What Lessons Does the Study of History Teach Us?

[Sunstone]

What valuable lessons, if any, does the study of history teach us?

For instance, it is often said, "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it".

I would go further and say that my own study of history has taught me that even those who do know history often enough repeat it -- even to their downfall.

And, furthermore, I believe that's because history is to some large extent a matter of difficult to alter human nature. People tend to behave again and again in the same old ways because those are behaviors that come most naturally to them. To break out of the mold is rare.

So, what lessons has your own study of history taught you?

 

[`mud]

Fear of age !!!!!!!
~
'mud

 

[sandandfoam]

I love history but I don't think that anyone has ever learnt anything useful from it.

 

[Sunstone]

I love history but I don't think that anyone has ever learnt anything useful from it.

Given how often people make the same mistakes over and over, I'm inclined to agree with you.

 

[Revoltingest]

The old joke:
History teaches us that history teaches us nothing.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Perspective.

 

[Sunstone]

Perspective.

Good one.

 

[Amechania]

I think Churchill is preferable to Santayana on this: it's those who fall to learn from history not those who fail to know history who are condemned to repeat it.