What did Jacob Burckhardt mean when he said that history should make people wiser rather than shrewder?

Jacob Burckhardt’s assertion that history should make us "not shrewder (for the next time), but wiser (for ever)" reflects his philosophy of history, which prioritized a deep, contemplative understanding of the past over the pursuit of practical, short-term political utility.1

By "shrewder," Burckhardt referred to the common desire to use historical knowledge as a tool for immediate political gain or as a predictive guide for navigating specific, recurring circumstances. In contrast, he believed that true "wisdom" derived from history is a permanent, internal enrichment of the human spirit. Rather than treating history as a manual for statecraft or a collection of tactical lessons, Burckhardt viewed it as a way to gain a profound, holistic vision of human experience across different eras.1

This perspective underscores his belief that the study of the past should foster a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human destiny and culture, rather than merely equipping individuals with the cunning required to manipulate the events of their own time.21