Astronomy Quote by Marc Augé
““Don't we all have a certain number of images that stay around in our head, which we undoubtedly call memories and improperly so, and which we can never get rid of because they return in our sky with the regularity of a comet - torn away also from a world about which we know almost nothing? They return more frequently than comets do, in fact. It would be better, then, to speak of them as loyal satellites, a bit capricious and therefore even troublesome: they appear, disappear, suddenly come back to badger our memory at night when we cannot sleep. But, little as we may care to, as our hearts tell us to, we can also observe them at will, coldly, scrutinize their shadows, colors, and relief. Only, they are dead stars: from them we shall never grasp anything other than the certainty that we have already seen them, examined them, questioned them without really understanding the laws that the line of their mysterious orbits obeyed.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Memory of the World, Marc Augé, 1995
Memories are persistent, comet‑like images that haunt us, yet we can observe them objectively, recognizing their limits and mystery.
In simple terms: Memories linger like comets, can be examined.
Key Takeaway
Observe memories without attachment.
Themes
memory
perception
existence
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- nighttime insomnia
- creative brainstorming
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate useful memories from harmful ones?
- Can observing memories change their impact?
A Different Perspective
Memories may also inspire growth, not just distress.
