What does this quote mean, "Those who forget their history are destined to repeat it"?

Question

This is a debate and I would like the best answer for you all!

Answer 1

Failure to learn from history will cause you to repeat the same mistakes over and over. It is logical.

Answer 2

I believe this statement was meant to address the fact that when societies endure painful events such as war and then move on without looking back at the events that led to war, they are doomed to end up in a war again. It was meant to say that we need to remember our past so that we avoid repeating mistakes. Conversely, you could look at this statement in the positive -- for instance, if you forgot to dwell on something good from the past, you are also destined to repeat it -- it just wouldn't be a BAD thing. I used to work for a Superior Court Judge who used the phrase "the past is prologue"; I believe it had a similar meaning. This quote is often used with reference to the Holocaust -- since some modern historians have suggested that there really was no 'holocaust', many have argued that thinking could cause it to re-occur. Frankly, there is almost always a part of the world in which 'genocide' is a problem. Another similar sentiment is "Never Forget". Again, this suggests that you keep these horrific historic events alive for subsequent generations with the hope that it will act as a warning for the future. It's another reason places like Gettysburg, PA, and Antietam, MD are important landmarks.

Answer 3

As individuals we are only small wrinkles in the fabric that is the complete time line of history. To assume that issues facing us today are unique and unprecedented is to ignore everything that has happened prior to this very moment. To be certain there will always be different "circumstances" and yet the underlying dilemma remains the same, left or right, right or wrong, yin or yang.

There must also be an element of analysis here on the notion that two (or more) entities faced with the same dilemma, perhaps hundreds of years apart, and applying the same rational evaluation to the situation would ultimately arrive at the same decision, hence "destined to repeat it." This would seem to confirm the concept that to do anything else will seem irrational and wrong to the vast majority and yet perfectly clear to the one choosing not to repeat it.

In the end, while each one of us is singularly responsible for the decisions we make, we can seek counsel from our friends, family, confidants, and yes, from history. Having the benefit of hindsight and choosing to exclude its contribution to our present day decision making is as arrogant a proposition as claiming to be the smartest human to have ever lived.

Studying history, especially its context, contributing factors, and results, equips us to make better history for coming generations.

Answer 4

Never Forget Holocaust Quote

Answer 5

This quote is often attributed to the philosopher George Santayana. It means that if we don't learn from what happened in the past, we are likely to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.

The positive case is that people who study and learn from the past are able to apply the lessons learned - about what works, and what doesn't - to the issues of the present. The negative case is that the past and the present are different (by definition!) so the past is not an infallible guide.

Overall I'd say that thinking about the past can give us valuable insight about issues and outcomes, but we should be careful about too-easy generalizations or analogies between past and present events.

Answer 6

Well I heard it more like "those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it" but yours is good enough for the conversation.

It is a philosophical metaphor to teach a valuable life lesson.

The basics of the lesson are that through experiences we learn, with those new lessons learned we can make better decisions in the future, and thus remembering history can help us all.

It is valid all the way from an individual level to a global level.

Examples :

Individual -- Cheat on a girl, loser her. Don't cheat on the next one, don't lose her.

Family -- Loan Uncle Bob money, lose money. Next time don't do it, don't lose money.

National -- Don't pay IRS, go to jail. Next time pay IRS.

Military -- WWI played in the trenches, WW2 Blitzkrieg through the trenches.

Global -- Let Hitler in power, millions die. Next time take him ( next insane ruler with rule the world ambition ) out before he comes to power.

I think you get the idea . . .

Answer 7

Yay, sounds fun. ^^

In my oppinion, it sounds like this: If we forgot our history and don't learn from it, it could repeat again and that would be bad. Ex: The holocaust. That was a very terrible time. But if we teach our children the wrong ways of what happened it can be prevented from happening again!

In other words: Forget your history, you forget parts of yourself, become a lost little bubble, and the next thing you know it happens again and you don't know what to do.

Answer 8

It means that those who don't learn from past mistakes are bound to do the same mistake again. Both Vietnam and Iraq invasions were mistakes.... when you learn from a past mistake, you aren't going to repeat it... it's also good for personal lives, not just dealing with government.

Answer 9

It means that when you forget about something bad that happens, you can't remember how you could have avoided it, and thus you are destined to repeat that mistake.

Answer 10

It means if you don't learn a lesson from mistakes of the past, you are probably doomed to repeat that mistake. If you DO learn a lesson and never repeat that mistake, it ceases to be a mistake and becomes a life lesson.