I heard this quote* for the first time the other day. I am a huge fan of history, especially where it is useful to predicting the future. The idea of the future just being a repeat of the past has always rubbed me wrong. But history rhyming with other periods of history… absolutely! What is the Space Age but a rhyming along the theme of explorers like Columbus or Magellan? What is the invention of the rocket engine but a rhyming of the invention of the wheel.
*There is some debate about whether Twain is the author of this quote. My research indicates that it is likely him, or unknown.