That is just the way with Memory; nothing that she brings…
“That is just the way with Memory; nothing that she brings to us is complete. She is a willful child; all her toys are broken. I remember tumbling into a huge dust-hole when a very small boy, but I have not the faintest recollection of ever getting out again; and if memory were all we had to trust to, I should be compelled to believe I was there still.”
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 fragmented and unreliable; we cannot fully trust it as evidence of existence.
In simple terms: Memory is incomplete.
Rely on multiple sources, not just memory.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- historical research
- legal testimony
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you do when memory conflicts with facts?
- How do you verify personal recollections?
Memory can be useful when corroborated.