--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History repeats itself, but in such…" description: "\"History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.\" — Sydney J. Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/sydney-j-harris-1578_cunning_history-repeats-itself-but-in-such-cunni_1825666.png" --- # History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that… ![“History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/sydney-j-harris-1578_cunning_history-repeats-itself-but-in-such-cunni_1825666.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/sydney-j-harris-1578_cunning_history-repeats-itself-but-in-such-cunni_1825666.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/sydney-j-harris-1578_cunning_history-repeats-itself-but-in-such-cunni_1825666.png) > “History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History repeats in subtle ways, hidden until consequences appear. **In simple terms:** History repeats unnoticed until harm occurs. Key Takeaway Watch for patterns early. Themes history deception awareness Mood cautious reflective Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - politics - personal relationships - financial markets - social media trends Key Concepts cyclical patterns human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can we train ourselves to notice subtle repeats? - What safeguards can prevent repeated mistakes? A Different Perspective Patterns may be masked by new contexts, making detection harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Cunning Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning-disguise-2231624/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Damage is done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage-is-done/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Repeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-repeats/) [History repeats itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-repeats-itself/) [Repeating history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeating-history/) [Repeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeats/) [Repeats Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeats-cunning-2231622/) [Resemblance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resemblance/) [Resemblance Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resemblance-damage-2231623/) ## Related quotes > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-wright/each-time-history-repeats-itself-the-price-goes-up/) [Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-wright/) > ["History repeats itself" and "History never repeats itself" are about equally true ... We never know enough about the infinitely complex circumstances of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-trevelyan/history-repeats-itself-and-history-never-repeats-itself-are-about/) [G. M. Trevelyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-trevelyan/) > [A revival almost always begins among the laity. The ecclesiastical leaders seldom welcome reformation. History repeats itself. The present leaders are too comfortably situated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bartleman/a-revival-almost-always-begins-among-the-laity-the-ecclesiastical/) [Frank Bartleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bartleman/) > [History repeats itself in the large because human nature changes with geological leisureliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/history-repeats-itself-in-the-large-because-human-nature-changes-with/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [History repeats itself, but the special call of an art which has passed away is never reproduced. It is as utterly gone out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/history-repeats-itself-but-the-special-call-of-an-art-which-has/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [The past does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-past-does-not-repeat-itself-but-it-rhymes/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler's anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-am-gay-i-am-a-jew-my-mother-lost-over-a-dozen-of-her-family-to/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [History repeats itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-repeats-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was interesting looking back at the '80s and trying to find newspaper headlines from the time - the cliché of history repeating itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/it-was-interesting-looking-back-at-the-80s-and-trying-to-find/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [History repeats itself again I guess the rate of innovation is so high in our industry that if you don’t innovate at that speed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorsten-heins/history-repeats-itself-again-i-guess-the-rate-of-innovation-is-so/) [Thorsten Heins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorsten-heins/) > [“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/) > [“History repeats itself only in that, from afar, we all seem to lead exactly the same life. We are all born; we all spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bloor/history-repeats-itself-only-in-that-from-afar-we-all-seem-to-lead/) [Edward Bloor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bloor/) > [History repeats itself over and over again, but most of us have short memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/history-repeats-itself-over-and-over-again-but-most-of-us-have-short/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat the eleventh grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-loewen/those-who-don-t-remember-the-past-are-condemned-to-repeat-the/) [James W. Loewen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-loewen/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Cunning quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/why-do-some-die-and-some-live-the-answer-was-clearly-that-on-the/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Stratagem is the right hand of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/stratagem-is-the-right-hand-of-cunning/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [“When a man possesses the innocence of a child, we call him a fool. When a child possesses the cunning of a man, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/when-a-man-possesses-the-innocence-of-a-child-we-call-him-a-fool-when/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [“Would you like to sit?" Kellen asked her. "You'd better do it soon," Owen whispered close to her ear, "or I'm going to bend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/would-you-like-to-sit-kellen-asked-her-you-d-better-do-it-soon-owen/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [I am defined by my will to survive, not by intelligence or cunning or money or good looks. The Creator didn't see her way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/i-am-defined-by-my-will-to-survive-not-by-intelligence-or-cunning-or/) [Jaune Quick–to–See Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/) > [A cunning mind emphatically delights in its own cunning, and is the ready prey of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brownell-jameson/a-cunning-mind-emphatically-delights-in-its-own-cunning-and-is-the/) [Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brownell-jameson/) [Browse all 535 Cunning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney J. 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