--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one duty we owe to history is to…" description: "\"The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg" --- # The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. ![“The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg) > “The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that we owe history the task of rewriting it, implying active reinterpretation. **In simple terms:** Rewrite history as a duty. Key Takeaway Engage in revising historical narratives. Themes history revisionism responsibility truth Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - public discourse - education curricula - media representation Key Concepts philosophy of history critical theory literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - What should guide historical reinterpretation? - How to balance respect and revision? A Different Perspective Rewriting may erase valuable perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [The duty we owe ourselves is greater than that we owe others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-duty-we-owe-ourselves-is-greater-than-that-we-owe-others/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [In one generation of silent neglect, we have allowed the revisionists of our history to rewrite our past and deny that we have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scarborough/in-one-generation-of-silent-neglect-we-have-allowed-the-revisionists/) [Rick Scarborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scarborough/) > [The consciousness of having discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all other considerations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-consciousness-of-having-discharged-that-duty-which-we-owe-to-our/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Each and every one of us who is still lucky enough to have our parents has a duty to them. We do owe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-jillian/each-and-every-one-of-us-who-is-still-lucky-enough-to-have-our/) [Ann Jillian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-jillian/) > [On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/on-an-occasion-of-this-kind-it-becomes-more-than-a-moral-duty-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I always wanted to be a writer. In the beginning, I thought I had to rewrite 'Gone with the Wind,' but eventually, I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer-in-the-beginning-i-thought-i-had-to/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [The best part of all, the absolutely most delicious part, is finishing it and then doing it over I rewrite a lot, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/the-best-part-of-all-the-absolutely-most-delicious-part-is-finishing/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [We've always dreamt of a TV series and working in film. When we first sat down to seriously write 'A Little Nightmare Music,' to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksey-igudesman/we-ve-always-dreamt-of-a-tv-series-and-working-in-film-when-we-first/) [Aleksey Igudesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksey-igudesman/) > [To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs work with character, dialogue, plot and tone,' and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/to-this-day-i-get-rewrite-offers-where-they-say-we-feel-this-script/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I've been shocked by film actors - 25 and under - having such confidence and cockiness to rewrite a scene. My background is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/i-ve-been-shocked-by-film-actors-25-and-under-having-such-confidence/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [To rewrite history on the bases of hypotheses which have not materialized is not only a fruitless task, but, in my eyes, meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/to-rewrite-history-on-the-bases-of-hypotheses-which-have-not/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/reread-rewrite-reread-rewrite-if-it-still-doesn-t-work-throw-it-away/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I can't. You can't rewrite the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-can-t-you-can-t-rewrite-the-past/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“If you had your time all over again…? She was keen to know. You can't rewrite history. I have no idea what I'd do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/if-you-had-your-time-all-over-again-she-was-keen-to-know-you-can-t/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [Civilization had too many rules for me, so I did my best to rewrite them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/civilization-had-too-many-rules-for-me-so-i-did-my-best-to-rewrite/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Duty quotes > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/) [Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Wilde" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rewrite-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Duty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rewrite-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/oscar-wilde-16_duty_the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rew_3040212.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.” — Oscar Wilde", "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": "Oscar Wilde", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The one duty we owe to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rewrite-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-one-duty-we-owe-to-history-is-to-rewrite-it/#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 } } ] } ```