Books Quote by Margaret Atwood
““They told us to depend on memory, because nothing written down could be relied on. The Spirit travels from mouth to mouth, not from thing to thing: books could be burnt, paper crumbles away, computers could be destroyed. Only the spirit lives forever, and the Spirit isn't a thing.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Handmaid's Tale, 1985
The passage emphasizes oral tradition over written records, suggesting that ideas survive through living memory rather than physical media.
In simple terms: Spirits endure while physical records can be destroyed.
Key Takeaway
Preserve knowledge through living tradition.
Themes
memory
oral tradition
impermanence
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- community storytelling
- archival preservation
Key Concepts
Cultural transmission
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance oral and written histories?
- What role does memory play in cultural identity?
A Different Perspective
Physical media are vulnerable; oral transmission can be selective.
