Oddbean

History is a set of lies agreed upon. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte https://image.nostr.build/6587f2aef09a07ac735466ecf160414b7ecfc777d4403edebb08bb70661b5eac.jpg#m=image%2Fjpeg&dim=471x652&blurhash=_79%24tJI%3A0NSg%7D%3DENI%3BM%7Cjusot6xFNbWC04so%7E9nj9c%250%250%251oeI%3BM%7DI%3B%250xs%5EhsoE3kB%251R%2BIq9vRk-Txss.M%7DRks.W%3BWpjZRka%7C%251-ToeIqRkoeoyf*E3n%25%250fks.a%7CEM&x=2854332a9e194df47d8a44ffff22cf98ca7a09c05b73b57c0ad90b171f0def60

More negative views on history: “History is of two kinds—there is the official history taught in schools, a lying compilation ad usum delphini; and there is the secret history which deals with the real causes of events —a scandalous chronicle.” –Honoré de Balzac, Lost Illusions “History, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools." — Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary (1906) "History is more or less bunk." –Henry Ford, in Chicago Tribune 25 May 1916 “History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there. …History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten.” –George Santayana “History is not what’s done. It’s what gets into writing.” –Meir Shalev