Misquoted Quotes

Context

This line is attributed to Winston Churchill, but, uh, he didn't actually say it. The gist is the same, though. Here's what he actually said: "For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all Parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history" (source).

Making history is not the same as writing about it. If you're on the losing side, the winners are going to give you bad reviews. Had the victory in WWII been Hitler's, we'd be reading about that cowardly dog, Churchill. Hitler's autobiography might have included the chapter "Wipeout Winnie Creamed by Sauer Kraut."

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it" was Churchill's way of saying he was going to be the winner, as well as the keeper of his own legacy. It's been said that the winners write the history books—Churchill's acknowledging that here. He's also making it known that, after dusting the floor with the Nazis, he's going put in a good word for himself for the rest of us to read about.

Where you've heard it

As a morning mantra, it's working for Beyoncé and Jay-Z. But they'll let you use it—like a lightsaber, blasting obstacles to smithereens.

An actor also says it at the end of some humorous Churchill quotes.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

What do you think would happen if Charlie Brown said this to Lucy? You gotta have serious chutzpah to get away with this one.