Forget the past Quote by Ira Levin
““now I want something better than vengeance, and something almost as hard to get.” He told it to the young woman in the second row: “I want remembrance.” He told it to all of them: “Remembrance. It’s hard to get because life goes on; every year we have new horrors—a Vietnam, terrorist activities in the Middle East and Ireland, assassinations”—(ninety-four sixty-five-year-old men?)—“and every year,” he drove himself on, “the horror of horrors, the Holocaust, becomes farther away, a little less horrible. But philosophers have warned us: if we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat it.””
About This Quote
Remembrance of past horrors is difficult yet essential; forgetting leads to repetition, so we must actively remember and learn from history despite its pain.
In simple terms: Remembering history prevents repeating its mistakes.
Key Takeaway
Commit to active remembrance and education.
Themes
memory
history
responsibility
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
historical
reflective
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- public memorials
- media storytelling
- community dialogues
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
collective trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor memory without causing harm?
- What practices help societies keep history alive?
A Different Perspective
Remembrance can be painful and may cause trauma if not handled sensitively.
