--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who does not know history's first law to…" description: "\"Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg" --- # Who does not know history's first law to be that an author… ![“Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg) > “Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authors must commit to truth, boldness, and impartiality, avoiding bias or malice. **In simple terms:** Writers owe truth and fairness. Key Takeaway Write with honesty and courage. Themes truth integrity bias Mood analytical serious Type philosophical instructive When to use this quote - journalism - academic writing - fiction Key Concepts ethics literature philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure fairness in your writing? - When is boldness more important than neutrality? A Different Perspective Complete objectivity is impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Author Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-dare-1670360/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-author-1670361/) [Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malice/) [Partiality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partiality/) [Partiality Writings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partiality-writings-1670363/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Suggestion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-suggestion-1670362/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-truth/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writings Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writings-malice-1670364/) ## Related quotes > [The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth. The second is that he shall suppress nothing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-first-law-for-the-historian-is-that-he-shall-never-dare-utter-an/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [When we have run through all forms of government, without partiality to that we were born under, we are at a loss with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/when-we-have-run-through-all-forms-of-government-without-partiality/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The first law of history is to dread uttering a falsehood; the next is not to fear stating the truth; lastly, the historian's writings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/the-first-law-of-history-is-to-dread-uttering-a-falsehood-the-next-is/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Men are not philosophers, but are rather very foolish children, who, by reason of their partiality, see everything in the most absurd manner, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-are-not-philosophers-but-are-rather-very-foolish-children-who-by/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/excessive-partiality-for-one-foreign-nation-and-excessive-dislike-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [With regard to Banks, they have taken too deep and too wide a root in social transactions, to be got rid of altogether, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/with-regard-to-banks-they-have-taken-too-deep-and-too-wide-a-root-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Some people would regard people who look like they do as ugly if they did not look like them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-regard-people-who-look-like-they-do-as-ugly-if-they/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Time, so complain'd of, Who to no one man Shows partiality, Brings round to all men Some undimm'd hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/time-so-complain-d-of-who-to-no-one-man-shows-partiality-brings-round/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Smitten as we are with the vision of social righteousness, a God indifferent to everything but adulation, and full of partiality for his individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/smitten-as-we-are-with-the-vision-of-social-righteousness-a-god/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I have developed a very strong partiality for the dead: they don't talk back, they don't sue, and they don't have angry relatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/i-have-developed-a-very-strong-partiality-for-the-dead-they-don-t/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [“That our selves and all men are apt and prone to differ it is no new Thing in all former Ages in all parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/that-our-selves-and-all-men-are-apt-and-prone-to-differ-it-is-no-new/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [We can make ourselves whole only by accepting our partiality, by living within our limits, by being humans not by trying to be gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-can-make-ourselves-whole-only-by-accepting-our-partiality-by/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The republic I fell in love with, the republic I risked my life to defend, the values I hold dear, the integrity that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/the-republic-i-fell-in-love-with-the-republic-i-risked-my-life-to/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [We can today open wide the history of their administrations and point with pride to every act, and challenge the world to point out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/we-can-today-open-wide-the-history-of-their-administrations-and-point/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [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/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And its second that he must make bold to tell the whole truth? That there must be no suggestion of partiality anywhere in his writings? Nor of malice?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to-be-that-an-author-must-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to-be-that-an-author-must-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_books_who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to_150001.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who does not know history's first law to be that an author must not dare to tell anything but the truth? And…” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who does not know history's first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to-be-that-an-author-must-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/who-does-not-know-history-s-first-law-to-be-that-an-author-must-not/#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 } } ] } ```