Norman Cousins Quote

“History is a vast early warning system.”

~ Norman Cousins


Ratings and Comments


Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

I think the warning system is broke if it ever did really work. Look at population growth and environmental issues. No one is listening to those warnings.

jim k, austin

An early warning system to which we pay little attention. The prohibition of alcohol in 1920 was a disaster which we have repeated in this thing called The War on Drugs. The Volstead Act lasted from 1920 to 1933 and we had sense enough to get rid of it. This unwinnable drug war is much older and has been going full blast since Nixon ramped it up in 1970. At a cost of over $69 billion per year, perhaps we should rid ourselves of this monstrosity. LEAP.CC on the web will explain why.

E Archer, NYC

Therefore revising history keeps the delusion going. There is nothing new under the Sun.

Logan, Memphis, TN

Well stated Archer.

Mike, Norwalk

"... all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed." There is not a nickel's worth of difference between the despots running for president AND, when the de facto alien tyrants and slave minded majority shuns the only real candidate for change (Ron Paul - that would restore any semblance of freedom, liberty, and prosperity; he being cast out and ignored) history, after repeatedly warning of things to come, has described the eminent destruction ahead.

RobertSRQ
  • Reply
RobertSRQ    9/5/08

Yes, if you read history, and I'm afraid from the President down we are sadly lacking in that department - Did Richard lll have the two prince's killed in the tower or did he rush down from York to save them? Mike, I believe the Mayans had Armaggedon scheduled for 2012

Mike, Norwalk

Robert, are you saying that the Mayans were the human sacrificing, date setting for destruction segment of Christianity, or just amalgamating different religions with your own interpretive twist for fun? Thanks, I'll try and put that in an historical perspective early warning system.

Ken, Allyn, WA

Every upcoming generation thinks it has the answers and their parents and grandparents are half senile, sticks in the mud, old fools. It's not surprising that they have to repeat the same old mistakes. Warning systems only work for those who pay attention to them, and only the exceptional few do. Hopefully they'll be the ones who are in the position to take the correct actions when they're necessary. Pick your leaders carefully.

E Archer, NYC

BTW, don't confuse 'prophecy' with history. Secondly, I lived in Central America for 7 years and studied the Toltecs, Olmecs, Maya, Incas, etc.. I don't know what it is about people who think that whenever a 'clock' returns to zero it is the 'end of the world.' The Mayan calendar is complex and does not repeat itself but every 24,000 (or so) years. Come on, folks, fear of death and damnation is the cornerstone of despotism. Beware those that predict the end of the world -- they usually work extra hard to prove themselves right! (c'mon, guys, you are smarter than that, aren't you?)

Ken, Allyn, WA

Everyday is the end of the world for somebody.

warren, olathe

waffler what the hell has that got to do with history? Ron Paul would make our freedom a thing of the past.

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

I humbly suggest Warren that demographics and the environment also have a histroy. There are many histroris of course, social history, labor history, politcal history, art history, music history, history of science, and yes Warren even Poplulation Studies, and Environemental History. Expand your mind kind Sir.

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