# What is the origin of Henry Ford's quote, "History is more or less bunk."?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 19, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177 "2008-01-19T18:57:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eagles911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5fc32e/32.png) [@Eagles911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eagles911)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/1 "2008-01-19T18:57:43Z")

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Hey guys,

4th year college student in a History seminar. I have sort of an odd paper assignment. For our 1st 1-page paper, one of the options to write about is the origin of the classic Henry Ford quote in the title. I have about 3 weeks to do it so any information could be helpful. I will do some of my own research about the source (where it was first printed, etc.) of the quote and the context.  
Thanks in advance.

PS I love this site. I have been checking this site ever since it was on AOL 10 years ago.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/2 "2008-01-19T19:15:09Z")

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You’ll do _some_ of your own research? How awesomely generous of you.

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**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/3 "2008-01-19T19:38:18Z")

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Your library should have at least one “Dictionary of Quotations” or similar, which is likely to have references and everything you need to get started.

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**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/4 "2008-01-19T19:48:19Z")

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This is my favourite:

_History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there._ ~ George Santayana.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/5 "2008-01-19T20:32:50Z")

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From the [SDMB Rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?):

> [@](#):
>
> Please do not ask other members to do your homework or provide input for your article, paper, or other off-board project.

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/6 "2008-01-19T20:46:41Z")

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I like Bierce on the topic, too:

> [@](#):
>
> HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.

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**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-henry-fords-quote-history-is-more-or-less-bunk/434177/7 "2008-01-19T20:48:57Z")

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Sorry to pee out your campfire **Eagles911** , but we don’t allow homework help here.

**Gfactor**  
General Questions Moderator