It would add much to human happiness, if an art could be…
“It would add much to human happiness, if an art could be taught of forgetting all of which the remembrance is at once useless and afflictive, that the mind might perform its functions without encumbrance, and the past might no longer encroach upon the present.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Forgetting painful memories frees the mind to function unburdened.
In simple terms: Let go of harmful recollections.
Release past hurts to focus on present.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- daily meditation
- stressful work environments
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Which memories serve you?
- How can you balance forgetting and remembering?
Some memories are essential for learning and identity.