--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of what significance are the things you…" description: "\"Of what significance are the things you can forget.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/henry-david-thoreau-20_forget_of-what-significance-are-the-things-you_2193255.jpg" --- # Of what significance are the things you can forget. ![“Of what significance are the things you can forget.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/henry-david-thoreau-20_forget_of-what-significance-are-the-things-you_2193255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/henry-david-thoreau-20_forget_of-what-significance-are-the-things-you_2193255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17a/henry-david-thoreau-20_forget_of-what-significance-are-the-things-you_2193255.jpg) > “Of what significance are the things you can forget.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions the value of memories and knowledge that fade, suggesting that what we cannot retain may be insignificant. **In simple terms:** Forgotten things may lack importance. Key Takeaway Focus on what endures. Themes memory significance impermanence Mood contemplative melancholy Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - learning - archiving - legacy - mental health Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What do you choose to remember? - How does forgetting affect your sense of self? A Different Perspective Even forgotten things can shape identity subtly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Significance Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance-things-1994646/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-forget/) ## Related quotes > [“The significance of things can only evolve in time.Nothing is what it is until it becomes what it must become”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaye-shortland/the-significance-of-things-can-only-evolve-in-time-nothing-is-what-it/) [Gaye Shortland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaye-shortland/) > [I want to do things of significance, things that will inspire people to know how good life can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-want-to-do-things-of-significance-things-that-will-inspire-people/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) > [When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it. 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It only assigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easily-loftier-themes-than-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid that I shall exaggerate the value and significance of life, but that I shall not be up to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-that-i-shall-exaggerate-the-value-and-significance-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is true, these Roman Catholics, priests and all, impress me as a people who have fallen far behind the significance of their symbols.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-true-these-roman-catholics-priests-and-all-impress-me-as-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [One is wise to cultivate the tree that bears fruit in our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/one-is-wise-to-cultivate-the-tree-that-bears-fruit-in-our-soul/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“We wonder how people can't see the most obvious things about themselves, yet we forget those people are us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-bayda/we-wonder-how-people-can-t-see-the-most-obvious-things-about/) [Ezra Bayda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-bayda/) > [Some things you forget. 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