<P> Jorge Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás , known in English as George Santayana ( / ˌsæntiˈænə / or / - ˈɑːnə / ; December 16 , 1863 -- September 26 , 1952 ) , was a philosopher , essayist , poet , and novelist . Originally from Spain , Santayana was raised and educated in the United States from the age of eight and identified himself as an American , although he always kept a valid Spanish passport . He wrote in English and is generally considered an American man of letters . At the age of forty - eight , Santayana left his position at Harvard and returned to Europe permanently , never to return to the United States . His last wish was to be buried in the Spanish pantheon in Rome . </P>
who said those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it
George Santayana