Forgetting Quote by Avishai Margalit
““Communities must make decisions and establish institutions that foster forgetting as much as remembering. Shredding the personal files of old Stasi (the former Fast Germany secret services) is an example of a communal decision to forget.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Ethics of Memory, 2000
Societies should balance remembering past atrocities with intentional forgetting to heal and move forward.
In simple terms: Forget as needed to heal.
Key Takeaway
Create policies for selective forgetting.
Themes
memory
healing
politics
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post‑conflict societies
- archival management
- public education
- reconciliation processes
Key Concepts
ethics
collective memory
transitional justice
Questions to Reflect On
- What should be remembered forever?
- How to ensure forgetting doesn’t erase truth?
A Different Perspective
Forgetting can erase accountability.
