--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For history, I say again, has this and…" description: "\"For history, I say again, has this and this only for its own: if a man will start upon it, he must sacrifice to no God but Truth; he must neglect all e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png" --- # For history, I say again, has this and this only for its… ![“For history, I say again, has this and this only for its own: if a man will start upon it, he must sacrifice to no God but Truth; he must neglect all else; his sole rule and unerring guide is this - to think not of those who are listening to him now, but of the yet unborn who shall seek his…” quote by Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png) > “For history, I say again, has this and this only for its own: if a man will start upon it, he must sacrifice to no God but Truth; he must neglect all else; his sole rule and unerring guide is this - to think not of those who are listening to him now, but of the yet unborn who shall seek his converse.” [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges prioritizing truth over divine or external authority, focusing on future impact rather than current audience. **In simple terms:** Prioritize truth, think of future listeners, not present audience. Key Takeaway Seek truth, ignore present approval. Themes truth philosophy future generations integrity purpose Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic writing - public speaking - teaching - writing - leadership Key Concepts ethical absolutism historical perspective oral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth with practical concerns? - What responsibilities do we have to future audiences? A Different Perspective It may be idealistic to ignore present feedback entirely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Converses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/converses/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-god-740699/) [Sole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole/) [Sole Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole-rule-3314090/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-neglect-3642572/) [Unborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unborn/) [Unborn Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unborn-shall-1810603/) ## Related quotes > [I have since written what no tide Shall ever wash away, what men Unborn shall read o'er ocean wide And find Ianthe's name agen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/i-have-since-written-what-no-tide-shall-ever-wash-away-what-men/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Being dead will be no different from being unborn -- I shall be just as I was in the time of William the Conqueror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/being-dead-will-be-no-different-from-being-unborn-i-shall-be-just-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Come to the conclusion: I am unborn, I was unborn and I shall remain unborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/come-to-the-conclusion-i-am-unborn-i-was-unborn-and-i-shall-remain/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [When the unwelcome little unborn shall have seen the light my brain will be lightened, and I shall have a clearer mind. Thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/when-the-unwelcome-little-unborn-shall-have-seen-the-light-my-brain/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life; for it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-should-not-be-so-taken-up-in-the-search-for-truth-as-to-neglect/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is now almost my sole rule of life to clear myself of cants and formulas, as of poisonous Nessus shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/it-is-now-almost-my-sole-rule-of-life-to-clear-myself-of-cants-and/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Writing, the art of communicating thoughts to the mind through the eye, is the great invention of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/writing-the-art-of-communicating-thoughts-to-the-mind-through-the-eye-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I sacrifice to the God of Beauty — the impulse to beauty in nature. Here are flowers. Here is wine spilled on the floor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/i-sacrifice-to-the-god-of-beauty-the-impulse-to-beauty-in-nature-here/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [When men grow virtuous in their old age, they only make a sacrifice to God of the devil's leavings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-men-grow-virtuous-in-their-old-age-they-only-make-a-sacrifice-to/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [There is a great ladder of religious cruelty, and, of its many rungs, three are the most important. People used to make human sacrifices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-is-a-great-ladder-of-religious-cruelty-and-of-its-many-rungs/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I sacrifice to no god save myself- And to my belly, greatest of deities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/i-sacrifice-to-no-god-save-myself-and-to-my-belly-greatest-of-deities/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Sacrifice is not something we use to clean ourselves up so God can stand to be with us again. On the contrary, sacrifice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/sacrifice-is-not-something-we-use-to-clean-ourselves-up-so-god-can/) [Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/) > [The heart that delights in God and longs only to see His glory advance will seldom be conscious of sacrifice. God in His wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/the-heart-that-delights-in-god-and-longs-only-to-see-his-glory/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [“And now the holy couple began here a new married life. They made a sacrifice to God of all the preceding years, and began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-katharina-emmerick/and-now-the-holy-couple-began-here-a-new-married-life-they-made-a/) [Anna Katharina Emmerick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-katharina-emmerick/) > [I resolved to dedicate all my life to God, all my thoughts, and words, and actions; being thoroughly convinced, there was no medium; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-resolved-to-dedicate-all-my-life-to-god-all-my-thoughts-and-words/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## More by Lucian > [I was still more concerned (a preference which you may be far from resenting) to strike a blow for Epicurus, that great man whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/i-was-still-more-concerned-a-preference-which-you-may-be-far-from/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The truth is hidden from us. Even if a mere piece of luck brings us straight to it, we shall have no grounded conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-truth-is-hidden-from-us-even-if-a-mere-piece-of-luck-brings-us/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [How gracious are the gods in bestowing high positions; and how reluctant are they to insure them when given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/how-gracious-are-the-gods-in-bestowing-high-positions-and-how/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The world is fleeting; all things pass away; Or is it we that pass and they that stay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-world-is-fleeting-all-things-pass-away-or-is-it-we-that-pass-and/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Everybody dies. Some just need a little help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/everybody-dies-some-just-need-a-little-help/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The lips are closed, for the dancer has plenty of other voices at his service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-lips-are-closed-for-the-dancer-has-plenty-of-other-voices-at-his/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The historian's one task is to tell the thing as it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-historian-s-one-task-is-to-tell-the-thing-as-it-happened/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The American soldier demonstrated that, properly equipped, trained and led, he has no superior among all the armies of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-american-soldier-demonstrated-that-properly-equipped-trained-and/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Be grateful. By slaying you now, I spare you an eternity of torment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/be-grateful-by-slaying-you-now-i-spare-you-an-eternity-of-torment/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Wise is the person at either end. Who can in due measure spare as well as spend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/wise-is-the-person-at-either-end-who-can-in-due-measure-spare-as-well/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Dancing is as old as love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/dancing-is-as-old-as-love/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The effort only shifted me from the frying-pan into the fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-effort-only-shifted-me-from-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [Death is a mercy, and I have enough mercy to go around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/death-is-a-mercy-and-i-have-enough-mercy-to-go-around/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [There is no happiness without tears, no life without death. Beware! I am going to make you cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/there-is-no-happiness-without-tears-no-life-without-death-beware-i-am/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) > [The poor wretches have convinced themselves that they are going to be immortal and live for all time, by worshipping that crucified sophist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/the-poor-wretches-have-convinced-themselves-that-they-are-going-to-be/) [Lucian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) [Explore all 25 Lucian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/) ## More Converses quotes > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [My days among the dead are passed; Around me I behold, Where'er these casual eyes are cast, The mighty minds of old; My never-failing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/my-days-among-the-dead-are-passed-around-me-i-behold-where-er-these/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/whatever-distrust-we-may-have-of-the-sincerity-of-those-who-converse/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [I wear anything I feel like. If I want to put on a pair of Converse with a pencil stuck through them, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-smith/i-wear-anything-i-feel-like-if-i-want-to-put-on-a-pair-of-converse/) [Willow Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-smith/) > [An odd contradiction, if the layman were correct in his unconscious assumption that an artist begins with reality and ends with art: the converse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/an-odd-contradiction-if-the-layman-were-correct-in-his-unconscious/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [Mothers are the only race of people that speak the same tongue. A mother in Manchuria could converse with a mother in Nebraska and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/mothers-are-the-only-race-of-people-that-speak-the-same-tongue-a/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [It gives me great pleasure to converse with the aged. They have been over the road that all of us must travel, and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/it-gives-me-great-pleasure-to-converse-with-the-aged-they-have-been/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [To converse at the distance of the Indes by means of sympathetic contrivances may be as natural to future times as to us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/to-converse-at-the-distance-of-the-indes-by-means-of-sympathetic/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the cosmos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so-the-more-equations-you-know/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Vanity is the natural weakness of an ambitious man, which exposes him to the secret scorn and derision of those he converses with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/vanity-is-the-natural-weakness-of-an-ambitious-man-which-exposes-him/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/by-one-hour-s-intimate-access-to-the-throne-of-grace-where-the-lord/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Our character is mainly shaped by our primary social community - the people with whom we eat, play, converse, and study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/our-character-is-mainly-shaped-by-our-primary-social-community-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Every man becomes, to a certain degree, what the people he generally converses with are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-becomes-to-a-certain-degree-what-the-people-he-generally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith converses with the angels, and antedates the hymns of glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/faith-converses-with-the-angels-and-antedates-the-hymns-of-glory/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) [Browse all 164 Converses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/converses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For history, I say again, has this and this only for its own: if a man will start upon it, he must sacrifice to no God but Truth; he must neglect all else; his sole rule and unerring guide is this - to think not of those who are listening to him now, but of the yet unborn who shall seek his converse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-this-only-for-its-own-if-a-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Converses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-this-only-for-its-own-if-a-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/lucian-23536_converses_for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-thi_2235518.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For history, I say again, has this and this only for its own: if a man will start upon it, he must sacrifice…” — Lucian", "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": "Lucian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For history, I say again, has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-this-only-for-its-own-if-a-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian/for-history-i-say-again-has-this-and-this-only-for-its-own-if-a-man/#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 } } ] } ```