What’s the point of time travel if you can’t change the past? Similarly, what’s the point in studying the events of history, or telling stories about them?
“Don’t try to understand why a fine man is cut off in his prime and an evil one prospers. Try to understand what benefit there is in observing history as it actually happens,” said the Doctor.
“I don’t see that there’s any benefit in it at all,” muttered Ian, “except for the fascination.” His eyes turned to the Doctor’s. “And, frankly,” he went on, with a more definite note in his voice, “that isn’t enough. We ought to be.. to be doing things. Not just watching them happen.”
The Doctor stood up and walked over to the central column. He stared down at the dials and switches for a few seconds and then turned to face them.
“We are doing something. We are learning. Why do people kill each other, steal from each other; rob, slander, hurt and destroy? Why do thousands upon thousands of young men hurl themselves at one another on a field of battle, each side sure in the justness of its cause? Until we know, until we can control greed, destructive ambition, hatred and the dozen and one other flaws that plague us, we are not worthy to breathe.”
Doctor Who and The Crusaders by David Whittaker (1965)
It’ll take more than a knowledge of history to cure the flaws that plague our human nature, but the aspiration to look at history to learn from it, rather than just for fascination or entertainment, is a worthy one.