--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History has to repeat itself,” said Woody…" description: "\"“History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because nobody was listening the first time around.”\" — Erwin W. Lutzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png" --- # History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because… ![“History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because nobody was listening the first time around.” quote by Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png) > ““History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because nobody was listening the first time around.”” [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Woody Allen suggests history repeats because people ignore lessons the first time, implying a need for attentive listening. **In simple terms:** History repeats when we ignore lessons. Key Takeaway Pay attention to past warnings. Themes history repetition learning attention Mood wry critical Type humorous observational When to use this quote - education - policy making - media analysis Key Concepts philosophy social commentary Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies repeat mistakes? - How can we improve listening to history? A Different Perspective Not all repeats are due to ignorance; other factors exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allen Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allen-listening-3007258/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Repeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-repeat-1409468/) [Repeat Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeat-said-1254539/) [Said Woody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-woody-3007259/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Woody allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woody-allen/) ## Related quotes > [There are over 7,000,000,000 or 7 billion people on this planet called Earth with each person saying millions of things for 3 billion seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/there-are-over-7-000-000-000-or-7-billion-people-on-this-planet/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [“To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pettibone-poole/to-repeat-what-others-have-said-requires-education-to-challenge-it/) [Mary Pettibone Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pettibone-poole/) > [ And, again, I don't know where he \[Osama Bin Laden\] is. I — I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/and-again-i-don-t-know-where-he-osama-bin-laden-is-i-i-ll-repeat-what/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“A few more Rules may fitly be given here, for correspondence that has unfortunately become controversial . One is, don’t repeat yourself . When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/a-few-more-rules-may-fitly-be-given-here-for-correspondence-that-has/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [People who talk about others to you will not have a problem talking about you to others; they will repeat what you said and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veedan-shimakuura/people-who-talk-about-others-to-you-will-not-have-a-problem-talking/) [Veedan Shimakuura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veedan-shimakuura/) > [“I didn't tell you so that you'd repeat it back. I said it because my heart commanded me to open my damn mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-manning/i-didn-t-tell-you-so-that-you-d-repeat-it-back-i-said-it-because-my/) [Edmond Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-manning/) > [One of the best strategies to learn something new during an interview is to ask the subject if there was a question they wished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/one-of-the-best-strategies-to-learn-something-new-during-an-interview/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [“You're at my table," Cormac whispers in my ear. "My dream come true," I reply. "I'm sorry?" he says in a voice that dares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-albin/you-re-at-my-table-cormac-whispers-in-my-ear-my-dream-come-true-i/) [Gennifer Albin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-albin/) > [History must repeat itself because we pay such little attention to it the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blackie-sherrod/history-must-repeat-itself-because-we-pay-such-little-attention-to-it/) [Blackie Sherrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blackie-sherrod/) > [“History will repeat itself, i will get hurt, and I will get back up. When i love someone, i will be willing to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-incubus/history-will-repeat-itself-i-will-get-hurt-and-i-will-get-back-up/) [Jacob Incubus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-incubus/) > [Sometimes history repeat itself with an intensions of giving you new life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe/sometimes-history-repeat-itself-with-an-intensions-of-giving-you-new/) [Simphiwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe/) > [It's incumbent on all of us to remember our history and not repeat our past sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-s-incumbent-on-all-of-us-to-remember-our-history-and-not-repeat/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [“And does history repeat itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce?No, that’s too grand, too considered a process. History just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/and-does-history-repeat-itself-the-first-time-as-tragedy-the-second/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Women with pasts interest men because they hope history will repeat itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/women-with-pasts-interest-men-because-they-hope-history-will-repeat/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The history of man is the history of crimes, and history can repeat. So information is a defence. Through this we can build, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/the-history-of-man-is-the-history-of-crimes-and-history-can-repeat-so/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) ## More by Erwin W. Lutzer > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [God in His sovereign goodness often uses the painful and at times debilitating injury of a spear thrower to make us readier for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/god-in-his-sovereign-goodness-often-uses-the-painful-and-at-times/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“God created us with emotions so that we might be able to enjoy Him and His creation. Often we have been tempted to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/god-created-us-with-emotions-so-that-we-might-be-able-to-enjoy-him/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Christianity spread rapidly during the first century because all Christians saw themselves as responsible for disseminating the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/christianity-spread-rapidly-during-the-first-century-because-all/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Christmas can be transformed into a celebration more attuned to honoring the One whose birthday we celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/christmas-can-be-transformed-into-a-celebration-more-attuned-to/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [I thank God for the way he made you, distinct, special and unique. You were not made from a common mold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/i-thank-god-for-the-way-he-made-you-distinct-special-and-unique-you/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“Someone has said that people live their lives “crucified between two thieves—the regrets of yesterday and the anxieties of tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/someone-has-said-that-people-live-their-lives-crucified-between-two/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Generally, the arguments for same-sex marriage go along these lines: 'I have a civil right.' What the homosexual movement wants to do is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/generally-the-arguments-for-same-sex-marriage-go-along-these-lines-i/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [In salvation, God both declares us guilty and pays our debt. Only he can satisfy his own requirements. A savior less than God would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/in-salvation-god-both-declares-us-guilty-and-pays-our-debt-only-he/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If there is one single reason why good people turn evil, it is because they fail to recognize God’s ownership over their kingdom, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-there-is-one-single-reason-why-good-people-turn-evil-it-is-because/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/no-matter-how-many-pleasures-satan-offers-you-his-ultimate-intention/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Only eternal values can give meaning to temporal ones. Time must be the servant of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/only-eternal-values-can-give-meaning-to-temporal-ones-time-must-be/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Worship is not an external activity precipitated by the right environment. To worship in spirit is to draw near to God with an undivided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/worship-is-not-an-external-activity-precipitated-by-the-right/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/often-the-doorway-to-success-is-entered-through-the-hallway-of-failure/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Thank God for the way He made you. You are special, distinct, and unique. You were not made from a common mold. Thank Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/thank-god-for-the-way-he-made-you-you-are-special-distinct-and-unique/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) [Explore all 86 Erwin W. Lutzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/) [Vanessa Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-curtis/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. The rain of Doritos, the bed thing,this...Maybe it's just that you create too big, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/or-maybe-your-magic-isn-t-that-destructive-after-all-the-rain-of/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I don't know why, but everybody thinks that I'm short. When they see me for the first time, women are always surprised to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-don-t-know-why-but-everybody-thinks-that-i-m-short-when-they-see-me/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) [Browse all 9,309 First time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because nobody was listening the first time around.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erwin W. Lutzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody-allen-because-nobody-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody-allen-because-nobody-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_first-time_history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody_1117411.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“History has to repeat itself,” said Woody Allen, “because nobody was listening the first time around.” — Erwin W. Lutzer", "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": "Erwin W. Lutzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“History has to repeat itself,” said...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody-allen-because-nobody-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/history-has-to-repeat-itself-said-woody-allen-because-nobody-was/#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 } } ] } ```