--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Histories of morality are rarely written…" description: "\"“Histories of morality are rarely written in order to inform the reader.”\" — John Gray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg" --- # Histories of morality are rarely written in order to… ![“Histories of morality are rarely written in order to inform the reader.” quote by John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg) > ““Histories of morality are rarely written in order to inform the reader.”” [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Morality narratives are often crafted for purposes beyond educating readers. **In simple terms:** Moral stories serve other goals besides teaching. Key Takeaway Question the intent behind moral narratives. Themes ethics history communication persuasion Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic study - media analysis - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts narrative bias authorial intent political agenda Questions to Reflect On - What motives might drive a moral historian? - How can we discern bias in moral storytelling? A Different Perspective Some moral histories aim to inspire, not just inform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/the-punters-know-that-the-horse-named-morality-rarely-gets-past-the/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [“If the attitude of many non-Catholic modern philosophers toward Catholic thought could be summarized in a single sentence, it would be: It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-b-sadler/if-the-attitude-of-many-non-catholic-modern-philosophers-toward/) [Gregory B. Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-b-sadler/) > [I have always been considered to be the most German among Italian economists, which I always received as a compliment, but was rarely meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/i-have-always-been-considered-to-be-the-most-german-among-italian/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [My first job was in a nursing home - a terrible place in retrospect. It was in an old house, and the residents were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/my-first-job-was-in-a-nursing-home-a-terrible-place-in-retrospect-it/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [“Yet love was not something to be thrown aside lightly. It came so rarely, only a few times in a mortal life. Some- times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/yet-love-was-not-something-to-be-thrown-aside-lightly-it-came-so/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I write very rarely. Only, in fact, when the sheet of paper suffers an existential crisis and threatens, if I don't surrender to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-dimoula/i-write-very-rarely-only-in-fact-when-the-sheet-of-paper-suffers-an/) [Kiki Dimoula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-dimoula/) > [You rarely see any blowout games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/you-rarely-see-any-blowout-games/) [Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/) > [I rarely indulge in sweet things but when I do I do not like to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-rarely-indulge-in-sweet-things-but-when-i-do-i-do-not-like-to-share/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [In reality, I don't see myself as a man hunter. In fact, when it comes to love, I am rarely the one to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-bruni/in-reality-i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-man-hunter-in-fact-when-it-comes/) [Carla Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-bruni/) > [The way you think you spend your time and the way you actually spend your time are rarely the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-merrill/the-way-you-think-you-spend-your-time-and-the-way-you-actually-spend/) [Douglas Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-merrill/) > [I love to sleep late, and I rarely have the chance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izabel-goulart/i-love-to-sleep-late-and-i-rarely-have-the-chance-to/) [Izabel Goulart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izabel-goulart/) > [I don't wear perfume, and I rarely wear jewelry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-wear-perfume-and-i-rarely-wear-jewelry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am rarely bored alone; I am often bored in groups and crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/i-am-rarely-bored-alone-i-am-often-bored-in-groups-and-crowds/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [People who jump to conclusions rarely alight on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guedalla/people-who-jump-to-conclusions-rarely-alight-on-them/) [Philip Guedalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guedalla/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) ## More by John Gray > [“The success of a relationship is solely dependent on two factors: a man's ability to listen lovingly and respectfully to a woman's feelings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/the-success-of-a-relationship-is-solely-dependent-on-two-factors-a/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“Men and women arguing in this way hurt not only their feelings but also their relationship. Just as communication is the most important element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/men-and-women-arguing-in-this-way-hurt-not-only-their-feelings-but/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [Just as a man is fulfilled through working out the intricate details of solving a problem, a woman is fulfilled through talking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/just-as-a-man-is-fulfilled-through-working-out-the-intricate-details/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“The calls of birds and the traces left by wolves to mark off their territories are no less forms of language than the sings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/the-calls-of-birds-and-the-traces-left-by-wolves-to-mark-off-their/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“The good life is not found in dreams of progress,but in coping with tragic contingencies.We have been reared on religions and philosophies that deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/the-good-life-is-not-found-in-dreams-of-progress-but-in-coping-with/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [To offer a man unsolicited advice is to presume that he doesn't know what to do or that he can't do it on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/to-offer-a-man-unsolicited-advice-is-to-presume-that-he-doesn-t-know/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [We mistakenly assume that if our partners love us they will react and behave in certain ways - the ways we react and behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/we-mistakenly-assume-that-if-our-partners-love-us-they-will-react-and/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“We think our actions express our decisions. But in nearly all of our life, willing decides nothing. We cannot wake up or fall asleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/we-think-our-actions-express-our-decisions-but-in-nearly-all-of-our/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“Life was indeed cruel; but it was better to glorify the Will than deny it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/life-was-indeed-cruel-but-it-was-better-to-glorify-the-will-than-deny/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [That love motivates you to cooperate, respect, appreciate, cherish, and admire that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/that-love-motivates-you-to-cooperate-respect-appreciate-cherish-and/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“Although feelings of attraction are automatic, in order to sustain attraction in a personal relationship we must also be skillful in presenting ourselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/although-feelings-of-attraction-are-automatic-in-order-to-sustain/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/when-men-and-women-are-able-to-respect-and-accept-their-differences/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“If there is anything unique about the human animal, it is that it has the ability to grow knowledge at an accelerating rate while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/if-there-is-anything-unique-about-the-human-animal-it-is-that-it-has/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [To love someone is to acknowledge the goodness of who they are. Through loving a person we awaken their awareness of their own innate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/to-love-someone-is-to-acknowledge-the-goodness-of-who-they-are/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“Today we have made a fetish of choice; but a chosen death is forbidden. Perhaps what distinguishes humans from other animals is that humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/today-we-have-made-a-fetish-of-choice-but-a-chosen-death-is-forbidden/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) [Explore all 104 John Gray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) ## More Agendas quotes > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [At home we didnt talk about religion. So gradually the question faded away by itself and disappeared from the agenda. When I was nineteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-prokofiev/at-home-we-didnt-talk-about-religion-so-gradually-the-question-faded/) [Sergei Prokofiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-prokofiev/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [If we allow our self-congratulatory adoration of technology to distract us from our own contact with each other, then somehow the original agenda has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/if-we-allow-our-self-congratulatory-adoration-of-technology-to/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [There certainly are situations where I feel not empowered or uninspired. Particularly when the person's agenda is to intimidate through abusing their position or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/there-certainly-are-situations-where-i-feel-not-empowered-or/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Strong states and blocs of strong states are the only source of power and legitimacy capable of driving an international agenda in today's world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/strong-states-and-blocs-of-strong-states-are-the-only-source-of-power/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [He felt safe with her. He'd never been safe with another human being, not since he'd been taken as a child from his home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-felt-safe-with-her-he-d-never-been-safe-with-another-human-being/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [I sometimes find that my family's emphasis on stories, characters, and art that appeals directly to children rather than over their heads to adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-berenstain/i-sometimes-find-that-my-family-s-emphasis-on-stories-characters-and/) [Mike Berenstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-berenstain/) > [The forces of immorality and Marxism and evil count on one thing: Us not showing up. And often, they're justified in that. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/the-forces-of-immorality-and-marxism-and-evil-count-on-one-thing-us/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) [Browse all 985 Agendas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Histories of morality are rarely written in order to inform the reader.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Gray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written-in-order-to-inform-the-reader/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agendas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written-in-order-to-inform-the-reader/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/john-gray-4628_agendas_histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written_1475290.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Histories of morality are rarely written in order to inform the reader.” — John Gray", "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": "John Gray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Histories of morality are rarely written...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written-in-order-to-inform-the-reader/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/histories-of-morality-are-rarely-written-in-order-to-inform-the-reader/#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 } } ] } ```