---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History always has a few tricks up its…"
description: "\"History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's been around a long time.\" — Terry Pratchett"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg"
---

#  History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's…

![“History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's been around a long time.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg)

> “History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's been around a long time.”

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

History repeats with hidden tricks, suggesting that past lessons are often overlooked despite longevity.

**In simple terms:** History has hidden tricks and repeats.

Key Takeaway

Learn from past patterns to avoid repeat mistakes.

Themes

history wisdom humor

Mood

witty reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- education
- policy making
- personal decision‑making

Key Concepts

patterns cyclical nature critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What “tricks” does history hide?
- How can we better remember past lessons?

A Different Perspective

Complex histories can be oversimplified.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Frayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frayed-433541/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-tricks-4536024/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Sleeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeves/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Tricks Frayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks-frayed-4536025/)

## Related quotes

> [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/)

[Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/)

> [It was one frayed rope thrown across the chasm between us. Not enough to get across, but maybe just enough to tell that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-was-one-frayed-rope-thrown-across-the-chasm-between-us-not-enough/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [My poor life This shawl Frayed on strongboxes full of gold I roll along with Dream And smoke And the only flame in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/my-poor-life-this-shawl-frayed-on-strongboxes-full-of-gold-i-roll/)

[Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/)

> [“This is my ‘I give a f\*¢k’ rope… it’s frayed, faded, and hanging on by one sarcastic thread. Tug at your own risk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julieanne-o-connor/this-is-my-i-give-a-f-k-rope-it-s-frayed-faded-and-hanging-on-by-one/)

[Julieanne O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julieanne-o-connor/)

> [When a man dies, flesh is frayed and broken in the fire, but not his will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/when-a-man-dies-flesh-is-frayed-and-broken-in-the-fire-but-not-his/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [“History's got no bows on it, only frayed ends of ribbons and knots that can't be untied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/history-s-got-no-bows-on-it-only-frayed-ends-of-ribbons-and-knots/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“I didn't think...' His exhale was frayed, tattered. 'I didn't think you'd be alive when I reached you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-didn-t-think-his-exhale-was-frayed-tattered-i-didn-t-think-you-d-be/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [Our tribe unraveled like a coarse rope, frayed at either end as the old and new among us were taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/our-tribe-unraveled-like-a-coarse-rope-frayed-at-either-end-as-the/)

[Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/)

> [“In all the mad incongruity, the turgid stultiloquy of life, I felt, at least, securely anchored to myself. Whatever the vacillations of other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-all-the-mad-incongruity-the-turgid-stultiloquy-of-life-i-felt-at/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Your nerve coatings are only so thick. When they get worn really thin and frayed, that's when people say things, do things, misbehave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-felder/your-nerve-coatings-are-only-so-thick-when-they-get-worn-really-thin/)

[Don Felder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-felder/)

> [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting-2/)

[Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/)

> [No matter how well prepared you are in life, you're gonna fall down a hole, and if you can fix the frayed ends of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/no-matter-how-well-prepared-you-are-in-life-you-re-gonna-fall-down-a/)

[Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/)

> [I'm only 42, and I've got a lot more tricks up my sleeve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/i-m-only-42-and-i-ve-got-a-lot-more-tricks-up-my-sleeve/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [By a man's finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by his trouser-knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/by-a-man-s-finger-nails-by-his-coat-sleeve-by-his-boots-by-his/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [History isn't like that. History unravels gently, like an old sweater. It has been patched and darned many times, reknitted to suit different people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/history-isn-t-like-that-history-unravels-gently-like-an-old-sweater/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## More by Terry Pratchett

> [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

[Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

## More History quotes

> [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/)

[Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [The NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/)

[Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/)

> [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/)

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/)

> [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/)

[Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/)

> [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/)

[David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/)

> [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/)

[Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/)

> [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/)

[Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/)

> [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/)

[Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/)

> [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/)

[C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

[Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's been around a long time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Terry Pratchett"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-frayed-sleeve-it-s-been-around/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "History"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-frayed-sleeve-it-s-been-around/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37e/terry-pratchett-19_history_history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-f_2153168.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“History always has a few tricks up its frayed sleeve. It's been around a long time.” — Terry Pratchett",
                "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": "Terry Pratchett",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "History always has a few tricks...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-frayed-sleeve-it-s-been-around/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/history-always-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-frayed-sleeve-it-s-been-around/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
