--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only good histories are those written…" description: "\"The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg" --- # The only good histories are those written by those who had… ![“The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg) > “The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History written by participants may be biased, reflecting their power and perspective. **In simple terms:** History by participants is biased. Key Takeaway Question who tells the story. Themes bias power historical narrative Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - media literacy - political analysis - education Key Concepts critical historiography authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - Who are the unheard voices? - How can we seek balanced perspectives? A Different Perspective Alternative accounts may be suppressed or lost. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Good history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The only good histories are those that have been written by the persons themselves who commanded in the affairs whereof they write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-that-have-been-written-by-the/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There's already a lot of self-exculpatory history being written. Right across the board. And it's my task to make sure that such self-exculpatory histories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reeves/there-s-already-a-lot-of-self-exculpatory-history-being-written-right/) [Eric Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reeves/) > [“Most histories are written by the winners of conflicts, but those written by the losers—if they survive—are often more interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/most-histories-are-written-by-the-winners-of-conflicts-but-those/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [Do you really believe ... that everything historians tell us about men – or about women – is actually true? You ought to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moderata-fonte/do-you-really-believe-that-everything-historians-tell-us-about-men-or/) [Moderata Fonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moderata-fonte/) > [“What are we if we are not products of our history? History is not in our past but forms us in the present. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-o-charles/what-are-we-if-we-are-not-products-of-our-history-history-is-not-in/) [H.O. Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-o-charles/) > [As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/as-a-historian-i-understand-how-histories-are-written-my-enemies-will/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [For almost half a century, Fermilab has occupied center stage as physicists have sought to understand the fundamental structure of the universe. The lab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/for-almost-half-a-century-fermilab-has-occupied-center-stage-as/) James Trefil > [We have good history in Virginia... and we have history that's not good and I don't think we can shy away from any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/we-have-good-history-in-virginia-and-we-have-history-that-s-not-good/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [A good history covers not only what was done, but the thought that went into the action. You can read the history of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hooks/a-good-history-covers-not-only-what-was-done-but-the-thought-that/) [Benjamin Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hooks/) > [War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/war-makes-rattling-good-history-but-peace-is-poor-reading/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Indeed the general natural Tendency of Reading good History, must be, to fix in the Minds of Youth deep Impressions of the Beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/indeed-the-general-natural-tendency-of-reading-good-history-must-be/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [There's a lot we should be able to learn from history. And yet history proves that we never do. In fact, the main lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-whitney-brown/there-s-a-lot-we-should-be-able-to-learn-from-history-and-yet-history/) [A. Whitney Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-whitney-brown/) > [“be a good history lesson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-mad-man/be-a-good-history-lesson/) a mad man > [War makes rattling good history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/war-makes-rattling-good-history/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/good-history-is-a-question-of-survival-without-any-past-we-will/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Command quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Why has no religion this command before all others: Thou shalt work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthold-auerbach/why-has-no-religion-this-command-before-all-others-thou-shalt-work/) [Berthold Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthold-auerbach/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [When you're in command, command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/when-you-re-in-command-command/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/oh-while-i-live-to-be-the-ruler-of-life-not-a-slave-to-meet-life-as-a/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [There is a particular danger with a war that God commands. What if God should lose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-wills/there-is-a-particular-danger-with-a-war-that-god-commands-what-if-god/) [Garry Wills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-wills/) > [Once you have hierarchy you need rules to protect and administer it, and then you need law and the enforcement of the rules, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/once-you-have-hierarchy-you-need-rules-to-protect-and-administer-it/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [You've got Washington picking winners and losers. And so, all of a sudden, decisions are being made on what helps politicians, not what helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/you-ve-got-washington-picking-winners-and-losers-and-so-all-of-a/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [While it is becoming increasingly obvious that the fundamental architecture of a system has a profound Influence on the quality of its human factors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-m-branscomb/while-it-is-becoming-increasingly-obvious-that-the-fundamental/) [Lewis M. Branscomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-m-branscomb/) Browse all 1,694 Command quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Command" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/michel-de-montaigne-142_command_the-only-good-histories-are-those-writte_1870791.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only good histories are those...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/#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 } } ] } ```