When discussing his work and its long conversation with the American story, Ken Burns often shares a version of a quote long attributed to Mark Twain. “History doesn’t repeat itself,” the maxim maintains, “but it rhymes.”

The filmmaker was careful to specify, when we chatted last summer about “The American Revolution,” that Twain is supposed to have said this. A little digging reveals that no one can find concrete proof that Twain, the father of American literature, said or wrote those words; it’s a captivating yarn, though, and one that’s not only caught on but held tight.

Besides, whether the quote originated with Twain or someone else doesn’t make its sentiment any less accurate.

“What the study of history tells you is that we’ve always been divided,” Burns explained, allowing that e

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