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[syoshioka99]

Contemporary events differ from history in that we do not know the results they will produce. Looking back, we can assess the significance of past occurrences and trace the consequences they have brought in their train. But while history runs its course, it is not history to us. The reason is that it leads us into an unknown land but rarely can we get a glimpse of what lies ahead. Things would be different if we were allowed to live a second time through the same events with all the knowledge of what we have seen before. If so, how different would things appear to us, how
important and often alarming would changes seem that we now scarcely notice! It is therefore, probably fortunate that man can never have this experience and knows of no laws which history must obey.

(Question)

I do not understand the phrase "trace the consequences."
Could you please restate it in another phrase?

Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[CP]

"Looking back, we can assess the significance of past occurrences and trace the consequences they have brought in their train" can be paraphrased this way:

"When we look back into the past, we are able to weigh the importance of things that happened and to follow (trace) their consequences."

Sometimes you hear someone say, "Hindsight is 20/20." In hindsight, many things may seem clear or obvious, although it was impossible to foresee the consequences of the events at the time.

Does that help?
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