Expanded phrase?, ORIGINAL PHRASE?

Posted by Larry on March 10, 2003

In Reply to: Expanded phrase? posted by Larry on March 09, 2003

I am trying to answer a followup and hope this is how to do it. The most commonly quoted "original" goes something like this:

"Those who don't learn from the lessons of history are bound to repeat them".

See link below to another discussion on this site.

: A few years ago, I read that the correct phrase is, "Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them."

: This version makes more sense than the commonly quoted phrase, which implies that nothing from the past is worth repeating. That is patently false and indefensible and is why I would never use the common phrase to make a point.

: Question: was Santayana misquoted? Or merely wrong?

• Discussion of "original" Santayna phrase

• The Original Phrase TheFallen 03/11/03
  • The Original Phrase Larry 03/12/03