--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is like writing history with lightning…" description: "\"It is like writing history with lightning and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.\" — Woodrow Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png" --- # It is like writing history with lightning and my only… ![“It is like writing history with lightning and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.” quote by Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png) > “It is like writing history with lightning and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.” [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical events are recorded with striking accuracy, leaving little room for regret about their truth **In simple terms:** History is painfully accurate Key Takeaway Acknowledge truth and learn from history Themes history truth reflection Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - policy making - public discourse - media reporting Key Concepts historical documentation collective memory truthfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can societies use painful truths constructively? - What role does narrative play in shaping our perception of history? A Different Perspective Focusing on truth may cause disillusionment or fatalism ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-lightning-1029287/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Lightning Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning-regret-5702127/) [Like Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-writing/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Terribly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-terribly-5702129/) [Terribly True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terribly-true-5702128/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-history/) ## Related quotes > [Movies are like writing history with lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/movies-are-like-writing-history-with-lightning/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Write in pictures. With your words, let the reader see not letters, but images. Be specific about every detail, but don't describe it--make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-patawaran/write-in-pictures-with-your-words-let-the-reader-see-not-letters-but/) [A.A. Patawaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-patawaran/) > [The art of writing history is the art of emphasizing the significant facts at the expense of the insignificant. And it is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson-lynd/the-art-of-writing-history-is-the-art-of-emphasizing-the-significant/) [Robert Wilson Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson-lynd/) > [The aim of art is almost divine: to bring to life again if it is writing history, to create if it is writing poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-aim-of-art-is-almost-divine-to-bring-to-life-again-if-it-is/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I could not do what I do without the kindness, consideration, resourcefulness and work of librarians, particularly in public libraries... What started me writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-could-not-do-what-i-do-without-the-kindness-consideration/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Politics is a story about the relationship between the past and the future; history is a story about the relationship between the past and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/politics-is-a-story-about-the-relationship-between-the-past-and-the/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [“After all, words are what remain when all the deeds have been done. Words can shatter faith; start a war; change the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/after-all-words-are-what-remain-when-all-the-deeds-have-been-done/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I feel like I'm too busy writing history to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-like-i-m-too-busy-writing-history-to-read-it/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“Suppose a would-be writer can't begin? I really believe there are many excellent writers who have never written because they never could begin. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/suppose-a-would-be-writer-can-t-begin-i-really-believe-there-are-many/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [History is not truth versus falsehoods, but a mixture of both, a mélange of tendencies, reactions, dreams, errors, and power plays. What's important is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretel-ehrlich/history-is-not-truth-versus-falsehoods-but-a-mixture-of-both-a-m/) [Gretel Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretel-ehrlich/) > [“Recent fads in history and biography have increasingly exalted the aridity of chronology and fact, and have, with some valid reason, rejected romanticizing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/recent-fads-in-history-and-biography-have-increasingly-exalted-the/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [Half of writing history is hiding the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/half-of-writing-history-is-hiding-the-truth/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [We must be capable of writing our own history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithy-panh/we-must-be-capable-of-writing-our-own-history/) [Rithy Panh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithy-panh/) > [Language is not just a code; you are writing into its history, into its tides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/language-is-not-just-a-code-you-are-writing-into-its-history-into-its/) [Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/) > [A writer represents his family history. My grandfather was a senator and my father served in the Roosevelt administration. In other words, I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/a-writer-represents-his-family-history-my-grandfather-was-a-senator/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Woodrow Wilson > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-fifteen/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is here a great melting pot in which we must compound a precious metal. That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will-some-day-win-than-win-in-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/absolute-identity-with-one-s-cause-is-the-first-and-great-condition/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-cannot-be-an-ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [ The facts of the case will always have the better of \[an\] argument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-facts-of-the-case-will-always-have-the-better-of-an-argument/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names because only part of them has come over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-history-of-liberty-is-the-history-of-limitations-on-the-power-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When I think of the flag… I see alternate strips of parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-think-of-the-flag-i-see-alternate-strips-of-parchment-upon/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Energy in a nation is like sap in a tree; it rises from bottom up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/energy-in-a-nation-is-like-sap-in-a-tree-it-rises-from-bottom-up/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Explore all 492 Woodrow Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## 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": "It is like writing history with lightning and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woodrow Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightning-and-my-only-regret-is-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightning-and-my-only-regret-is-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/woodrow-wilson-534_history_it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightnin_3158936.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is like writing history with lightning and my only regret is that it is all so terribly true.” — Woodrow Wilson", "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": "Woodrow Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is like writing history with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightning-and-my-only-regret-is-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-is-like-writing-history-with-lightning-and-my-only-regret-is-that/#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 } } ] } ```