--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In history, a great volume is unrolled…" description: "\"In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg" --- # In history, a great volume is unrolled for our… ![“In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.” quote by Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg) > “In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.” [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History provides a vast repository of lessons, allowing us to learn from past mistakes and build future wisdom. **In simple terms:** The past offers material for future wisdom through its errors. Key Takeaway Learn from history to avoid repeating mistakes. Themes history wisdom learning mistakes progress Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - personal growth - academic study - leadership development Key Concepts philosophy education reflection Questions to Reflect On - What historical lessons are most relevant today? - How can we balance past wisdom with innovation? A Different Perspective Relying solely on past errors may ignore novel challenges and opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Future Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-wisdom-2136181/) [Great history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Infirmity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infirmity/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-errors-568070/) [Unrolled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrolled-1101902/) [Unrolled Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrolled-instruction-6121285/) [Us history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us-history/) [Volume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volume/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-past-522043/) ## Related quotes > [My past is my wisdom to use today. . . my future is my wisdom yet to experience. Be in the present because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-oliver/my-past-is-my-wisdom-to-use-today-my-future-is-my-wisdom-yet-to/) [Gene Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-oliver/) > [Gods plan isn't a map for your life that you see all at once, but a scroll unrolled a little at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/gods-plan-isn-t-a-map-for-your-life-that-you-see-all-at-once-but-a/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Behind the curtain's mystic fold The glowing future lies unrolled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/behind-the-curtain-s-mystic-fold-the-glowing-future-lies-unrolled/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The puppeteer unrolled completely. 'Did I hear you call me cute?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/the-puppeteer-unrolled-completely-did-i-hear-you-call-me-cute/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [History is but the unrolled scroll of prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/history-is-but-the-unrolled-scroll-of-prophecy/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [“Every relationship must have a starting point so that past errors may remain in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lydon-simonsen/every-relationship-must-have-a-starting-point-so-that-past-errors-may/) [Mary Lydon Simonsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lydon-simonsen/) > [By honestly acknowledging your past errors, but never damning yourself for them, you can learn to use your past for your own future benefit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/by-honestly-acknowledging-your-past-errors-but-never-damning-yourself/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-should-not-look-back-unless-it-is-to-derive-useful-lessons-from/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Time affords us the ability to blame past errors on others while whole heartedly pronouncing our futures successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/time-affords-us-the-ability-to-blame-past-errors-on-others-while/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-ought-not-to-look-back-unless-it-is-to-derive-useful-lessons-from/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is easier to criticize than to correct our past errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livy/it-is-easier-to-criticize-than-to-correct-our-past-errors/) [Livy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livy/) > [We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-ought-not-to-look-back-unless-it-is-to-derive-useful-lessons-from-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I would bet that the average teenager in this country has not used the word 'wisdom' in the past year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/i-would-bet-that-the-average-teenager-in-this-country-has-not-used/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The study of the errors into which great minds have fallen in the pursuit of truth can never be uninstructive. . . No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/the-study-of-the-errors-into-which-great-minds-have-fallen-in-the/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Nowness or the magic of the present moment is what joins the wisdom of the past with the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/nowness-or-the-magic-of-the-present-moment-is-what-joins-the-wisdom/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) ## More by Edmund Burke > [It is the interest of the commercial world that wealth should be found everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-is-the-interest-of-the-commercial-world-that-wealth-should-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Many of the greatest tyrants on the records of history have begun their reigns in the fairest manner. But the truth is, this unnatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/many-of-the-greatest-tyrants-on-the-records-of-history-have-begun/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Wise men will apply their remedies to vices, not to names; to the causes of evil which are permanent, not to the occasional organs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/wise-men-will-apply-their-remedies-to-vices-not-to-names-to-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/my-vigour-relents-i-pardon-something-to-the-spirit-of-liberty/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of thegreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-must-submit-to-the-dominion-of-prudence-and-of-virtue-or/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/what-is-it-we-all-seek-for-in-an-election-to-answer-its-real-purposes/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/society-is-indeed-a-contract-it-is-a-partnership-in-all-science-a/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [You can never plan the future by the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-can-never-plan-the-future-by-the-past/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The great inlet by which a colour for oppression has entered into the world is by one man's pretending to determine concerning the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-great-inlet-by-which-a-colour-for-oppression-has-entered-into-the/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Religion, to have any force upon men's understandings,--indeed, to exist at all,--must be supposed paramount to law, and independent for its substance upon any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/religion-to-have-any-force-upon-men-s-understandings-indeed-to-exist/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Explore all 595 Edmund Burke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More Drawing quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [My drawing not that goog but alwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowly-fading/my-drawing-not-that-goog-but-alwell/) [Slowly\_fading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slowly-fading/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Keep a bad drawing until by study you have found out why it is bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/keep-a-bad-drawing-until-by-study-you-have-found-out-why-it-is-bad/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-puccini/cold-calculation-random-spots-of-color-mathematically-exact/) [Giacomo Puccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-puccini/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [Being on a trapeze is like dreaming. I feel totally outside of myself when I'm flying. You know, designing shoes, my imagination is flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/being-on-a-trapeze-is-like-dreaming-i-feel-totally-outside-of-myself/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [In 'Gran Torino,' Eastwood moves towards the climax of the movie not by staging a shoot-out, but by putting his weapons to one side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/in-gran-torino-eastwood-moves-towards-the-climax-of-the-movie-not-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [David Shrigley is somewhere between stand-up comedy and cave paintings. He does these brilliant esoteric, simple drawings - you might even say bad drawings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-reid/david-shrigley-is-somewhere-between-stand-up-comedy-and-cave/) [Noah Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-reid/) [Browse all 2,299 Drawing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the past errors and infirmities of mankind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Burke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-for-our-instruction-drawing-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drawing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-for-our-instruction-drawing-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/edmund-burke-400_drawing_in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-fo_1606833.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In history, a great volume is unrolled for our instruction, drawing the materials of future wisdom from the…” — Edmund Burke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edmund Burke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In history, a great volume is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-for-our-instruction-drawing-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-history-a-great-volume-is-unrolled-for-our-instruction-drawing-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```