--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you read a history or biography you…" description: "\"When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That research has gone into it and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/nicholas-meyer-16558_accurate_when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you_1040555.png" --- # When you read a history or biography you are entitled to… ![“When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That research has gone into it and we say "This is a history of the civil war, this is a biography of Lincoln" whatever. But you don't make any such supposition when you say "This is…” quote by Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/nicholas-meyer-16558_accurate_when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you_1040555.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/nicholas-meyer-16558_accurate_when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you_1040555.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/nicholas-meyer-16558_accurate_when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you_1040555.png) > “When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That research has gone into it and we say "This is a history of the civil war, this is a biography of Lincoln" whatever. But you don't make any such supposition when you say "This is a historical novel."” [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading historical works assumes factual accuracy based on author research, unlike fictional accounts. **In simple terms:** Historical texts are treated as factual; novels are not. Key Takeaway Recognize the genre’s claims before accepting facts. Themes history accuracy genre interpretation Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical educational When to use this quote - academic study - teaching - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts epistemology authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How does genre affect your trust in a text? - What responsibilities do authors have for factual representation? A Different Perspective Fiction can blur facts, leading to misconceptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accurate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accurate/) [Accurate Authors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accurate-authors-2429289/) [Biographies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biographies/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Entitled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitled/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-novel-2212772/) [Historical novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-novels/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-that/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Read History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-history/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Say Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-historical-2429290/) [Supposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposition/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Some critics said, 'Hey, why are you writing historical novels?' I say they're not historical, they're contemporary, because people walking around who lived through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/some-critics-said-hey-why-are-you-writing-historical-novels-i-say/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality TV or pop music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-historical-novel-you-don-t-need/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you write a book set in the past about something that happened east of the Mississippi, it's a 'historical novel.' If you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/if-you-write-a-book-set-in-the-past-about-something-that-happened/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [I have rarely read a more wonderful book than To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander. Rich with historical detail and fully developed characters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-coble/i-have-rarely-read-a-more-wonderful-book-than-to-win-her-favor-by/) [Colleen Coble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-coble/) > [The historical novel gives us perspective on our modern lives and helps us connect with the story, which we are continuing ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pope-osborne/the-historical-novel-gives-us-perspective-on-our-modern-lives-and/) [Mary Pope Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pope-osborne/) > [I'm not entirely sure what a historical novel absolutely has to be, but you don't want a reader who loves a very traditional historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-dutton/i-m-not-entirely-sure-what-a-historical-novel-absolutely-has-to-be/) [Danielle Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-dutton/) > [My first book was a historical novel. I started writing in 1974. In those days, historical novels meant ladies with swelling bosoms on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/my-first-book-was-a-historical-novel-i-started-writing-in-1974-in/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I'm sorry to say it has some historical analogs. It's kind of reminiscent of what happened in Germany in the late Weimar years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-m-sorry-to-say-it-has-some-historical-analogs-it-s-kind-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [That is why we may say that the historical development of capitalism has involved the thrust towards the commodification of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-wallerstein/that-is-why-we-may-say-that-the-historical-development-of-capitalism/) [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) > [I can not be mistaken - what I say and do is historical.I follow my life with the precision and security of a sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-can-not-be-mistaken-what-i-say-and-do-is-historical-i-follow-my/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [With a historical novel you know that liberties are being taken. Since Walter Scott, we know that poetic license, dramatic license, that events been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/with-a-historical-novel-you-know-that-liberties-are-being-taken-since/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [The novel since its origins has been the privatization of history... the history of private life ... and in that sense every novel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-emilio-pacheco/the-novel-since-its-origins-has-been-the-privatization-of-history-the/) [Jose Emilio Pacheco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-emilio-pacheco/) > [Today, we are fortunate that the historical novel has reached such extraordinary heights of technical mastery. The ability of society to connect with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-foreman/today-we-are-fortunate-that-the-historical-novel-has-reached-such/) [Amanda Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-foreman/) > [I really hate the term 'historical novel' - it reminds me of bodice-rippers. But I'm hooked on research, and I really, really enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-really-hate-the-term-historical-novel-it-reminds-me-of-bodice/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) > [If someone had told me in high school that one day I'd write an historical novel, I would have rolled my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/if-someone-had-told-me-in-high-school-that-one-day-i-d-write-an/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) ## More by Nicholas Meyer > [Actors will change their face, will change their hair, will change their voice, will disappear into the role. A movie star doesn't disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/actors-will-change-their-face-will-change-their-hair-will-change/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [No rock and roll ensemble, however inspired, can deliver the kind of musical variety obtainable with the resources of 110 instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/no-rock-and-roll-ensemble-however-inspired-can-deliver-the-kind-of/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [Roddenberry had his own utopian vision about he perfectibility of man, and I never really believed that. And I don’t think the show demonstrates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/roddenberry-had-his-own-utopian-vision-about-he-perfectibility-of-man/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [There are moments in one's life where you look back and you say, 'Well, I wish I had done this differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/there-are-moments-in-one-s-life-where-you-look-back-and-you-say-well/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I never gave my career much strategic thought. Maybe I should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/i-never-gave-my-career-much-strategic-thought-maybe-i-should-have/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [Movie studios, Hollywood studios, by and large are not making the kind of movies that I go to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/movie-studios-hollywood-studios-by-and-large-are-not-making-the-kind/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I wrote an article not so long ago that was published in the Los Angeles Times, and I think I titled it "Movies vs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/i-wrote-an-article-not-so-long-ago-that-was-published-in-the-los/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [The first thing that put me on the map was my Sherlock Holmes novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/the-first-thing-that-put-me-on-the-map-was-my-sherlock-holmes-novel/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [But you have to understand what that really did is that it opened these DVDs to be sources of oral history instead of puff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/but-you-have-to-understand-what-that-really-did-is-that-it-opened/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [The naive thing I suppose is simply that we thought, in the words of Francis Fukuyama, that we had reached the end of history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/the-naive-thing-i-suppose-is-simply-that-we-thought-in-the-words-of/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [My father's book is about is about a number of things, but about Houdini's rage to not be a failure like his father, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/my-father-s-book-is-about-is-about-a-number-of-things-but-about/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I'm mainly interested in people trying to figure s#!t out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/i-m-mainly-interested-in-people-trying-to-figure-s-t-out/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [An actor is someone who pretends to be somebody else. A movie star is somebody who pretends that somebody else is them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/an-actor-is-someone-who-pretends-to-be-somebody-else-a-movie-star-is/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I was always a filmmaker before I was anything else. If I was always anything, I was a storyteller, and it never really made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/i-was-always-a-filmmaker-before-i-was-anything-else-if-i-was-always/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [What’s the difference between and actor and a movie star. An actor is someone who pretends to be somebody else. A movie star is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/what-s-the-difference-between-and-actor-and-a-movie-star-an-actor-is/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) [Explore all 39 Nicholas Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) ## More Accurate quotes > [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/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/a-film-is-a-chain-of-very-difficult-decisions-and-i-think-one-of-them/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [ He \[Groucho's father\] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-training-and-if-you-had-ever/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [... the attempt to render visual intricacy makes words feel unwieldy, like sacks of meaning that must be lugged into place, dragged here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/the-attempt-to-render-visual-intricacy-makes-words-feel-unwieldy-like/) [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [Selfish hedonism is not a pejorative. It is a description - an exactly accurate description of what is involved in homosexual relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/selfish-hedonism-is-not-a-pejorative-it-is-a-description-an-exactly/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [The western mantra is that Israel seeks negotiations without preconditions, while the Palestinians refuse. The opposite is more accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-western-mantra-is-that-israel-seeks-negotiations-without/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. 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I think they are more accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/most-of-my-characters-are-romantic-rather-than-sexual-i-think-that-s/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [While the Environmental Genome Project does not seek to assign allele frequencies, we are aware of the importance of accurate allele frequency estimates for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-wilson/while-the-environmental-genome-project-does-not-seek-to-assign-allele/) [Samuel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-wilson/) [Browse all 847 Accurate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accurate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That research has gone into it and we say \"This is a history of the civil war, this is a biography of Lincoln\" whatever. 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