Growth Quote by Len Deighton

“Progress is man's indifference to the lessons of history.”

Len Deighton

About This Quote

Source Book: The Imitation Game, Len Deighton, 1977

History repeats when people ignore past lessons, leading to repeated mistakes.

In simple terms: Ignoring history repeats mistakes.

Key Takeaway

Learn from past to avoid repeat errors.

Themes

history learning responsibility

Mood

reflective serious

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

politics
education
personal decisions
societal trends

Key Concepts

cyclical patterns human nature

Questions to Reflect On

What lessons have you ignored?
How can you apply past insights today?

A Different Perspective

History alone cannot change behavior without active reflection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2.7 out of 5 (10 ratings)

Growth History Indifference Indifference Lessons Lessons Man Indifference Men Progress Progress Man

More by Len Deighton

“she still had that fundamental insecurity that one bout of poverty can inflict for a lifetime, and no amount of money remedy.”

Len Deighton

Image

I store away my experiences and don't feel really happy until I've found a way to write about them.

Len Deighton

Image

Do you ever make silly mistakes? It is one of my very few creative activities.

Len Deighton

Image

“England's civil war had ended in a consensus as the English discovered that they hated foreigners more than they hated their own countrymen.”

Len Deighton

Image

“Why do these people love you, Archer? Is it simply because you show little or no response to their affection?”

Len Deighton

Image

When old men decided to barter young men for pride and profit, the transaction was called war.

Len Deighton

Image

The tragedy of marriage is that while all women marry thinking that their man will change, all men marry believing their wife will never…

Len Deighton

Image

“For fear is so unwelcome that it comes only in disguise, and guilt is its favourite one.”

Len Deighton

Image

Writers are frequently asked why they wrote their first book. A more interesting answer might come from asking them why they wrote their second…

Len Deighton

Image

“When they ask me to become president of the United States I'm going to say, "Except for Washington D.C.”

Len Deighton

Image

“Enrolment is tricky. You are telling lies to highly skilled liars.”

Len Deighton

Image

“Or was the truth - like so many truths - not any one of the envisaged possibilities?”

Len Deighton

Image

Explore all 29 Len Deighton quotes

More Growth quotes

My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.

LaMarcus Aldridge

Image

“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”

Phil Hogan

Image

Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…

Christopher Bond

Image

During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.

Herbert Spencer

Image

“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…

J.M. Coetzee

Image

“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…

Edward A. Hudson

Image

“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…

Oli Anderson

Image

If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.

Lanie Lane

Image

“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…

Donna Goddard

Image

Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…

James Boswell