--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History can't be left to fend for itself…" description: "\"History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it comes to history and beliefs and values, we turn our future on the lathe of the past.\" — Max De Pree" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-de-pree-12046_belief_history-can-t-be-left-to-fend-for-itself_2717421.png" --- # History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it… ![“History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it comes to history and beliefs and values, we turn our future on the lathe of the past.” quote by Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-de-pree-12046_belief_history-can-t-be-left-to-fend-for-itself_2717421.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-de-pree-12046_belief_history-can-t-be-left-to-fend-for-itself_2717421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-de-pree-12046_belief_history-can-t-be-left-to-fend-for-itself_2717421.png) > “History can't be left to fend for itself. For when it comes to history and beliefs and values, we turn our future on the lathe of the past.” [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History shapes future values; we must actively engage with the past to guide tomorrow. **In simple terms:** History guides future values. Key Takeaway Study history to inform decisions. Themes history leadership values Mood thoughtful inspirational Type leadership philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy making - organizational culture Key Concepts learning from past cultural continuity strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What lessons are most relevant today? - How to balance tradition and progress? A Different Perspective May overemphasize past at expense of innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs and values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-and-values/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Future Lathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-lathe-2856000/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-beliefs-2855999/) [Lathe Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lathe-past-2855998/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turn Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-future-1430997/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-turn-232271/) ## Related quotes > [We start caring way too much about that new TV show or how many likes we're getting on Facebook or what our mother will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/we-start-caring-way-too-much-about-that-new-tv-show-or-how-many-likes/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Let us turn to the future and not deal with the past,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-dacic/let-us-turn-to-the-future-and-not-deal-with-the-past/) [Ivica Dacic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-dacic/) > [One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cibenko/one-problem-with-gazing-too-frequently-into-the-past-is-that-we-may/) [Michael Cibenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cibenko/) > [“From the past they turn to the future. 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He will show you what you fear, what you need, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-barbarulo-author-god-s-healing-hands-allow-god-to-reshape-your-soul/god-wants-you-to-face-the-reasons-why-you-separate-yourself-from-him/) [Michael Barbarulo: Author God's Healing Hands: Allow God To Reshape Your Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-barbarulo-author-god-s-healing-hands-allow-god-to-reshape-your-soul/) > [Our natural tendency is to project onto other people our own belief and value systems, in ways in which we are not even aware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/our-natural-tendency-is-to-project-onto-other-people-our-own-belief/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“If we spend twenty minutes a day reading our Bibles, but the remaining twenty-three hours and forty minutes ruminating on unbiblical thoughts, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mahaney/if-we-spend-twenty-minutes-a-day-reading-our-bibles-but-the-remaining/) [Carolyn Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mahaney/) > [The Young Women's Christian Association is nourished by its roots in Christianity and, at the same time, over the years, it's been enriched by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-ireland/the-young-women-s-christian-association-is-nourished-by-its-roots-in/) [Patricia Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-ireland/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) ## More by Max De Pree > [We can teach ourselves to see things the way they ARE. 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In between, the leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/the-first-responsibility-of-a-leader-is-to-define-reality-the-last-is/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [We talk about the quality of product and service. What about the quality of our relationships and the quality of our communications and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-talk-about-the-quality-of-product-and-service-what-about-the/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [In most vital organizations, there is a common bond of interdependence, mutual interest, interlocking contributions, and simple joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/in-most-vital-organizations-there-is-a-common-bond-of-interdependence/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [Everyone in a successful organization must be willing and ready to risk. Risk is like change; it's not a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/everyone-in-a-successful-organization-must-be-willing-and-ready-to/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [Leaders don't inflict pain - they share pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/leaders-don-t-inflict-pain-they-share-pain/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [A whale is as unique as a cactus. But don't ask a whale to survive Death Valley. We all have special gifts. Where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/a-whale-is-as-unique-as-a-cactus-but-don-t-ask-a-whale-to-survive/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) > [We cannot avoid growing old; but we can avoid growing cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-de-pree/we-cannot-avoid-growing-old-but-we-can-avoid-growing-cold/) [Max De Pree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) [Explore all 55 Max De Pree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-de-pree/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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