Those who cannot condemn the past repeat it in order to remember it.
Those unable to catalog the past are doomed to repeat it.
The past sharpens perspective, warns against pitfalls, and helps to point the way.
History informs us of past mistakes from which we can learn without repeating them. It also inspires us and gives confidence and hope bred of victories already won.
Experience teaches you how to do things you never want to do again.
Santayana's aphorism must be reversed: too often it is those who can remember the past who are condemned to repeat it.
If we do not learn from history, we shall be compelled to relive it. True. But if we do not change the future, we shall be compelled to endure it. And that could be worse.
That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it.
The past will not tell us what we ought to do, but... what we ought to avoid.
The thing that I do try to convey is, don't do what I did - but ask what I asked.
If history has a habit of repeating itself, doesn't someone have to stay behind to shout out a warning?
If you don't pay attention to history, you're destined to repeat it.
