Happily for the busy lunatics who rule over us, we are permanently the United States of Amnesia. We learn nothing because we remember nothing.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Vidal suggests that the American public forgets history, allowing leaders to act without consequence.
- In plain terms
- He says we do not learn from the past because we do not remember it.
- What can you take from it?
- Collective amnesia enables poor leadership.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do societies forget history?
- How does memory affect politics?
Another view
Many people do remember history, but it is often ignored by leaders.
More from Gore Vidal
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