Foolishness

A fool keeps repeating the same mistake and expects a different outcome.

A wiser fool learns from his mistakes.

A still wiser fool learns from the mistakes of others.

A wise man learns from basic principles.

The statement that we must learn from the mistakes of the past or we are bound to repeat them only applies to fools. If we are wise we can learn from principles without making or watch other make mistakes and we need not dwell in the past.