"The future is dark, the present burdensome; only the past, dead and finished, bears contemplation. those who look upon it have survived it: they are its product and its victors. No wonder, therefore, that men concern themselves with history" Elton, The practice of history,1967.

That quote I have, but I am sure there are other comparisons of past, present and future. Its those I'm looking for.

Maybe it's a bit twee for whatever you need the comparison for, but there's a popular saying circulating along the lines of:

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is God's gift. That's why it's called the present.

Nothing comes of history but history- Edwin Muir
The past is past and the future neuter- Larkin
The more things happen the more you can't
Tell or remember even what they were.- William Empson
... history, which is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind- Edward Gibbon
A few more cheerful views of history for you.



Post Edited (11-26-03 10:45)