Faith Quote by Milan Kundera
““Yes, suddenly I saw it clearly: most people deceive themselves with a pair of faiths: they believe in eternal memory (of people, things, deeds, nations) and in redressibility (of deeds, mistakes, sins, wrongs). Both are false faiths. In reality the opposite is true: everything will be forgotten and nothing will be redressed. The task of obtaining redress (by vengeance or by forgiveness) will be taken over by forgetting. No one will redress the wrongs that have been done, but all wrongs will be forgotten.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, 1984
People cling to the belief that memory and justice endure, but ultimately everything is forgotten and no one is truly redressed.
In simple terms: Memory and justice are illusory; forgetting erases all.
Key Takeaway
Accept impermanence and let go of vengeance.
Themes
philosophy
existentialism
forgiveness
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- Coping with loss
- moral decision making
- personal healing
Key Concepts
Memory
justice
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we need belief in memory to act ethically?
- How does forgetting affect moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Some may find meaning in striving for justice despite futility.
