--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your memory is a monster; it summons with…" description: "\"Your memory is a monster; it summons with will of its own. You think you have a memory, but it has you.\" — John Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/john-irving-337_memories_your-memory-is-a-monster-it-summons-with_767354.png" --- # Your memory is a monster; it summons with will of its own… ![“Your memory is a monster; it summons with will of its own. You think you have a memory, but it has you.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/john-irving-337_memories_your-memory-is-a-monster-it-summons-with_767354.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/john-irving-337_memories_your-memory-is-a-monster-it-summons-with_767354.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/john-irving-337_memories_your-memory-is-a-monster-it-summons-with_767354.png) > “Your memory is a monster; it summons with will of its own. You think you have a memory, but it has you.” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our memories act independently, shaping our thoughts and actions beyond our control. **In simple terms:** Memories control us more than we think. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your memories. Themes memory control self-awareness Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts psychology autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do your memories influence your decisions? - Can you separate memory from identity? A Different Perspective Memories can be distorted and unreliable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-monster-255955/) [Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster/) [Monster Summons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster-summons-5939651/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Our memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-memories/) [Summons Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summons-think-5939650/) [Think Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-memory-255954/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You think you have a memory; but it has you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-think-you-have-a-memory-but-it-has-you/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think memory is the most important asset of human beings. It's a kind of fuel; it burns and it warms you. My memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-think-memory-is-the-most-important-asset-of-human-beings-it-s-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I think everyone must have a first memory of some house, some room, a vivid picture that will remain deep down in one forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sister-parish/i-think-everyone-must-have-a-first-memory-of-some-house-some-room-a/) [Sister Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sister-parish/) > [A story is ultimately a memory. It's important when you're telling a story to think about why this memory is a memory. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/a-story-is-ultimately-a-memory-it-s-important-when-you-re-telling-a/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [“I think of the memory as being rather like a dam," he said, after a pause for thought. "It irrigates and gives life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-atxaga/i-think-of-the-memory-as-being-rather-like-a-dam-he-said-after-a/) [Bernardo Atxaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-atxaga/) > [I don't think my memory's bad, but it's to the point now that I can hide my own Easter eggs. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/i-don-t-think-my-memory-s-bad-but-it-s-to-the-point-now-that-i-can/) [Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/) > [ \[M\]ost people go through life a wee bit disappointed in themselves. I think we all keep a memory of a moment when we missed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robertson/m-ost-people-go-through-life-a-wee-bit-disappointed-in-themselves-i/) [James Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-robertson/) > [“Memory…is not the mechanical recording device people often think it is. Memory is anything but constant, anything but indubitable. It shifts and fades, blooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/memory-is-not-the-mechanical-recording-device-people-often-think-it/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [“Do you think the memory of someone should dictate how we live going forward?' he asks, threading and unthreading his fingers together. 'It depends,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/do-you-think-the-memory-of-someone-should-dictate-how-we-live-going/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“I used to think that memory-based, conscious learning was the most powerful, but I’ve since come to understand that it produces”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-used-to-think-that-memory-based-conscious-learning-was-the-most/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I think of memory as a game, that is as something one engages in with a very profound kind of "playfulness."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/i-think-of-memory-as-a-game-that-is-as-something-one-engages-in-with/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [“If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory. There seems something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/if-any-one-faculty-of-our-nature-may-be-called-more-wonderful-than/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“How wonderful, how very wonderful the operations of time, and the changes of the human mind! If any one faculty of our nature may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-wonderful-how-very-wonderful-the-operations-of-time-and-the-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Memories quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [What keeps me motivated is not the food itself but all the bonds and memories the food represents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiarello/what-keeps-me-motivated-is-not-the-food-itself-but-all-the-bonds-and/) [Michael Chiarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiarello/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) [Browse all 11,132 Memories quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your memory is a monster; it summons with will of its own. 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