--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who was it said that memory is what we…" description: "\"“Who was it said that memory is what we thought we'd forgotten? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn't act as a fixative, rather as a solve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/julian-barnes-522_life_who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-t_368829.png" --- # Who was it said that memory is what we thought we'd… ![“Who was it said that memory is what we thought we'd forgotten? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn't act as a fixative, rather as a solvent. But it's not convenient--it's not useful--to believe this; it doesn't help us get on with our lives; so we ignore it. [p. 69]” quote by Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/julian-barnes-522_life_who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-t_368829.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/julian-barnes-522_life_who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-t_368829.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/julian-barnes-522_life_who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-t_368829.png) > ““Who was it said that memory is what we thought we'd forgotten? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn't act as a fixative, rather as a solvent. But it's not convenient--it's not useful--to believe this; it doesn't help us get on with our lives; so we ignore it. \[p. 69\]”” [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memory is not a static record; time dissolves and reshapes it, making us overlook its fluid nature. **In simple terms:** Memory changes over time, not stays fixed. Key Takeaway Accept that memories evolve and adapt. Themes memory time perception identity Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - writing - historical analysis Key Concepts psychology philosophy subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing memory's fluidity affect your self‑understanding? - Can you let go of the need for fixed recollections? A Different Perspective Memory may be unreliable for factual accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-thought-459789/) [Said Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-memory-1253161/) [Thought Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-forgotten-1574014/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-doesn/) ## Related quotes > [“Who was it said that memory is what we thought we’d forgotten?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-thought-we-d-forgotten/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [We live with such easy assumptions, don't we? For instance, that memory equals events plus time. But it's all much odder than this. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/we-live-with-such-easy-assumptions-don-t-we-for-instance-that-memory/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“After everything is said and done, a memory remains a treacherous thing…How long does one cling on to the people they’ve lost? How long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanza-javed/after-everything-is-said-and-done-a-memory-remains-a-treacherous/) [Kanza Javed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanza-javed/) > [“There, there, best to bring it all up,' she said. My memory was in shreds. Imagine a photograph cut into narrow strips then jumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-jamieson/there-there-best-to-bring-it-all-up-she-said-my-memory-was-in-shreds/) [Alice Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-jamieson/) > [“Judy, I read that you said your first memory was music. Music that fills up a home. 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