--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History will decide if I'm a villain or a…" description: "\"History will decide if I'm a villain or a hero.\" — Harlan Ellison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/harlan-ellison-2133_decide_history-will-decide-if-i-m-a-villain-or_2243647.jpg" --- # History will decide if I'm a villain or a hero. ![“History will decide if I'm a villain or a hero.” quote by Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/harlan-ellison-2133_decide_history-will-decide-if-i-m-a-villain-or_2243647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/harlan-ellison-2133_decide_history-will-decide-if-i-m-a-villain-or_2243647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/harlan-ellison-2133_decide_history-will-decide-if-i-m-a-villain-or_2243647.jpg) > “History will decide if I'm a villain or a hero.” [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your legacy will be judged by history, not self‑perception, shaping whether you are seen as villain or hero. **In simple terms:** History decides your role. Key Takeaway Act with integrity now. Themes legacy perception morality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political - public service - personal relationships - public perception Key Concepts historical judgment self‑image Questions to Reflect On - How will your actions be recorded? - What values guide your choices? A Different Perspective Perception can be biased by incomplete facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decide Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-villain-5096409/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-decide-2371424/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) [Villain Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain-hero-532203/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [It really doesn't matter whether it's the villain or the hero. Sometimes the villain is the most colorful. But I prefer a part where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/it-really-doesn-t-matter-whether-it-s-the-villain-or-the-hero/) [Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/) > [If you look at all of the villains in the course of human history, they've all believed, delusionally, in the virtue of their actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/if-you-look-at-all-of-the-villains-in-the-course-of-human-history/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Every villain is a hero in his own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/every-villain-is-a-hero-in-his-own-mind/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Without the villain, the hero sits at home on his couch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/without-the-villain-the-hero-sits-at-home-on-his-couch/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [When you decide that Black history is not a part of American history or when you decide that any book that talks about LGBTQIA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/when-you-decide-that-black-history-is-not-a-part-of-american-history/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“Having no history, I decide, is a blessing. I wouldn’t want to be cursed with the memory of a lifetime of mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heltzel/having-no-history-i-decide-is-a-blessing-i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-cursed/) [Anne Heltzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heltzel/) > [I think that a lot of women that know they're going to be part of history somehow decide to have a character to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-think-that-a-lot-of-women-that-know-they-re-going-to-be-part-of/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [We can decide to kneel to the mob and kneel to the state, cede all of our power over to the federal government, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/we-can-decide-to-kneel-to-the-mob-and-kneel-to-the-state-cede-all-of/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [Whether or not the standard of living made possible by mass production and in turn by mass circulation, is supported by and filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-burnett/whether-or-not-the-standard-of-living-made-possible-by-mass/) [Leo Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-burnett/) > [“Sometimes standing up for what is right isn't the popular choice. It may make you look like a villain, but you're not. You're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-jacobs/sometimes-standing-up-for-what-is-right-isn-t-the-popular-choice-it/) [Heather Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-jacobs/) > [I have always been fascinated by the concept of the villain and the hero being in one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-concept-of-the-villain-and-the/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [“What separates a villain from a hero are the decisions and choices he makes. Being ‘good’ and ‘moral’ is hard work, often painful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-black/what-separates-a-villain-from-a-hero-are-the-decisions-and-choices-he/) [Sacha Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-black/) > [Having the Stitch character, the villain that becomes a hero, coming from outer space, it took a very difficult and complex story and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tia-carrere/having-the-stitch-character-the-villain-that-becomes-a-hero-coming/) [Tia Carrere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tia-carrere/) > [Villains are as important as the hero. Without the right villain, the hero isn't heroic enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-rishi/villains-are-as-important-as-the-hero-without-the-right-villain-the/) [Mukesh Rishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-rishi/) > [“I guess it's hard to be the villain without a hero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-leavitt/i-guess-it-s-hard-to-be-the-villain-without-a-hero/) [Lindsey Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-leavitt/) ## More by Harlan Ellison > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They change scapegoats at the networks more regularly than some people change socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-change-scapegoats-at-the-networks-more-regularly-than-some/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [They minute people fall in love they become liars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/they-minute-people-fall-in-love-they-become-liars/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Repent, Harlequin," said the Ticktock Man. "Get stuffed," the Harlequin replied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/repent-harlequin-said-the-ticktock-man-get-stuffed-the-harlequin/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Living under the land, under the sea, in the belly of AM, whom we created...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/living-under-the-land-under-the-sea-in-the-belly-of-am-whom-we-created/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I have no mouth. 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Forces that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/there-are-forces-in-the-world-today-mr-winsocki-that-are-invisibly/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/men-rarely-if-ever-manage-to-dream-up-a-god-superior-to-themselves/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [I write a kind of surreal fantasy, but they can't put 'surreal fantasy' on a paperback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-write-a-kind-of-surreal-fantasy-but-they-can-t-put-surreal-fantasy/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Don't start an argument with somebody who has a microphone when you don't. They'll make you look like chopped liver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/don-t-start-an-argument-with-somebody-who-has-a-microphone-when-you/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“I intend to keep writing stories that piss people off, that tell the particular kind of truth I think is valid, that will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-intend-to-keep-writing-stories-that-piss-people-off-that-tell-the/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [“Who Needs the Taj Mahal when it's a drag to live at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/who-needs-the-taj-mahal-when-it-s-a-drag-to-live-at-all/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Like a wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/like-a-wind-crying-endlessly-through-the-universe-time-carries-away/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) [Explore all 165 Harlan Ellison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. 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