--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s better not to think of those things…" description: "\"“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who we’d been-or worse, who we’ve become.”\" — Kate Karyus Quinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg" --- # It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember… ![“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who we’d been-or worse, who we’ve become.” quote by Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg) > ““It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who we’d been-or worse, who we’ve become.”” [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding painful memories can protect emotional stability but may also hinder growth. **In simple terms:** Ignoring past hurts can keep you safe yet stagnant. Key Takeaway Balance remembrance with present focus. Themes memory self‑protection growth Mood reflective somber Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - grieving - decision making Key Concepts psychology emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What emotions arise when you recall those times? - How might confronting them change your present? A Different Perspective Neglecting the past can lead to unresolved issues resurfacing later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who ed been, or worse- who we’ve become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-ed-been/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“No matter how broken you think you are always remember that there’re worse stories than yours out there and it’s never too late to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pantelis-kassotis/no-matter-how-broken-you-think-you-are-always-remember-that-there-re/) Pantelis Kassotis > [Somehow, something always happens just before things get to the very worst. It is as if Magic did it. If I could only just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/somehow-something-always-happens-just-before-things-get-to-the-very/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [We all have days when life gets tough. We just have to take a deep breath and remember their is always someone else who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/we-all-have-days-when-life-gets-tough-we-just-have-to-take-a-deep-2/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [“When you think you have it bad, remember, someone always has it much worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-vaughn/when-you-think-you-have-it-bad-remember-someone-always-has-it-much/) [Eve Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-vaughn/) > [It's bad when u forget things you are supposed to remember, but it's worse when u remember things you are supposed to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/it-s-bad-when-u-forget-things-you-are-supposed-to-remember-but-it-s/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“You are having a bad day? Remember it could always be worse... It could be me having a bad day!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer-2/you-are-having-a-bad-day-remember-it-could-always-be-worse-it-could/) [Mark W. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer-2/) > [“Why do we as humans always tend to remember the worse things about people? We may know someone for many years, know them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/why-do-we-as-humans-always-tend-to-remember-the-worse-things-about/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [“And if we're dead--which I don't deny it might be--well, you got to remember that worse things 'appen at sea and a chap's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-if-we-re-dead-which-i-don-t-deny-it-might-be-well-you-got-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [It's bad when you forget things you are supposed to remember,but it's worse when you remember things you are supposed to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/it-s-bad-when-you-forget-things-you-are-supposed-to-remember-but-it-s/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [We all have days when life gets tough, We just have to take a deep breath and remember there is always someone else who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-days-when-life-gets-tough-we-just-have-to-take-a-deep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [War made my everyday problems seem much smaller, and when it is hard sometimes, I just remember that it could be much worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/war-made-my-everyday-problems-seem-much-smaller-and-when-it-is-hard/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [When life gets you down go watch Jerry Springer and remember it COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-gets-you-down-go-watch-jerry-springer-and-remember-it-could/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter how bad your current situation may be, try to remember that there is always someone, somewhere who is somehow in worse shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/no-matter-how-bad-your-current-situation-may-be-try-to-remember-that/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've got better things to do than remember you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-better-things-to-do-than-remember-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kate Karyus Quinn > [“Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/depend-on-the-rabbit-s-foot-if-you-will-but-remember-it-didn-t-work/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Confession is good for the soul, they say. I'd imagine this is true. But my sins were too convoluted. And from the little I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/confession-is-good-for-the-soul-they-say-i-d-imagine-this-is-true-but/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Is it worth having something good when it’s just gonna be taken away? When it’s only temporary and later you’re left wondering if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/is-it-worth-having-something-good-when-it-s-just-gonna-be-taken-away/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“I found a quote from some guy that summed up the lucky thing pretty perfectly for me. It went like this: “Depend on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/i-found-a-quote-from-some-guy-that-summed-up-the-lucky-thing-pretty/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“I want certainties, not endless indefinites.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/i-want-certainties-not-endless-indefinites/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“I can’t forget you, Piper. But sometimes, I can’t really remember you either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/i-can-t-forget-you-piper-but-sometimes-i-can-t-really-remember-you/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“I’m sorry,” I said, although by this point the words felt like a cheap shirt that has lost its shape after too many washings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/i-m-sorry-i-said-although-by-this-point-the-words-felt-like-a-cheap/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who ed been, or worse- who we’ve become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-ed-been/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Sometimes you make bad choices to keep yourself from making other, even worse ones. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/sometimes-you-make-bad-choices-to-keep-yourself-from-making-other/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Your words sounded like the worst kind of secret, the story that I wished wasn’t true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/your-words-sounded-like-the-worst-kind-of-secret-the-story-that-i/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“People will tell you that this is just the way things go around here when someone is taken with the madness. Sometimes that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/people-will-tell-you-that-this-is-just-the-way-things-go-around-here/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Since you've been gone, Piper, I've become as bad with the sighing as Mom. Sometimes it's the part of a sob that I jsut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/since-you-ve-been-gone-piper-i-ve-become-as-bad-with-the-sighing-as/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Secrets are stupid things. They hate being contained and like nothing better than to be told everywhere and to everyone, even though this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/secrets-are-stupid-things-they-hate-being-contained-and-like-nothing/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“Everyone falls eventually,” Piper told me. “You think it’ll hurt. But it’s falling with no bottom. You just keep going and going forever, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/everyone-falls-eventually-piper-told-me-you-think-it-ll-hurt-but-it-s/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) > [“The thing is, secrets are awful in lots of ways, but they almost never lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/the-thing-is-secrets-are-awful-in-lots-of-ways-but-they-almost-never/) [Kate Karyus Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) [Explore all 18 Kate Karyus Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/) ## More Memory 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/) > [“Maybe there is something when it all ends. Maybe there is memory, memory of the person you loved, when you lived. Maybe this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ellison/maybe-there-is-something-when-it-all-ends-maybe-there-is-memory/) [Kate Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ellison/) > [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/) > [Memory is funny. Once you hit a vein the problem is not how to remember but how to control the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/memory-is-funny-once-you-hit-a-vein-the-problem-is-not-how-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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 whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [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/) > [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/) > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [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/) > [What’s the use of remembering anything? If it was unpleasant it was unpleasant and if it was pleasant it’s over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/what-s-the-use-of-remembering-anything-if-it-was-unpleasant-it-was/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [Always remember a little thing can change everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-remember-a-little-thing-can-change-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) Trunxbeats [Browse all 12,248 Memory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who we’d been-or worse, who we’ve become.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kate Karyus Quinn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-we-d/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Memory" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-we-d/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/kate-karyus-quinn-29434_memory_it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things_1170359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s better not to think of those things. Not to remember who we’d been-or worse, who we’ve become.” — Kate Karyus Quinn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kate Karyus Quinn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-karyus-quinn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It’s better not to think of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-we-d/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-karyus-quinn/it-s-better-not-to-think-of-those-things-not-to-remember-who-we-d/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```