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People come into our lives and then they go out again. The…

“People come into our lives and then they go out again. The entropy law, as applied to human relations. Sometimes in their passing, though, they register an unimagined and far-reaching influence, as I suspect Hughes Rudd did upon me. There is no scientific way to discern such effects, but memory…” quote by David Quammen
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““People come into our lives and then they go out again. The entropy law, as applied to human relations. Sometimes in their passing, though, they register an unimagined and far-reaching influence, as I suspect Hughes Rudd did upon me. There is no scientific way to discern such effects, but memory believes before knowing remembers. And the past lives coiled within the present, beyond sight, beyond revocation, lifting us up or weighting us down, sealed away--almost completely--behind walls of pearl.””

David Quammen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human relationships are fleeting, yet they can have profound, lasting influence beyond measurable science, shaped by memory.

In simple terms: Brief encounters can deeply affect us.

Key Takeaway

Value the unseen impact of relationships.

Themes

memory entropy human connection influence philosophy

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • historical analysis
  • philosophical reflection

Key Concepts

psychology of memory social impact temporal dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do past relationships shape current identity?
  • What memories linger despite time?
A Different Perspective

Hard to quantify emotional influence scientifically.

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