"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows"

This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. talks to the idea that history has a tendency to duplicate itself. He is suggesting that the past can be viewed as a predictor of the future, and that war is not a successful way to develop a tranquil tomorrow. He is cautioning us that if we continue to count on war to solve our problems, we will not be able to develop a serene future. He is encouraging us to want to the past and learn from it, so that we can produce a much better future. He is recommending that we should find alternative services to our problems, rather than depending on war. He is highlighting the importance of peace and understanding, and the requirement to find a way to create a better tomorrow without turning to violence.