If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us. But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives us is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us.

Summary

This quote by American statesman and Founding Father, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, reflects on our tendency to overlook the lessons of history. It suggests that if we could truly learn from the past, it would guide our decisions and actions. However, our biases, emotions, and allegiances often blind us, preventing us from recognizing the valuable insights experience offers. The quote vividly depicts the limited perspective we have by likening it to a lantern that exclusively illuminates the waves left behind, impeding our ability to navigate the present and future effectively.

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