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Explaining "History repeats itself"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 17:09
English.me team member

What does it mean?

History repeats itself

The phrase "History repeats itself" suggests that events or patterns that have occurred in the past tend to occur again in a similar or analogous form over time.

Tone

Reflective

Origin

The concept that history is cyclical or that events tend to repeat themselves has roots in ancient and classical philosophy. It is often attributed to thinkers like Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, although he did not precisely say these words. The exact phrase has evolved over time to convey the idea that historical patterns repeat.

Examples of usage

  • Many historians believe that history repeats itself, and we can learn from past mistakes.
  • Seeing the rise in economic inequality, some argue that history repeats itself when it comes to the distribution of wealth.

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