Much that once was, is lost. For none now live who remember it.
- Lady Galadriel
This quote is like a Middle Earth version of Hegel's quotation. It pretty much sums up that humans have the tendency to ignore the past, while hoping to discover new things. Many other philosophies, teachings and religions echo similar message to heed lessons from the past. Many teachers, leaders and parents put effort to teach the later generations to not repeat same mistakes. At one point, one thing that crossed my mind was, "Why do these people, knowing that they themselves never learnt from history, are still advising others to learn from the past? Why did they even pressed for it, never giving it up, as if their lives are clinging on it?"
Only after I have seen a glimpse of the past myself that it became clear, how horrifying it is to not take heed upon the warnings of the pasts. How embarrassing it would be, to know that someone in future also know how we repeat our ancestors' mistakes and then simply laugh about it. A rather lame thought it was, but horrifying nonetheless. As the cycle goes on and on, we will dwindle to hopelessness. How should we then live without hope? Is stating the fact that it is all just an endless cycle will solve anything?
Only after I have seen a glimpse of the past myself that it became clear, how horrifying it is to not take heed upon the warnings of the pasts. How embarrassing it would be, to know that someone in future also know how we repeat our ancestors' mistakes and then simply laugh about it. A rather lame thought it was, but horrifying nonetheless. As the cycle goes on and on, we will dwindle to hopelessness. How should we then live without hope? Is stating the fact that it is all just an endless cycle will solve anything?
I sure hope we take some meditations upon this. And perhaps some readings might help - A Little History of the World.