Here are two beautiful thoughts from Polybius (204-122 BC), relating to the study of history, and its importance to our lives.
The knowledge of what has gone before affords the best instruction for the direction and guidance of human life.
and
History furnishes the only proper discipline to educate and train the minds of those who wish to take part in public affairs; and the unfortunate events which it hands down for our instruction contain the wisest and most convincing lessons for enabling us to bear our own calamities with dignity and courage.