I must say a few words about memory. It is full of holes…
![“I must say a few words about memory. It is full of holes. If you were to lay it out upon a table, it would resemble a scrap of lace. I am a lover of history . . . [but] history has one flaw. It is a subjective art, no less so than poetry or music. . . . The historian writes a truth. The memoirist…” quote by David Ebershoff](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/53d/david-ebershoff-29756_art_i-must-say-a-few-words-about-memory-it-i_2971298.png)
“I must say a few words about memory. It is full of holes. If you were to lay it out upon a table, it would resemble a scrap of lace. I am a lover of history . . . [but] history has one flaw. It is a subjective art, no less so than poetry or music. . . . The historian writes a truth. The memoirist writes a truth. The novelist writes a truth. And so on. My mother, we both know, wrote a truth in The 19th Wife– a truth that corresponded to her memory and desires. It is not the truth, certainly not. But a truth, yes . . . Her book is a fact. It remains so, even if it is snowflaked with holes.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Memory is porous like lace; history, like memoirs and novels, is subjective, each presenting a version of truth shaped by personal desire.
In simple terms: Memory and history are subjective truths.
Key Takeaway
Accept subjectivity in recollection and historiography.
Themes
memory
history
subjectivity
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- teaching
- writing
- family storytelling
- museum curation
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern fact from personal bias?
- What responsibilities do historians have to truth?
A Different Perspective
Subjectivity can distort factual accuracy.