The text reflects on the nature of history and its unpredictability. It points out that, unlike scientific experiments, history lacks control groups to help envision alternative outcomes. This uncertainty leads to a longing for what might have been, but ultimately, those possibilities are mere speculations that never materialized. The author suggests that this fixation on alternate realities is unproductive since the events that occur are definitive and irreversible.

The author also critiques the commonly held belief that studying history prevents its repetition. Cormac McCarthy emphasizes that fundamental human traits like greed and violence have persisted throughout time, indicating a bleak view of human behavior. Even a divine perspective cannot seemingly alter these recurring patterns, suggesting a deep-rooted nature of humanity that remains unchanged across ages.