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About this quote

What does it mean?
Ignoring history prevents maturity and wise decision-making in the present.
In plain terms
People who do not learn from history stay immature.
What can you take from it?
Study history to mature and avoid repeating errors.

Where it applies

  • personal growth
  • education
  • leadership

Putting it to work

  • read history
  • learn from past
  • avoid naivety

Questions to consider

  • What have you learned from the past?
  • Is history useful?

Another view

History does not always repeat in clear patterns.

More from Karl Popper

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  2. The deepest, the only theme of human history, compared to which all others are of subordinate importance, is the conflict of skepticism with faith.

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  3. Why do I think that we, the intellectuals, are able to help? Simply because we, the intellectuals, have done the most terrible harm for thousands of years. Mas…

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