--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History is apt to judge harshly those who…" description: "\"History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.\" — Harold MacMillan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png" --- # History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice… ![“History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.” quote by Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png) > “History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.” [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History judges harshly those who sacrifice future stability for immediate gains. **In simple terms:** Short‑term gains harm long‑term. Key Takeaway Consider future impact. Themes economics ethics legacy Mood reflective serious Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - history - philosophy Key Concepts policy making financial planning Questions to Reflect On - What long‑term goals guide you? - How do you balance present needs with future risks? A Different Perspective Short‑term focus can be tempting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harshly Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harshly-sacrifice-4186687/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Judge Harshly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-harshly-886750/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-tomorrow-2945729/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Tomorrow Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow-today/) ## Related quotes > [“The most important thing is this: to sacrifice what you are now for what you can become tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/the-most-important-thing-is-this-to-sacrifice-what-you-are-now-for/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [We simply cannot call ourselves Christian and continue to judge one another - or ourselves - so harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-l-oscarson/we-simply-cannot-call-ourselves-christian-and-continue-to-judge-one/) [Bonnie L. Oscarson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-l-oscarson/) > [“When you've got the virgin and the whore sitting next to each other, they're likely to judge each other harshly. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/when-you-ve-got-the-virgin-and-the-whore-sitting-next-to-each-other/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Do not judge yourself harshly. Without mercy for ourselves we cannot love the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-judge-yourself-harshly-without-mercy-for-ourselves-we-cannot/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“society will judge you rather harshly, my dear.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/society-will-judge-you-rather-harshly-my-dear-she/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“We judge others harshly in order to judge ourselves with approval.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/we-judge-others-harshly-in-order-to-judge-ourselves-with-approval/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [Don't judge anyone harshly until you yourself have been through his experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/don-t-judge-anyone-harshly-until-you-yourself-have-been-through-his/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We judge others harshly because the chances are that we are under judgement ourselves. We become more gracious with others and magnanimous in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/we-judge-others-harshly-because-the-chances-are-that-we-are-under/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [“When you absolutely need a friend, it might be best not to judge too harshly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/when-you-absolutely-need-a-friend-it-might-be-best-not-to-judge-too/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [It has been my experience that the people I judge most harshly are the ones in whom I recognize some part of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/it-has-been-my-experience-that-the-people-i-judge-most-harshly-are/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [Consider the wave of revulsion that floods the average person when he or she hears of the practice of human sacrifice by the Aztecs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/consider-the-wave-of-revulsion-that-floods-the-average-person-when-he/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [“We thought there was no more behind But such a day tomorrow as today And to be a boy eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-meade-falkner/we-thought-there-was-no-more-behind-but-such-a-day-tomorrow-as-today/) [John Meade Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-meade-falkner/) > [“We need to live in the now of life, it can't be about how much we suffered yesterday or what we might face tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-leon/we-need-to-live-in-the-now-of-life-it-can-t-be-about-how-much-we/) [Bonnie Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-leon/) > [“I would rather have a month, or a week, or even a day with you than no time at all. There is something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-cooper/i-would-rather-have-a-month-or-a-week-or-even-a-day-with-you-than-no/) [J.S. 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Nothing he can say can do very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/a-foreign-secretaryand-this-applies-also-to-a-prospective-foreign/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [Britain's most useful role is somewhere between bee and dinosaur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/britain-s-most-useful-role-is-somewhere-between-bee-and-dinosaur/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [There are three bodies no sensible man directly challenges: the Roman Catholic Church, the Brigade of Guards and the National Union of Mineworkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/there-are-three-bodies-no-sensible-man-directly-challenges-the-roman/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [It is a good thing to be laughed at. It is better than to be ignored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/it-is-a-good-thing-to-be-laughed-at-it-is-better-than-to-be-ignored/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [After a long life I have come to the conclusion that when all the Establishment is united it is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/after-a-long-life-i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-when-all-the/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [Once the bear's hug has got you, it is apt to be for keeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/once-the-bear-s-hug-has-got-you-it-is-apt-to-be-for-keeps/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) [Explore all 61 Harold MacMillan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) ## 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. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold MacMillan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-who-sacrifice-tomorrow-for-today/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-who-sacrifice-tomorrow-for-today/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9a/harold-macmillan-11133_history_history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-wh_2910100.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“History is apt to judge harshly those who sacrifice tomorrow for today.” — Harold MacMillan", "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": "Harold MacMillan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "History is apt to judge harshly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-who-sacrifice-tomorrow-for-today/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/history-is-apt-to-judge-harshly-those-who-sacrifice-tomorrow-for-today/#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 } } ] } ```