--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we forget what used to be, then we’ve…" description: "\"If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability to really be sensitive to our surroundings.\" — Maya Lin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg" --- # If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability… ![“If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability to really be sensitive to our surroundings.” quote by Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg) > “If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability to really be sensitive to our surroundings.” [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that forgetting history erodes our sensitivity to the world, highlighting the importance of memory for awareness. **In simple terms:** Remembering past sharpens perception. Key Takeaway Preserve memory. Themes history awareness environment culture Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - urban planning - personal reflection Key Concepts cognitive science anthropology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What past lessons inform your present? - How can you balance memory with innovation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on nostalgia can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) ## Related quotes > [I try to be, like, hella sensitive to my surroundings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-d/i-try-to-be-like-hella-sensitive-to-my-surroundings/) J.I.D > [I don't forget what I used to do and so I can't justifiably say to my kid, "Don't you do that," when I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-don-t-forget-what-i-used-to-do-and-so-i-can-t-justifiably-say-to-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [You don't forget someone you used to love, you just accept the fact that you were not meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-forget-someone-you-used-to-love-you-just-accept-the-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You dont forget someone you used to love, you just accepted the fact that you were not meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev/you-dont-forget-someone-you-used-to-love-you-just-accepted-the-fact/) [Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev/) > [“They tell you you'll forget how it used to be. You'll get used to it, that it's better to move on. They don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-sun/they-tell-you-you-ll-forget-how-it-used-to-be-you-ll-get-used-to-it/) [Amanda Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-sun/) > [Sometimes I see through things when people are talking. I'm really sensitive to other people, so I can tell if somebody's putting on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/sometimes-i-see-through-things-when-people-are-talking-i-m-really/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I think I'm just really sensitive to the world. I really feel like I spend a lot of time "turned off".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lytle/i-think-i-m-just-really-sensitive-to-the-world-i-really-feel-like-i/) Jason Lytle > [There's just so, so many overlooked R&B artists and I think it's really about, again, being sensitive to whatever you're addressing culturally. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/there-s-just-so-so-many-overlooked-r-b-artists-and-i-think-it-s/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [I was raised in an atmosphere of 'everything's fine.' But as I got older, I was like, 'Well no, everything's not fine. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-was-raised-in-an-atmosphere-of-everything-s-fine-but-as-i-got-older/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [We have to be really sensitive to making sure were not creating any stories that don't feel like they're ready to be told... We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-nelson/we-have-to-be-really-sensitive-to-making-sure-were-not-creating-any/) [Diane Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-nelson/) > [Look, I am not really that sensitive of a guy. I don't get hurt by a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/look-i-am-not-really-that-sensitive-of-a-guy-i-don-t-get-hurt-by-a/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [We have to go back to the memories of 9-11. If that memory doesn't do anything to you as an American, then you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/we-have-to-go-back-to-the-memories-of-9-11-if-that-memory-doesn-t-do/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [I come from a huge family. I am used to taking orders and being told what to do and not having an opinion, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-newton/i-come-from-a-huge-family-i-am-used-to-taking-orders-and-being-told/) [Frances Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-newton/) > [I'm really sensitive. And they don't understand that, because my most comfortable feeling is anger. So I'll get angry if you said something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/i-m-really-sensitive-and-they-don-t-understand-that-because-my-most/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [I'm actually really sensitive to scents. If they're too intense, it can be overwhelming for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ortega/i-m-actually-really-sensitive-to-scents-if-they-re-too-intense-it-can/) [Jenna Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ortega/) ## More by Maya Lin > [Our lives are given meaning by our actions-accomplishments made while we are "here" that extend beyond our own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/our-lives-are-given-meaning-by-our-actions-accomplishments-made-while/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [If you don't remember history accurately, how can you learn?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-you-don-t-remember-history-accurately-how-can-you-learn/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [My parents are both college professors, and it made me want to question authority, standards and traditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/my-parents-are-both-college-professors-and-it-made-me-want-to/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I had very few friends. We always ate dinner with our parents. We didn't want to go out. American adolescence was a lot wilder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-had-very-few-friends-we-always-ate-dinner-with-our-parents-we-didn/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [Math, it's a puzzle to me. I love figuring out puzzles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/math-it-s-a-puzzle-to-me-i-love-figuring-out-puzzles/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I cannot force a design; I do not see this process as being under my conscious control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-cannot-force-a-design-i-do-not-see-this-process-as-being-under-my/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [OK, it was black, it was below grade, I was female, Asian American, young, too young to have served. Yet I think none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/ok-it-was-black-it-was-below-grade-i-was-female-asian-american-young/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [If we can't face death, we'll never overcome it. You have to look it straight in the eye. Then you can turn around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-can-t-face-death-we-ll-never-overcome-it-you-have-to-look-it/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I can't shout out, "Do this." I don't want to be prescriptive. I want to give you facts, and that's the way I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-can-t-shout-out-do-this-i-don-t-want-to-be-prescriptive-i-want-to/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [Competitions are what you do as a good exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/competitions-are-what-you-do-as-a-good-exercise/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [You really can't function as a celebrity. Entertainers are celebrities. I'm an architect. I'm an artist. I make things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/you-really-can-t-function-as-a-celebrity-entertainers-are-celebrities/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [Some of your teachers are actually closer in age to you than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/some-of-your-teachers-are-actually-closer-in-age-to-you-than-you-think/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I think I needed to really move past my first public work as memorialist, and be equally balanced. It's a bit unusual, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-think-i-needed-to-really-move-past-my-first-public-work-as/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I didn't have anyone to play with so I made up my own world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-didn-t-have-anyone-to-play-with-so-i-made-up-my-own-world/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [To me, the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling. To be able to do what you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/to-me-the-american-dream-is-being-able-to-follow-your-own-personal/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) [Explore all 81 Maya Lin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability to really be sensitive to our surroundings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Lin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve-lost-an-ability-to-really-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve-lost-an-ability-to-really-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/maya-lin-8428_ability_if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve_2044322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we forget what used to be, then we’ve lost an ability to really be sensitive to our surroundings.” — Maya Lin", "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": "Maya Lin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we forget what used to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve-lost-an-ability-to-really-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/if-we-forget-what-used-to-be-then-we-ve-lost-an-ability-to-really-be/#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 } } ] } ```