Re: History is written by the victors -disproved!

Posted by Lewis on January 23, 2004

In Reply to: Re: History is written by the victors. posted by RO 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."
: : : : http://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.

We have 2 examples of anecdotal evidence that show that Victors are not much in the way of historical scribes and no evidence in favour. I say that makes it 2-0 to the Victors.

• Re: History is written by the victors -disproved! Bob 25/January/04