--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The supreme purpose of history is a…" description: "\"The supreme purpose of history is a better world.\" — Herbert Hoover" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg" --- # The supreme purpose of history is a better world. ![“The supreme purpose of history is a better world.” quote by Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg) > “The supreme purpose of history is a better world.” [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History should aim to improve humanity, not just record events **In simple terms:** History’s goal is a better world Key Takeaway Work towards progress and societal improvement Themes history progress humanity Mood optimistic determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - community projects Key Concepts social theory political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure history serves humanity? - What actions today shape a better future? A Different Perspective Historical narratives can be biased, limiting lessons ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-history/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of great things are going on. In many ways, the past 30 years have been the best in world history. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/a-lot-of-great-things-are-going-on-in-many-ways-the-past-30-years/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The supreme purpose and goal for human life... is to cultivate love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-supreme-purpose-and-goal-for-human-life-is-to-cultivate-love/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [“Some have the idea that God’s purpose is to make our lives more tolerable here on earth. That rather cheapens what Christ did on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/some-have-the-idea-that-god-s-purpose-is-to-make-our-lives-more/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [The artist is not a person endowed with free will who seeks his own ends, but one who allows it to realize its supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-artist-is-not-a-person-endowed-with-free-will-who-seeks-his-own/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [We were to represent God whose supreme purpose is, as Jesus so clearly showed, to forgive all our sins and heal all our disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake-2/we-were-to-represent-god-whose-supreme-purpose-is-as-jesus-so-clearly/) [John G Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake-2/) > [“Faith goes hand in hand with the belief in a supreme purpose that includes everybody, a purpose that is for mankind’s ultimate peace, harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/faith-goes-hand-in-hand-with-the-belief-in-a-supreme-purpose-that/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [“The purpose of history, as I see it, is to uncover the forces which move the pawns on the chess board of the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-a-carto/the-purpose-of-history-as-i-see-it-is-to-uncover-the-forces-which/) Willis A. Carto > [History is a better guide than good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/history-is-a-better-guide-than-good-intentions/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [“I loved history, any kind of history, and even better if it was hidden, secret, or underground.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-white/i-loved-history-any-kind-of-history-and-even-better-if-it-was-hidden/) [April White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-white/) > [“Making history was so much better than writing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/making-history-was-so-much-better-than-writing-it/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [When you know your history, you have a better vision of where you're going. And, when you have that, there's no stopping you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-cephas-jones/when-you-know-your-history-you-have-a-better-vision-of-where-you-re/) [Ron Cephas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-cephas-jones/) > [“... it is the purpose of this history to trace not the mere outlines of a life but the inner plan, not the external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/it-is-the-purpose-of-this-history-to-trace-not-the-mere-outlines-of-a/) [Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/) > [Let this be our time in history so that someday we can tell our children and grandchildren that we were there, that we changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/let-this-be-our-time-in-history-so-that-someday-we-can-tell-our/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [We must delve deep into history the better to engage a true dialogue of civilisations. Fear of the present can impose upon the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-delve-deep-into-history-the-better-to-engage-a-true-dialogue/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“It's history as it should have happened. It's history made better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-mccandless/it-s-history-as-it-should-have-happened-it-s-history-made-better/) R.A. McCandless ## More by Herbert Hoover > [While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst, and with continued unity of effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/while-the-crash-only-took-place-six-months-ago-i-am-convinced-we-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is a great profession. There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The human animal originally came from out-of-doors. When spring begins to move in his bones, he just must get out again. Moreover, as civilization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-human-animal-originally-came-from-out-of-doors-when-spring-begins/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“No one ever listened themselves out of a job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/no-one-ever-listened-themselves-out-of-a-job/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Somebody has inquired as to whether I will be going to the opening baseball game. I hope to have that pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/somebody-has-inquired-as-to-whether-i-will-be-going-to-the-opening/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It is always possible that occasional individuals may have overstepped the law and humanity in treatment of criminals and those charged with crime, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-always-possible-that-occasional-individuals-may-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [One of the primary necessities of the world for the maintenance of peace is the elimination of the frictions which arise from competitive armament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/one-of-the-primary-necessities-of-the-world-for-the-maintenance-of/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Man is still by instinct a predatory animal given to devilish aggression. The discoveries of science have immensely increased productivity of material things. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/man-is-still-by-instinct-a-predatory-animal-given-to-devilish/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [You convey too great a compliment when you say that I have earned the right to the presidential nomination. No man can establish such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/you-convey-too-great-a-compliment-when-you-say-that-i-have-earned-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“Leadership cannot be created synthetically. Men must be what they were made by the Almighty or the American people will find them out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/leadership-cannot-be-created-synthetically-men-must-be-what-they-were/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [When we are sick, we want an uncommon doctor; when we have a construction job to do, we want an uncommon engineer, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/when-we-are-sick-we-want-an-uncommon-doctor-when-we-have-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [My boyhood ambition was to be able to earn my own living, without the help of anybody, anywhere,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/my-boyhood-ambition-was-to-be-able-to-earn-my-own-living-without-the/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [If America is to be run by the people, it is the people who must think. And we do not need to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/if-america-is-to-be-run-by-the-people-it-is-the-people-who-must-think/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [The New Deal repudiation of democracy has left the Republican Party alone the guardian of the Ark of the Covenant with its charter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-new-deal-repudiation-of-democracy-has-left-the-republican-party/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) [Explore all 290 Herbert Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## More Better world quotes > [Something must be done to save humanity! A better world is possible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/something-must-be-done-to-save-humanity-a-better-world-is-possible/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [One Hundred Year Starship really is about the idea that is we pursue an extraordinary tomorrow; we'll build a better world today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/one-hundred-year-starship-really-is-about-the-idea-that-is-we-pursue/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [The advance of liberty is the path to both a safer and better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-advance-of-liberty-is-the-path-to-both-a-safer-and-better-world/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [... man has an idea of a better world than this. But better does not mean different, it means unified... Religion or crime, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/man-has-an-idea-of-a-better-world-than-this-but-better-does-not-mean/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [How can I create a better world? The more you reflect, the more your life will move into the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/how-can-i-create-a-better-world-the-more-you-reflect-the-more-your/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [This would be a vastly better world to live in if Matt Drudge decided to handle his emotional problems more responsibly, and set himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weigel/this-would-be-a-vastly-better-world-to-live-in-if-matt-drudge-decided/) [David Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weigel/) > [“Up there, comrades," he would say solemnly, pointing to the sky with his large beak– "up there, just on the other side of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/up-there-comrades-he-would-say-solemnly-pointing-to-the-sky-with-his/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“When I heard Zizek’s statement, I have to admit that I reacted strongly against it. For the first twenty-five years of my adult life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaddhaka-linn/when-i-heard-zizek-s-statement-i-have-to-admit-that-i-reacted/) [Vaddhaka Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaddhaka-linn/) > [A better world could be brought about only by better individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-coubertin/a-better-world-could-be-brought-about-only-by-better-individuals/) [Pierre de Coubertin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-coubertin/) > [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/) [Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/) > [Socialcam shares Autodesk's mission of helping everybody imagine, design, and create a better world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/socialcam-shares-autodesk-s-mission-of-helping-everybody-imagine/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) > [“We don't have a lot of choice about the world we live in. But we do have choices about our world-view. ... We read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wade-johnson/we-don-t-have-a-lot-of-choice-about-the-world-we-live-in-but-we-do/) [Kevin Wade Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wade-johnson/) > [I believe there is another world waiting for us. A better world. And I'll be waiting for you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-believe-there-is-another-world-waiting-for-us-a-better-world-and-i/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Can we make a better world for our children? I believe we can, if enough people are concerned and get involved in changing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/can-we-make-a-better-world-for-our-children-i-believe-we-can-if/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) [Browse all 606 Better world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The supreme purpose of history is a better world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbert Hoover" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-better-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-better-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/herbert-hoover-1115_better-world_the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-bett_1916361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The supreme purpose of history is a better world.” — Herbert Hoover", "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": "Herbert Hoover", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The supreme purpose of history is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-better-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-supreme-purpose-of-history-is-a-better-world/#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 } } ] } ```