--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write and film history; I don't make it." description: "\"I write and film history; I don't make it.\" — Jean-Luc Godard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg" --- # I write and film history; I don't make it. ![“I write and film history; I don't make it.” quote by Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg) > “I write and film history; I don't make it.” [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator emphasizes documenting events rather than shaping them, highlighting a passive role in history. **In simple terms:** I record history, not create it. Key Takeaway Focus on observation over manipulation. Themes art history creativity observer role Mood analytical reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - documentary filmmaking - archival work - journalism Key Concepts film theory philosophy of art media studies Questions to Reflect On - How does documenting shape perception? - Can true neutrality exist? A Different Perspective May ignore the influence of the observer on events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I write and film history; I don't make it. One can be a good critic and a moral observer, but one remains professionally detached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it-one-can-be-a-good-critic-and/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [You don't make a movie, the movie makes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/you-don-t-make-a-movie-the-movie-makes-you/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [Don't know much about history Don't know much biology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-cooke/don-t-know-much-about-history-don-t-know-much-biology/) [Sam Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-cooke/) > [I'm honored that I'm in history, but I don't think it would mean anything if it doesn't change anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raha-moharrak/i-m-honored-that-i-m-in-history-but-i-don-t-think-it-would-mean/) [Raha Moharrak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raha-moharrak/) > [The only thing new in this world is the history that you don't know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/the-only-thing-new-in-this-world-is-the-history-that-you-don-t-know/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [The trouble with American History is that you don't remember it, and why should you? Nobody does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/the-trouble-with-american-history-is-that-you-don-t-remember-it-and/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [“If you don't know your history, you don't know what you are talking about!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-know-your-history-you-don-t-know-what-you-are-talking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is nothing new in this world other than the history that you don't know yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-is-nothing-new-in-this-world-other-than-the-history-that-you/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-only-thing-new-in-the-world-is-the-history-you-don-t-know/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We're here for such a short time. When your great-great-grandkids study history, don't you want them to be proud that you were part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/we-re-here-for-such-a-short-time-when-your-great-great-grandkids/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [When you're part of history, you don't know it. You're just sort of living your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-schlamme/when-you-re-part-of-history-you-don-t-know-it-you-re-just-sort-of/) [Thomas Schlamme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-schlamme/) > [“If you don’t know history, you don’t know anything.” Edward Johnston”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-puz/if-you-don-t-know-history-you-don-t-know-anything-edward-johnston/) [Richard Puz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-puz/) > [The only new thing is history we don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-only-new-thing-is-history-we-don-t-know/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Learn from your history, but don’t live in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/learn-from-your-history-but-don-t-live-in-it/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More by Jean-Luc Godard > [Art is not a reflection of reality, it is the reality of a reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/art-is-not-a-reflection-of-reality-it-is-the-reality-of-a-reflection/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I think I'm innocently representing a certain belief in motion pictures, and, well OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-think-i-m-innocently-representing-a-certain-belief-in-motion/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [Film is truth 24 times a second, and every cut is a lie,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/film-is-truth-24-times-a-second-and-every-cut-is-a-lie/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [Why all these signs around us that make me doubt language and submerge me in meanings, drowning reality instead of extracting it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/why-all-these-signs-around-us-that-make-me-doubt-language-and/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [There is no such thing as intellectual property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/there-is-no-such-thing-as-intellectual-property/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [“Communism existed once, during two 45 minute half-times, when Honved, from Budapest, won over England by 6-3. The English played individually, and the Hungarians, collectively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/communism-existed-once-during-two-45-minute-half-times-when-honved/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [Language is the house that man lives in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/language-is-the-house-that-man-lives-in/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I don't think you should feel about a film. You should feel about a woman, not a movie. You can't kiss a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-don-t-think-you-should-feel-about-a-film-you-should-feel-about-a/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/all-you-need-for-a-movie-is-a-gun-and-a-girl/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I'm satisfied to have an ordinary success and an ordinary life and an ordinary income. Later, I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-m-satisfied-to-have-an-ordinary-success-and-an-ordinary-life-and-an/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [We are all older and more tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/we-are-all-older-and-more-tired/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I've always said that to make movies, to make images and sound, is possible by one way or another. And it has not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-ve-always-said-that-to-make-movies-to-make-images-and-sound-is/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [What is your greatest ambition in life?' 'To become immortal... and then die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/what-is-your-greatest-ambition-in-life-to-become-immortal-and-then-die/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [“All you need for a movie is a gun and a cat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/all-you-need-for-a-movie-is-a-gun-and-a-cat/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [There is a problem in pretending I can still control my destiny in the commercial market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/there-is-a-problem-in-pretending-i-can-still-control-my-destiny-in/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) [Explore all 183 Jean-Luc Godard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. 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I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write and film history; I don't make it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Luc Godard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/jean-luc-godard-2128_cinema_i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it_428130.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I write and film history; I don't make it.” — Jean-Luc Godard", "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": "Jean-Luc Godard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I write and film history; I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-write-and-film-history-i-don-t-make-it/#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 } } ] } ```