How can we say that history repeats itself?

Answer 1

A paraphrase:
"Those who choose to ignore the lessons of the past are condemmed to repeat them."
An example:
Nations can fall under the spell of charismatic, but tyrannical leaders to their eventual ruin.
Failing to learn the example of France allowing Napolean to sieze control and involve France in a failed war of conquest ,
Germany, allowed Hitler to sieze power and involve Germany in a similar failed war of conquest.

Napolean attempted to invade Russia too close to Winter and was driven back.
Hitler attempted to invade Russia too close to Winter and was driven back.

History repeats itself if we are ignorant of the lessons it can teach.

Answer 2

What happened in the past is already part of the history. We say that "history repeats itself" when we experienced it or it happened again some time in the future.

Answer 3

We can say that history repeats itself because we are the same people writing it over and over. Never changing our old habits.

Answer 4

everything repeats itself, history, life, everything.

fashion is a simple way to see history repeat, what was in now, will be in again in about 20 yrs. its why the 70's look was so popular in the 90's.

Answer 5

The questions asked on Y! answers certainly repeat. That's probably the most local example.

Answer 6

There are only so many mistakes a country can make. After a few centuries, they've all been made, and people can only make the same mistakes as someone else.

Answer 7

Vietnam...Iraq...Slight similarities perhaps sans the hippies

Answer 8

if you knew more about history you would not ask this question.