History Repeats Itself

"History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other."- Philip Guedalla

This quote implies that when events happen, we do not learn from them so they happen again. Wars are started and ended with dreadful consequences yet almost as soon as one is ended another begins. Nothing is learned from the mistakes so history repeats itself. Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes occur frequently throughout the world yet we still continue to pollute the atmosphere causing even greater disasters to the climate and environment.

I am in agreement with this quote because as I see in the world around us today, religious fanaticism is becoming as prominent as it was in the Middle Ages; fashion designers take their inspiration for the modern clothes from old, even ancient designs and through human carelessness our climate is changing drastically.

Inevitably, Historians repeat the research and works of previous historians.

Most of the history written in history books is not rewritten except for perhaps alterations of detail or a different interpretation of events by the writer. History can also be passed down by word of mouth which can have a "Chinese Whispers" effect, meaning that the original story can change a great deal through its course down the generations.

I also think that only the mistakes of history are repeated, "History only repeats itself because no-one was listening the first time" Anon. I think this is a funny but true interpretation of why history repeats itself.