Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·281 of 348
"The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know."
They never said that.
What people say
"The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know."
What was actually said
"Paraphrased from Harry S. Truman's remarks, collected in Plain Speaking (1973)." Harry S. Truman — Harry S. Truman, recorded c. 1961
Why it stuck
Truman said something very close during Merle Miller's interviews, but the exact "only thing new" phrasing is polished retrospect. Miller's book made it famous.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.