How accurate are the words ‘History never repeats itself?

Question

I’ve heard it as the name of a song and I’m curious on your thoughts of its accuracy.

OddBeMe · Accepted Answer

In literal sense it’s impossible. Figuratively, historians tend to hate that line. Some even say “but it rhymes” is wrong, too. But honestly it’s a good statement to remember to study the past to learn from others mistakes.

Like right now…Israel is “literally” going down Bush W’s 9/11 path that led to disaster. It’s actually spooky if you re-read 9/11 history of W’s “war on terror”. We spend trillions for nothing.

Twalli · Accepted Answer

In a literal interpretation, it doesn't. However a lot of problems we see now could probably be avoided with a good knowledge of history.

I hate to get political, but we fought a war against someone who had thre same type of support Trump has in the 1940s. Trump's followers seem too want exactly what he did to happen again, just in the US instead of Germany.

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

On the negative side, history always repeats because people rarely learn.  On the positive, history repeats because good things will always come back. Music being the obvious example.

avery58 · Accepted Answer

Not very much. Supposedly the most important to learn history is to not repeat the mistakes of the past but humanity never really learns, does it? :)

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Please refer to the above meter.

AviatorTom · Answer

Totally inaccurate. History often repeats itself. Is Hitler the only dictator who slaughtered people he doesn't like?

RingOfFire · Answer

Extremely inaccurate. History constantly repeats itself. A much more accurate saying is: "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

SotiCoto · Answer

Whether it repeats itself or not depends how closely you're examining it.  The overall general themes repeat constantly. The finer trivial details not so much.

DJB72 · Answer

History has been on a loop for centuries. Just different sinners repeating the same sins over and over again

DryGermanGuy · Answer

„History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.“  - Karl Marx

LiamS95 · Answer

Not accurate st all because history always repeats itself, that's why we try to learn from history to try to prevent some things from happening again.

Anonymous · Answer

not accurate at all because it only takes one instance to prove the phrase wrong

jahaims · Answer

History always repeats itself is the quote. It is accurate on a macro level

DrPepper12 · Answer

Totally False. "History repeats itself first as tragedy, next as farce"

Jrg98 · Answer

I’ve always heard history always repeats itself

Anonymous · Answer

It's history repeats itself, not history never repeats itself.

Dongie · Answer

I've heard, if you never study history you're bound to repeat it. Or some such wisdom.

AngryCarl · Answer

History ALWAYS repeats itself.

bobby_bush_eater · Answer

Well it repeats itself all the time so...

MarkyMark2006 · Answer

But it does rhyme

impalabill77 · Answer

Not very. In my experience it does.

How accurate are the words ‘History never repeats itself?

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How accurate are the words ‘History never repeats itself?

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