--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History does influence our lives - every…" description: "\"History does influence our lives - every moment. We never sort of live our lives in a linear fashion. We always have these memories and these images fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/dinaw-mengestu-12378_always_history-does-influence-our-lives-every-m_2449374.jpg" --- # History does influence our lives - every moment. We never… ![“History does influence our lives - every moment. We never sort of live our lives in a linear fashion. We always have these memories and these images from our past that sometimes were not even aware of, and they sort of shape who we are.” quote by Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/dinaw-mengestu-12378_always_history-does-influence-our-lives-every-m_2449374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/dinaw-mengestu-12378_always_history-does-influence-our-lives-every-m_2449374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1e/dinaw-mengestu-12378_always_history-does-influence-our-lives-every-m_2449374.jpg) > “History does influence our lives - every moment. We never sort of live our lives in a linear fashion. We always have these memories and these images from our past that sometimes were not even aware of, and they sort of shape who we are.” [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our present identity is continuously shaped by past memories and images, even those we are not consciously aware of. **In simple terms:** The past subtly shapes who we are now. Key Takeaway Recognize and reflect on hidden influences. Themes identity memory self‑awareness time psychology Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical psychological inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy sessions - creative writing - family storytelling - historical research Key Concepts Narrative identity implicit memory subjective perception Questions to Reflect On - What past images influence your current decisions? - How can you bring unconscious memories into conscious awareness? A Different Perspective Our awareness of these hidden influences may be limited, leading to misinterpretation of self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Live every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-every-moment/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The past does not influence me; I influence it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/the-past-does-not-influence-me-i-influence-it/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Picasso once remarked I do not care who it is that has or does influence me as long as it is not myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/picasso-once-remarked-i-do-not-care-who-it-is-that-has-or-does/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Because a writer can't influence people, in the sense of making them think and feel and act as he does. 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It would take time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/you-see-at-the-beginning-we-weren-t-fighters-we-weren-t-yellers-or/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [I told my parents I was going to be a doctor and then a lawyer, but I never believed it and never tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/i-told-my-parents-i-was-going-to-be-a-doctor-and-then-a-lawyer-but-i/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“You will never disappear," I said. "Even if it may feel like you have at some point. 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