By Daniel Rigney
Either Edmund Burke or George Santayana or some other sage famously said, “Those who [ignore/do not know/cannot learn from/cannot remember] [history/the past] are [destined/doomed/condemned] to [repeat/fulfill] it.”
Who among us could have said it better?
These words of wisdom -- timely yet somehow timeless -- echo down through the ages, reminding us to pay attention in history class or suffer some vaguely fearsome consequence. For a sampling of this messy meme’s many alternative mutations and attributions, check here, here and here.
At the risk of muddying the waters of wisdom further, I’ve just discovered a hidden trove of additional variations on this great quotation which I’d like to share with the world.
“Those who cannot make history are destined to be made by it.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
“Those who cannot learn from history are destined for tragedy.” – William Shakespeare
“Those who cannot learn from posterity are destined to be condemned by it.” – The 7th Generation
“Those who cannot learn karmic lessons in this life are destined to return as chimps.” – Guru Bonzo
“Learn from the past or die face down in the mud.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Those who cannot learn from mysteries are destined to die mysteriously.” – Agatha Christie
“Those who do not learn from Mister T. are destined to watch endless repeats.” B.A. Baracus, “The A-Team”
“Those who cannot learn history are destined to repeat this course.” – Miss Grundy, Archie Comics
“Those who cannot learn from history are destined not to worry.” – Alfred E. Neuman, MAD Magazine
“Those who cannot learn from misattributions are destined to repeat them.” -- Mark Twain
Have you just discovered a lost variation of your own? If so, why not share it with us in this same spirit of scholarly seriousness?
Danagram
Either Edmund Burke or George Santayana or some other sage famously said, “Those who [ignore/do not know/cannot learn from/cannot remember] [history/the past] are [destined/doomed/condemned] to [repeat/fulfill] it.”
Who among us could have said it better?
These words of wisdom -- timely yet somehow timeless -- echo down through the ages, reminding us to pay attention in history class or suffer some vaguely fearsome consequence. For a sampling of this messy meme’s many alternative mutations and attributions, check here, here and here.
At the risk of muddying the waters of wisdom further, I’ve just discovered a hidden trove of additional variations on this great quotation which I’d like to share with the world.
“Those who cannot make history are destined to be made by it.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
“Those who cannot learn from history are destined for tragedy.” – William Shakespeare
“Those who cannot learn from posterity are destined to be condemned by it.” – The 7th Generation
“Those who cannot learn karmic lessons in this life are destined to return as chimps.” – Guru Bonzo
“Learn from the past or die face down in the mud.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Those who cannot learn from mysteries are destined to die mysteriously.” – Agatha Christie
“Those who do not learn from Mister T. are destined to watch endless repeats.” B.A. Baracus, “The A-Team”
“Those who cannot learn history are destined to repeat this course.” – Miss Grundy, Archie Comics
“Those who cannot learn from history are destined not to worry.” – Alfred E. Neuman, MAD Magazine
“Those who cannot learn from misattributions are destined to repeat them.” -- Mark Twain
Have you just discovered a lost variation of your own? If so, why not share it with us in this same spirit of scholarly seriousness?
Danagram
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