--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a historian I understand how histories…" description: "\"As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends will wri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/newt-gingrich-792_enemy_as-a-historian-i-understand-how-historie_639539.jpg" --- # As a historian I understand how histories are written. My… ![“As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends will write histories that glorify me and prove I was more important than I was. And two generations or three from now, some serious sober historian will…” quote by Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/newt-gingrich-792_enemy_as-a-historian-i-understand-how-historie_639539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/newt-gingrich-792_enemy_as-a-historian-i-understand-how-historie_639539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/newt-gingrich-792_enemy_as-a-historian-i-understand-how-historie_639539.jpg) > “As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends will write histories that glorify me and prove I was more important than I was. And two generations or three from now, some serious sober historian will write a history that sort of implies I was whoever I was.” [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical narratives are shaped by perspective; enemies and friends portray us differently, but future scholars may offer a balanced view **In simple terms:** History is written by many, often biased, but later scholars may be more objective Key Takeaway Recognize bias and seek multiple viewpoints Themes history bias legacy perspective Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - public discourse - media analysis - personal memoirs Key Concepts Narrative construction subjectivity historical revisionism Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern truth among conflicting accounts? - What role should historians play in shaping collective memory? A Different Perspective Personal bias can distort self-perception ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that the supreme duty of the historian is to write history, that is to say, to attempt to record in one sweeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-runciman/i-believe-that-the-supreme-duty-of-the-historian-is-to-write-history/) [Steven Runciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-runciman/) > [“In that moment of revealing, one historian will write of Cleopatra, “her desire grew greater than it had been before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/in-that-moment-of-revealing-one-historian-will-write-of-cleopatra-her/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [It is one thing to write as poet and another to write as a historian: the poet can recount or sing about things not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-one-thing-to-write-as-poet-and-another-to-write-as-a-historian/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you're going to write histories, Tarly, you have to do the research, Archmaester Ebrose, Game of Thrones S7”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-rr-martin/if-you-re-going-to-write-histories-tarly-you-have-to-do-the-research/) [George RR Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-rr-martin/) > [“History will remember him as a savage, but that's because we write the histories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius-2/history-will-remember-him-as-a-savage-but-that-s-because-we-write-the/) [A.H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius-2/) > [If you want to become a man of letters and perhaps write some Histories one day, you must also lie and invent tales, otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/if-you-want-to-become-a-man-of-letters-and-perhaps-write-some/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [At the moment of their emancipation, women have a need to write their own histories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/at-the-moment-of-their-emancipation-women-have-a-need-to-write-their/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“How we document ourselves speaks volumes about our ability to know ourselves and write our own histories, and we need more opportunities to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-lang/how-we-document-ourselves-speaks-volumes-about-our-ability-to-know/) Nico Lang > [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/) > [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/) > [The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-only-good-histories-are-those-written-by-those-who-had-command-in/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [I cannot understand why some people try to write a history of photography that is separated from the history of modern art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-chevrier/i-cannot-understand-why-some-people-try-to-write-a-history-of/) [Jean-Francois Chevrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-chevrier/) ## More by Newt Gingrich > [Governor Romney may be running for CEO, I'm running for President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/governor-romney-may-be-running-for-ceo-i-m-running-for-president/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [NASA should not be developing its own proprietary version of capabilities it could purchase commercially at much lower cost, especially when we know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/nasa-should-not-be-developing-its-own-proprietary-version-of/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-will-focus-on-being-substantive-and-i-will-focus-on-barack-obama/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/stop-costly-new-regulations-that-would-increase-unemployment-raise/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/any-ad-which-quotes-what-i-said-on-sunday-is-a-falsehood/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [It doesn’t matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say. There’s no one else who can say what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/it-doesn-t-matter-what-i-do-people-need-to-hear-what-i-have-to-say/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Part of why the Tea Party so deeply threatened the elite media is the tea party looked around and suddenly realized, there are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/part-of-why-the-tea-party-so-deeply-threatened-the-elite-media-is-the/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [There was an analyst who came out the other day who's had a long track record of projecting presidential campaigns based on the economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/there-was-an-analyst-who-came-out-the-other-day-who-s-had-a-long/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I love the environment, but I'm cheap on the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-love-the-environment-but-i-m-cheap-on-the-environment/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [ \[The Clinton health care initiative is\] washed-over old-time bureaucratic liberalism, or centralized bureaucratic socialism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-clinton-health-care-initiative-is-washed-over-old-time/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The Congressional Budget Office is a reactionary socialist institution which does not believe in economic growth, does not believe in innovation, and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-congressional-budget-office-is-a-reactionary-socialist/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Heterosexual marriage is the heart of our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/heterosexual-marriage-is-the-heart-of-our-civilization/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Whether you're talking about Chris Christie, or you're talking about Rick Perry or Scott Walker or John Kasich, there's more interesting evolution at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/whether-you-re-talking-about-chris-christie-or-you-re-talking-about/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) [Explore all 367 Newt Gingrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) [Browse all 7,981 Enemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a historian I understand how histories are written. My enemies will write histories that dismiss me and prove I was unimportant. My friends will write histories that glorify me and prove I was more important than I was. 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