History is written by the victors.

Posted by RO on January 22, 2004

In Reply to: History is written by the victors. posted by Victor's nephew on January 22, 2004

: : : : : This phrase seems to be everywhere of late. I can't find the origin. Does anyone have an idea where it came from, and who said/wrote it?
: : : : : Thanks.

: : : : I looked in several quote books (and at Quoteland online) and couldn't find it. I did find a similar quote:

: : : : "'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'" George Orwell, "1984."

: : : WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is, in some ways, the newest of issues, and in some ways the oldest of issues. Plato said, thousands of years ago, "Those who tell the stories rule society."
: : : www.cnn.com/ TRANSCRIPTS/0009/12/nr.00.html

: : Thanks! I should have known it was Plato. I wonder how this variation developed.

: I'm pretty sure that my uncle Victor never wrote history. Come to think of it, he doesn't usually even sign cheques.

I had a cousin Victor who called occasionally from jail, but he never sent me a check, or provided a memorable quote.

• History is written by the victors -disproved! Lewis 23/January/04
  • History is written by the victors -disproved! Bob 25/January/04