Matthew Zang
The phrase "Those who do no learn history are doomed to repeat it" is ironically repeated by history teachers and enthusiasts alike. The original saying, attributed to George Santayana is so widespread that anyone that had either a basic history class in high school or a 100 level course in college is familiar with the phrase. However, this phrase does not sit well with many professional historians. The saying that is a more accurate depiction of this phenomenon comes from Mark Twain, musing that "history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes."
How does the statement by Mark Twain differ from Santayana's though? The simple fact is that history never truly repeats itself! The Roman Empire has not existed twice, Napoleon has not risen from the dead, and there is always different context to any given situation. The latter's phrase tends to embody this nuance much more than the former, which makes it more historically appropriate!
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| Photo Courtesy of oracleofhistory.com |
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