--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go back through 2000 years, I…" description: "\"If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and God have made history, the three of them together.\" — Theodore White" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png" --- # If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and… ![“If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and God have made history, the three of them together.” quote by Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png) > “If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and God have made history, the three of them together.” [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History is shaped by chance, ideology, and religion acting together. **In simple terms:** Luck, Marx, and God together shape history. Key Takeaway Recognize multiple forces shaping events. Themes history philosophy religion politics chance Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - political analysis - academic study - public discourse - media commentary - personal reflection Key Concepts determinism ideology theology causality Questions to Reflect On - How do you see chance versus belief influencing events? - Can we separate ideology from religion in history? A Different Perspective Attributing history to three forces oversimplifies complex causality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) ## Related quotes > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [We regard those other cultures such as that of India, where many people live and believe and behave much as they did 1000 or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/we-regard-those-other-cultures-such-as-that-of-india-where-many-2/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) > [If there is one country and its people that have contributed most to western civilisation's man-made world continuously for the last 2000 years, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-seidler/if-there-is-one-country-and-its-people-that-have-contributed-most-to/) [Harry Seidler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-seidler/) > [Jesus Christ, being 2000 years old and some change, is a relatively "new" god of the older god category - and has done quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/jesus-christ-being-2000-years-old-and-some-change-is-a-relatively-new/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [It's Good Friday. Good because 2000 years ago the events of today prove that we matter to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-good-friday-good-because-2000-years-ago-the-events-of-today/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Holy Bible. Promoting ignorance and superstition for nearly 2000 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-price/the-holy-bible-promoting-ignorance-and-superstition-for-nearly-2000/) [Robert M. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-price/) > [“you don't need to go that far in the future, you just have to go 2000 years ago,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-don-t-need-to-go-that-far-in-the-future-you-just-have-to-go-2000/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [These skeletons have been this way for over 2000 years, this is true love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/these-skeletons-have-been-this-way-for-over-2000-years-this-is-true/) Unknow > [Thank God for acupuncture. It's been around for 2000 years. It's not going anyplace and people use it all of the time for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-daly/thank-god-for-acupuncture-it-s-been-around-for-2000-years-it-s-not/) [Tim Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-daly/) > [The best thing about being Catholic is that you're a part of something bigger than yourself and you're a part of the community that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lino-rulli/the-best-thing-about-being-catholic-is-that-you-re-a-part-of/) [Lino Rulli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lino-rulli/) > [“God manifests himself in historical revelation, in history. Time initiates processes, and space crystallizes them. God is in history, in the processes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-manifests-himself-in-historical-revelation-in-history-time/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If something comes up that is completely freaky, it's spiritual-looking to the scientist, the first explanation is not going to be that it's God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-something-comes-up-that-is-completely-freaky-it-s-spiritual/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I am responsible only to God and history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-franco/i-am-responsible-only-to-god-and-history/) [Francisco Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-franco/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [God did not bear the cross only 1900 years ago, but he bears it today, and he dies and is resurrected from day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/god-did-not-bear-the-cross-only-1900-years-ago-but-he-bears-it-today/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Theodore White > [Power in America today is control of the means of communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/power-in-america-today-is-control-of-the-means-of-communication/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [When the bus or the plane rolled or flew through the night, they sang songs of their own composition about Mr Nixon and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/when-the-bus-or-the-plane-rolled-or-flew-through-the-night-they-sang/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [I class myself as a manual laborer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/i-class-myself-as-a-manual-laborer/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The gusto of one, the indignation of the other; the challenge of the one party, the response of the other; the eloquence and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/the-gusto-of-one-the-indignation-of-the-other-the-challenge-of-the/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [A liberal is a person who believes that water can be made to run uphill. A conservative is someone who believes everybody should pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/a-liberal-is-a-person-who-believes-that-water-can-be-made-to-run/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Those 40 or 50 national correspondents who had followed Kennedy since the beginning of his electoral exertions into the November days had become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/those-40-or-50-national-correspondents-who-had-followed-kennedy-since/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [A President and his wise men can only propose; but Congress disposes. It is when President and Congress agree that American history marches forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/a-president-and-his-wise-men-can-only-propose-but-congress-disposes/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [America is a nation created by all the hopeful wanderers of Europe, not out of geography and genetics, but out of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/america-is-a-nation-created-by-all-the-hopeful-wanderers-of-europe/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [It is almost nicer being a godfather than a father, like having white mice but making your nanny feed them for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/it-is-almost-nicer-being-a-godfather-than-a-father-like-having-white/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [His passion has aroused the best and the beast in man. And the beast waited for him in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/his-passion-has-aroused-the-best-and-the-beast-in-man-and-the-beast/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [When that book came out, it was like Columbus telling about America at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/when-that-book-came-out-it-was-like-columbus-telling-about-america-at/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Politics in America is the binding secular religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/politics-in-america-is-the-binding-secular-religion/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The President's decisions make the weather, and if he is great enough, change the climate, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/the-president-s-decisions-make-the-weather-and-if-he-is-great-enough/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [Always inflation comes gradually; is recognized too late; and can be cured only by ruthless political surgery, which, if delayed too long, proves futile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/always-inflation-comes-gradually-is-recognized-too-late-and-can-be/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [There are two kinds of editors, those who correct your copy and those who say it's wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/there-are-two-kinds-of-editors-those-who-correct-your-copy-and-those/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) [Explore all 33 Theodore White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) ## 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 > [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": "If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and God have made history, the three of them together.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore White" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-guess-luck-marx-and-god-have-made/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-guess-luck-marx-and-god-have-made/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/theodore-white-19249_history_if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-gues_1384268.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you go back through 2000 years, I guess luck, Marx, and God have made history, the three of them together.” — Theodore White", "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": "Theodore White", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you go back through 2000...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-guess-luck-marx-and-god-have-made/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/if-you-go-back-through-2000-years-i-guess-luck-marx-and-god-have-made/#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 } } ] } ```