-true-history-not-the-history/)

[Wei Jingsheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wei-jingsheng/)

> [Every true history must force us to remember that the past was once as real as the present and as uncertain as the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-trevelyan/every-true-history-must-force-us-to-remember-that-the-past-was-once/)

[G. M. Trevelyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-trevelyan/)

> [It's true that history seems denser than it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lapid/it-s-true-that-history-seems-denser-than-it-really-is/)

Tommy Lapid

> [I'm convinced the true history of our time isn't what we read in newspapers or books...True history is almost invisible. It flows like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lix-j-palma/i-m-convinced-the-true-history-of-our-time-isn-t-what-we-read-in/)

[Félix J. Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lix-j-palma/)

> [“True history being a mixture of all things, the true historian mingles in everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/true-history-being-a-mixture-of-all-things-the-true-historian-mingles/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [When I finished 'True History of the Kelly Gang,' I realised that Faulkner had not lost his power over me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/when-i-finished-true-history-of-the-kelly-gang-i-realised-that/)

[Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/)

> [Biography is the only true history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/biography-is-the-only-true-history/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [“Conquerors, my son, consider as true history only what they have themselves fabricated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-habiby/conquerors-my-son-consider-as-true-history-only-what-they-have/)

Emile Habiby

> [When women's true history shall have been written, her part in the upbuilding of this nation will astound the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-scott-duniway/when-women-s-true-history-shall-have-been-written-her-part-in-the/)

[Abigail Scott Duniway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-scott-duniway/)

## 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. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/)

[George W. 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. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

[Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More Administration quotes

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/)

[Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/)

> [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/)

[David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/)

> [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/)

[Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/)

> [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/)

[Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/)

> [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/)

[Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/)

> [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/)

[Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/)

> [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/)

[Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/)

> [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

[Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to see it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George W. Bush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-true-history-of-my-administration-will-be-written-50-years-from/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Administration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-true-history-of-my-administration-will-be-written-50-years-from/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/george-w-bush-64_administration_the-true-history-of-my-administration-wi_1653047.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to…” — George W. Bush",
                "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": "George W. Bush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The true history of my administration...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-true-history-of-my-administration-will-be-written-50-years-from/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-true-history-of-my-administration-will-be-written-50-years-from/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
