--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a historian, if only for the day…" description: "\"Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful things like judgment, and the ability to detect when someone is lying to you.\" — Lucy Worsley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png" --- # Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful… ![“Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful things like judgment, and the ability to detect when someone is lying to you.” quote by Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png) > “Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful things like judgment, and the ability to detect when someone is lying to you.” [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying history, even briefly, sharpens judgment and helps detect deception. **In simple terms:** History improves judgment and liar detection. Key Takeaway Use historical perspective to evaluate truth. Themes history critical thinking truth detection Mood reflective analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - job interview - political debate - media consumption - personal relationships Key Concepts cognitive skill psychology Questions to Reflect On - What historical lessons aid your decision making? - How can you verify facts beyond intuition? A Different Perspective History alone cannot guarantee truthfulness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Day Teaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-teaches-2358159/) [Detect Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detect-lying-5478211/) [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [Historian Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian-day-5478210/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Teaches Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaches-useful-5478212/) ## Related quotes > [“Every day learns from the one that went before, but no day teaches the one that follows. Well,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/every-day-learns-from-the-one-that-went-before-but-no-day-teaches-the/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [I see it as my job to try to make history to be a popular thing. The longer I keep going the less weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/i-see-it-as-my-job-to-try-to-make-history-to-be-a-popular-thing-the/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [The footnote would seem to be the smallest detail in a work of history. Yet it carries a large burden of responsibility, testifying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-himmelfarb/the-footnote-would-seem-to-be-the-smallest-detail-in-a-work-of/) [Gertrude Himmelfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-himmelfarb/) > [I'm a historian by training and by conviction. And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [If experiments are performed thousands of times at all seasons and in every place without once producing the effects mentioned by your philosophers, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/if-experiments-are-performed-thousands-of-times-at-all-seasons-and-in/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [“The historian will tell you what happened, the novelist will tell you what it felt like.” E.L. Doctorow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-historian-will-tell-you-what-happened-the-novelist-will-tell-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The issue of civil rights was too much for the establishment to handle. One of the chapters of history that's least studied by historians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/the-issue-of-civil-rights-was-too-much-for-the-establishment-to/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [The historian amputates reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaetano-salvemini/the-historian-amputates-reality/) [Gaetano Salvemini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaetano-salvemini/) > [The novelist must look on humanity without partiality or prejudice. His sympathy, like that of the historian, must be unbounded, and untainted by sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/the-novelist-must-look-on-humanity-without-partiality-or-prejudice/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [In history as it comes to be written, there is usually some Spirit of the Age which historians can define, but the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/in-history-as-it-comes-to-be-written-there-is-usually-some-spirit-of/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [“military historian Richard Holmes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-wright/military-historian-richard-holmes/) [Clare Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-wright/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by Lucy Worsley > [What truly gives me joy is when I get a letter from a young woman who says they saw a programme, then read a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/what-truly-gives-me-joy-is-when-i-get-a-letter-from-a-young-woman-who/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [Lots of items that survive from the past are high-status, valuable things that people have treasured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/lots-of-items-that-survive-from-the-past-are-high-status-valuable/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [It's our job as curators to open up Hampton Court to visitors, and to look after the buildings and collections for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/it-s-our-job-as-curators-to-open-up-hampton-court-to-visitors-and-to/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [My first time skiing was in Vail, Colorado. It was brilliant fun until I whacked myself in the face with my ski pole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-first-time-skiing-was-in-vail-colorado-it-was-brilliant-fun-until/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [If you work as a curator, as I do, at Hampton Court, you sometimes wonder if there might be more to life than Henry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/if-you-work-as-a-curator-as-i-do-at-hampton-court-you-sometimes/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [I think you can be happy every day, if you are in the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/i-think-you-can-be-happy-every-day-if-you-are-in-the-flow/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [Windows will grow smaller again and houses will contain much less glass - not only because of the high energy costs of glass but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/windows-will-grow-smaller-again-and-houses-will-contain-much-less/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [In big museums, the role of the curator has shrunk in recent years as different branches of curatorial work - such as interpretation, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/in-big-museums-the-role-of-the-curator-has-shrunk-in-recent-years-as/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [My favorite thing is talking to people about history - that's what I like doing. The sort of history I do isn't just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-favorite-thing-is-talking-to-people-about-history-that-s-what-i/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [I don't want to be definitive or the last word on anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/i-don-t-want-to-be-definitive-or-the-last-word-on-anything/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [I want to look like I'm friendly, approachable and jolly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/i-want-to-look-like-i-m-friendly-approachable-and-jolly/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [My parents weren't keen on me watching television when I was growing up, in the 70s and 80s, which is ironic given that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-parents-weren-t-keen-on-me-watching-television-when-i-was-growing/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [I am a museum curator when I am not on the television and in our collection at Kensington Palace we have a book like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/i-am-a-museum-curator-when-i-am-not-on-the-television-and-in-our/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [My dad wanted me to be a scientist and I was set to study science A-levels. But after the first term I realised it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-dad-wanted-me-to-be-a-scientist-and-i-was-set-to-study-science-a/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [A Georgian man's shirt had a long tail, which he tucked between his legs rather like a nappy. Over it went his 'breech liners',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/a-georgian-man-s-shirt-had-a-long-tail-which-he-tucked-between-his/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) [Explore all 100 Lucy Worsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful things like judgment, and the ability to detect when someone is lying to you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucy Worsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-teaches-you-useful-things-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-teaches-you-useful-things-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/lucy-worsley-5457_ability_being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-te_3120858.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a historian, if only for the day, teaches you useful things like judgment, and the ability to detect…” — Lucy Worsley", "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": "Lucy Worsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being a historian, if only for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-teaches-you-useful-things-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/being-a-historian-if-only-for-the-day-teaches-you-useful-things-like/#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 } } ] } ```