Answer
Karl Marx
Explanation
The German philosopher Hegel (1770-1831) first said, "History repeats itself". Later, the famous German economist and philosopher Karl Marx (1818-1883) extended this line by saying: "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce."
Key Points
- > Hegel was an influential German philosopher known for Dialectics.
- > Karl Marx was the architect of scientific socialism and a famous philosopher and economist.
- > 'Das Kapital' is one of the most famous books written by Marx.
- > Marx was born in 1818 and died in 1883.
- > Marx made this statement primarily to compare the historical roles of Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Napoleon III.
- > Tragedy here refers to a monumental downfall or sorrowful event.
- > Farce refers to a weak and ridiculous repetition of the same event.
Additional Information
Famous Historical Quotes
| Quote | Proponent | Country |
|---|---|---|
| "History repeats itself" | Hegel | Germany |
| "...first as tragedy, second as farce" | Karl Marx | Germany |
| "History is an unending dialogue..." | E. H. Carr | Britain |
| "Describe the past as it actually was" | Leopold von Ranke | Germany |
Memory Tips
- Marx always talked about class struggles. Remember that for him, class struggle starts as a Tragedy and ends as a Farce.