--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we think of our lives as what we…" description: "\"“When we think of our lives as what we have done, memory becomes a museum with one long shelf on which we arrange a bric-a-brac of deeds, each to his o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/james-galvin-57341_life_when-we-think-of-our-lives-as-what-we-ha_1389562.png" --- # When we think of our lives as what we have done, memory… ![“When we think of our lives as what we have done, memory becomes a museum with one long shelf on which we arrange a bric-a-brac of deeds, each to his own liking.” quote by James Galvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/james-galvin-57341_life_when-we-think-of-our-lives-as-what-we-ha_1389562.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/james-galvin-57341_life_when-we-think-of-our-lives-as-what-we-ha_1389562.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/james-galvin-57341_life_when-we-think-of-our-lives-as-what-we-ha_1389562.png) > ““When we think of our lives as what we have done, memory becomes a museum with one long shelf on which we arrange a bric-a-brac of deeds, each to his own liking.”” [James Galvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-galvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memory organizes life events like a museum, arranging them subjectively, highlighting personal narratives over objective chronology. **In simple terms:** We view life as a curated collection of memories. Key Takeaway Curate your memories consciously. Themes memory identity narrative Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts subjectivity psychology storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How does selective memory shape identity? - What stories do we choose to display? A Different Perspective Memory is selective and can distort truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Museum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museum/) ## Related quotes > [The Western memory museum is now mostly a visual one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-western-memory-museum-is-now-mostly-a-visual-one/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I wonder if memory is true, and I know that it cannot be, but that one lives by memory nevertheless and not by truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/i-wonder-if-memory-is-true-and-i-know-that-it-cannot-be-but-that-one/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [One lives by memory . . . and not by truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-stravinsky/one-lives-by-memory-and-not-by-truth/) [Igor Stravinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-stravinsky/) > [My room is Not Dirty !! I just have everything on display ; it's like having my own Museum...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/my-room-is-not-dirty-i-just-have-everything-on-display-it-s-like/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [I own a home in Kyoto, Japan actually on the temple on grounds in Nanzenji that is going to become a Japanese art museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-own-a-home-in-kyoto-japan-actually-on-the-temple-on-grounds-in/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [I maintain that if you're a novelist and you go into an art museum, you'll come out a better novelist. And if you paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkes/i-maintain-that-if-you-re-a-novelist-and-you-go-into-an-art-museum/) [John Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkes/) > [I actually got a chance to see the museum and it's incredible, ... 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