The popularized proverb ‘history repeats itself’ is somehow paradoxical.

On the one hand, most

if not all states  in the world teach history in progressive terms (i.e. as linear); yet, majority of
people actually believe that history repeats itself. How is that possible? We can put the question
somewhat differently: If history repeats itself, we should be able to avoid the mistakes from the
past; but we do not – and hence we say that history repeats itself. If this is the case, then how
can we believe in a linear/progressive history?