--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know the old saying: \"History is…" description: "\"You know the old saying: \"History is written by the winners. And also, the team of hand-picked historians that the winner keeps hidden away in an under..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/john-hodgman-1811_bunkers_you-know-the-old-saying-history-is-writt_1740973.jpg" --- # You know the old saying: "History is written by the… ![“You know the old saying: "History is written by the winners. And also, the team of hand-picked historians that the winner keeps hidden away in an underground bunker".” quote by John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/john-hodgman-1811_bunkers_you-know-the-old-saying-history-is-writt_1740973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/john-hodgman-1811_bunkers_you-know-the-old-saying-history-is-writt_1740973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cd/john-hodgman-1811_bunkers_you-know-the-old-saying-history-is-writt_1740973.jpg) > “You know the old saying: "History is written by the winners. And also, the team of hand-picked historians that the winner keeps hidden away in an underground bunker".” [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History is shaped by those in power, who control narratives and hide dissenting records. **In simple terms:** Winners write history and hide opposing stories. Key Takeaway Seek multiple perspectives on past events. Themes history power truth memory Mood skeptical curious Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - media literacy - public discourse Key Concepts narrative control archival suppression Questions to Reflect On - Who decides which histories are told? - How can hidden histories be uncovered? A Different Perspective Official accounts may omit crucial facts, leading to skewed understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Old saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-saying/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) ## Related quotes > [“history is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books—books which glorify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/history-is-always-written-by-the-winners-when-two-cultures-clash-the-2/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“History is always written by the winners...By its very nature, its always a one-sided account”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/history-is-always-written-by-the-winners-by-its-very-nature-its/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“History is always written by winners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/history-is-always-written-by-winners/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“History is written by winners. I am going to change that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/history-is-written-by-winners-i-am-going-to-change-that/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [History is written by winners, so most history books are about people who win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/history-is-written-by-winners-so-most-history-books-are-about-people/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [Not only is history written by the winners, it is also made by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-schussler-fiorenza/not-only-is-history-written-by-the-winners-it-is-also-made-by-them/) [Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-schussler-fiorenza/) > [History is written by the winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/history-is-written-by-the-winners/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [History is written by winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/history-is-written-by-winners/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [People say history was written by the winners. No, it wasn't. It was written by the bullies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/people-say-history-was-written-by-the-winners-no-it-wasn-t-it-was/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [When you say, "History is written by the winners," you like to think about someone who isn't you. You want to think, "Oh, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/when-you-say-history-is-written-by-the-winners-you-like-to-think/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“It's not quite true that history is written by the winners. It's written by the best publicists on the winning team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fagone/it-s-not-quite-true-that-history-is-written-by-the-winners-it-s/) [Jason Fagone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fagone/) > [“the judge Don Achille speaks up, with sly and devastating irony, saying that the whole history of mankind is the history of rhetoric: that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-m-esolen/the-judge-don-achille-speaks-up-with-sly-and-devastating-irony-saying/) [Anthony M. Esolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-m-esolen/) > [I was thinking of writing a little foreword saying that history is, after all, based on people's recollections, which change with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/i-was-thinking-of-writing-a-little-foreword-saying-that-history-is/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [“Henry Ford is quoted as saying. "History is more or less bunk." Now, if he never spoke those words, doesn't that just prove he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bosworth/henry-ford-is-quoted-as-saying-history-is-more-or-less-bunk-now-if-he/) Alex Bosworth > [The reason why you do history, and particularly why you do war, is that you want to make sure that in the next war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/the-reason-why-you-do-history-and-particularly-why-you-do-war-is-that/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) ## More by John Hodgman > [Life may be miraculous in its unlikelihood in the universe, but it would be a fallacy to suggest that its rareness makes it inextinguishable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/life-may-be-miraculous-in-its-unlikelihood-in-the-universe-but-it/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I navigated the world as a hedge maze of constant fear and worry in which I might take the wrong turn and jeopardize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-navigated-the-world-as-a-hedge-maze-of-constant-fear-and-worry-in/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“There are transitions in life whether we want them or not. You get older. You lose jobs and loves and people. The story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/there-are-transitions-in-life-whether-we-want-them-or-not-you-get/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald meet in hell and team up to assassinate Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/john-wilkes-booth-and-lee-harvey-oswald-meet-in-hell-and-team-up-to/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I think in American culture, we put value on economic success but tell people you don't have to be economically successful to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-think-in-american-culture-we-put-value-on-economic-success-but-tell/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [If you look in the dictionary under 'perfectionist,' you see Henry Selick correcting the definition of perfectionist in the dictionary. I mean, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/if-you-look-in-the-dictionary-under-perfectionist-you-see-henry/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Lies are just another kind of storytelling, but with the very distinct and enlivening motive of desperation. Since writers are by nature desperate creatures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/lies-are-just-another-kind-of-storytelling-but-with-the-very-distinct/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I've made my evolutionary purpose and had children. I don't care if anybody likes me, I'm going to do what I want to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-ve-made-my-evolutionary-purpose-and-had-children-i-don-t-care-if/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“When you live in New York or any big city, it is easy to fail at growing up. The city is designed to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/when-you-live-in-new-york-or-any-big-city-it-is-easy-to-fail-at/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I don't wish to brag, but I'm very intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-don-t-wish-to-brag-but-i-m-very-intelligent/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Well, I always had this desire to celebrate and somehow be a part of things that I thought were really great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/well-i-always-had-this-desire-to-celebrate-and-somehow-be-a-part-of/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I would be good for maybe not the center square but an upper square on 'Hollywood Squares.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-would-be-good-for-maybe-not-the-center-square-but-an-upper-square/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [One of the things about crowd work that's so exciting is when you discover a character in the audience who's interesting or funny, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/one-of-the-things-about-crowd-work-that-s-so-exciting-is-when-you/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“Maine is not a death cult. I mean, it is, but it's a slow one. It creeps in like the tide, and without your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/maine-is-not-a-death-cult-i-mean-it-is-but-it-s-a-slow-one-it-creeps/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) [Explore all 207 John Hodgman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) ## More Bunkers quotes > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [If your opponent is playing several shots in vain attempts to extricate himself from a bunker, do not stand near him and audibly count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/if-your-opponent-is-playing-several-shots-in-vain-attempts-to/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [If mass media, social isolation in the suburbs, alienating workplaces and long car commutes create a bunker mentality, the Internet does the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/if-mass-media-social-isolation-in-the-suburbs-alienating-workplaces/) [Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/) > [Rest assured that our work is not over because our work has never been only hunting Nazi war criminals. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hier/rest-assured-that-our-work-is-not-over-because-our-work-has-never/) [Marvin Hier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hier/) > [Either a wise man will not go into bunkers, or, being in, he will endure such things as befall him with patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/either-a-wise-man-will-not-go-into-bunkers-or-being-in-he-will-endure/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Do you realize it’s been only a century that we’ve been able to go from house to car to office to car to wherever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/do-you-realize-it-s-been-only-a-century-that-we-ve-been-able-to-go/) [Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/) > [You can't hold me to the same standard as the president or a school teacher. I'm just a comedian. My job is like Archie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/you-can-t-hold-me-to-the-same-standard-as-the-president-or-a-school/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [We'll make a bunker hill of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pickett/we-ll-make-a-bunker-hill-of-it/) [George Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pickett/) > [What am I responsible for? Who am I responsible to? Everybody? How come when Archie Bunker nailed everybody, it was funny - but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/what-am-i-responsible-for-who-am-i-responsible-to-everybody-how-come/) [Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/) > [I want to improve my bunker, fairway and putting status because that's been my weakness over the last three years. If I can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/i-want-to-improve-my-bunker-fairway-and-putting-status-because-that-s/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [If Israel sent the IDF three kilometers into Lebanon and started digging trenches and building bunkers it would make news all over the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-totten/if-israel-sent-the-idf-three-kilometers-into-lebanon-and-started/) [Michael Totten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-totten/) > [When a friend of Abigail and John Adams was killed at Bunker Hill, Abigail's response was to write a letter to her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/when-a-friend-of-abigail-and-john-adams-was-killed-at-bunker-hill/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [We have certain things where we know they exist or "everybody knows they exist," but naturally nobody can photograph them, because they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/we-have-certain-things-where-we-know-they-exist-or-everybody-knows/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [When I was released by the Americans I read historian Trevor Roper's book, 'The Last Days of Hitler'. Throughout the book like a red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-reitsch/when-i-was-released-by-the-americans-i-read-historian-trevor-roper-s/) Hanna Reitsch > [Under the Occupation, we in Nantes were denied access to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It was therefore not until after the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/under-the-occupation-we-in-nantes-were-denied-access-to-the-coast-of/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) Browse all 72 Bunkers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know the old saying: \"History is written by the winners. 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