Ray Bradbury. 451 degrees Fahrenheit (№ 523)

Once in ancient times lived in the light of the stupid Phoenix. Every few hundred years, it was burned themselves at the stake. She must have been first cousin to man. But burned and every time she again rose from its ashes. We, the people, similar to this bird. However, we have an advantage over her. We know how stupid that is. We know all the nonsense made by us for a thousand years or more. And once we know and all this is recorded and we can look back and see the path that we've been through, then there is hope that someday we will cease to build these stupid burial bonfires and throw into the fire. Every new generation leaves us people who remember the mistakes of mankind.