Well:
the commonly used expression, "Those who ignore history are bound (or doomed) to repeat it" is actually a mis-quotation of the original text written by George Santayana, who, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1, wrote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Rooted in the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and many others to follow, his biography (1863-1952) and more contemporary intepretations and observations about man and life can be found at Wikipedia by searching for George Santayana. Stanford University online also provides an outstanding and much more detailed background on this important and profound philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist.
Santayana's quotation, in turn, was a slight modification of an Edmund Burke (1729-1797) statement, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Burke was a British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism.
- Wikianswers.com [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_said_Those_who_ignore_history_are_bound_to_repeat_it]
Does that mean that George Santayana did not really know 'his' history as he quoted (almost word for word) Edmund Burke? Sorta apropo for today's economic climate, which is (almost word for word) of the 1920's Great Depression.
Anyways, I need to get back to work. My boss just walked by!
