The renowned Greek historian, Polybius has a great quote about learning from history versus learning from your own experience. Sure you learn from both, but having the humility to learn from history sure makes life much more peaceful.
"There are two roads to reformation for mankind—one through misfortunes of their own, the other through those of others; the former is the more unmistakable, the latter the less painful... For it is history, and history alone, which, without involving us in actual danger, will mature our judgment, and prepare us to take right views, whatever may be the crisis or the posture of affairs." –Polybius