One of the best speeches I have ever considered.

Narcissism exists on many levels. Not only is it common for many think their situation is unique or important, there is also a tendency not to recognize that there is nothing new under the Sun and that history is a repeating cycle. Whatever transformation we are currently undergoing, the sure fact is that we have been there/here before and we are NOT smart enough as a human race, nor will we ever be, for it not to get really ugly, really fast.

Still, I
am convinced that, in good times or bad, critical ones, transitional
ones, or normal ones, history can help human beings think better, live
more richly, and act more wisely.

...if they "choose" to learn from history.