--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before we are forgotten, we will be…" description: "\"Before we are forgotten, we will be turned into kitsch. Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.\" — Milan Kundera" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/milan-kundera-120_forgotten_before-we-are-forgotten-we-will-be-turne_3195019.jpg" --- # Before we are forgotten, we will be turned into kitsch… ![“Before we are forgotten, we will be turned into kitsch. Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/milan-kundera-120_forgotten_before-we-are-forgotten-we-will-be-turne_3195019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/milan-kundera-120_forgotten_before-we-are-forgotten-we-will-be-turne_3195019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1de/milan-kundera-120_forgotten_before-we-are-forgotten-we-will-be-turne_3195019.jpg) > “Before we are forgotten, we will be turned into kitsch. Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human creations become kitsch when they replace authentic existence, serving as a bridge to oblivion. **In simple terms:** Kitsch replaces genuine being. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity over superficial legacy. Themes authenticity legacy kitsch Mood critical melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - art creation - memorials - personal branding Key Concepts existentialism cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What does “kitsch” look like in your life? - How can you preserve authenticity? A Different Perspective Kitsch can be comforting, masking deeper emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitsch/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) ## Related quotes > [“Kitsch is the stopover between being and oblivion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-is-the-stopover-between-being-and-oblivion/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“What remains of Beethoven? A frown, an improbable mane, and a somber voice intoning "Es muss seine!" ….And so n and so forth. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/what-remains-of-beethoven-a-frown-an-improbable-mane-and-a-somber/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession. The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-causes-two-tears-to-flow-in-quick-succession-the-first-tear-2/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch" is a German word born in the middle of the sentimental nineteenth century, and from German is entered all Western languages. Repeated use,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-is-a-german-word-born-in-the-middle-of-the-sentimental/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [In the realm of totalitarian kitsch, all answers are given in advance and preclude any questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-realm-of-totalitarian-kitsch-all-answers-are-given-in-advance/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Kitsch is the inability to admit that shit exists”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-is-the-inability-to-admit-that-shit-exists/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The senator had only one argument in his favour: his feeling. When the heart speaks, the mind finds it indecent to object. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-senator-had-only-one-argument-in-his-favour-his-feeling-when-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [No matter how much we scorn it, kitsch is an integral part of the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/no-matter-how-much-we-scorn-it-kitsch-is-an-integral-part-of-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“In the kingdom of kitsch you would be a monster”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-kingdom-of-kitsch-you-would-be-a-monster/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“It follows, then, that the aesthetic ideal of the categorical agreement with being is a world in which shit is denied and everyone acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/it-follows-then-that-the-aesthetic-ideal-of-the-categorical-agreement/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Kitsch excludes everything from its purview which is essentially unacceptable in human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-excludes-everything-from-its-purview-which-is-essentially/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Kitsch causes two tears to flow in quick succession. The first tear says: How nice to see children running on the grass! The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/kitsch-causes-two-tears-to-flow-in-quick-succession-the-first-tear/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Her kitsch was the image of home, all peace, quiet, and harmony, and ruled by a loving mother and a wise father. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/her-kitsch-was-the-image-of-home-all-peace-quiet-and-harmony-and/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Salvador Dali has been called kitsch, but, although some of this work may be grotesque, its brazenly self-conscious bad taste saves it from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-dutton/salvador-dali-has-been-called-kitsch-but-although-some-of-this-work/) [Denis Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-dutton/) > [Kitsch of course only comes into existence when we recognize how and why it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bayley/kitsch-of-course-only-comes-into-existence-when-we-recognize-how-and/) John Bayley ## More by Milan Kundera > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Our lives may be separate, but they run in the same direction, like parallel lines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/our-lives-may-be-separate-but-they-run-in-the-same-direction-like/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. 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It's all only frames from which the content rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/it-s-the-frames-which-make-some-things-important-and-some-things/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I have never forgotten a picture that I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/i-have-never-forgotten-a-picture-that-i-ever-made/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [I had forgotten that talking to you is like trying to pet a cactus." Saiman said dryly. "Thank you for reminding me." 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