--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are hardwired to remember negative…" description: "\"“We are hardwired to remember negative events over positive ones, so we ruminate on our mistakes and the slights of others. Our ability to use language..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/patricia-b-mcconnell-32901_quote_we-are-hardwired-to-remember-negative-ev_2113799.jpg" --- # We are hardwired to remember negative events over positive… ![“We are hardwired to remember negative events over positive ones, so we ruminate on our mistakes and the slights of others. Our ability to use language means that we can spend hours mentally criticizing what we did in the past or worrying about what we'll do in the future. No wonder we love dogs…” quote by Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/patricia-b-mcconnell-32901_quote_we-are-hardwired-to-remember-negative-ev_2113799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/patricia-b-mcconnell-32901_quote_we-are-hardwired-to-remember-negative-ev_2113799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/patricia-b-mcconnell-32901_quote_we-are-hardwired-to-remember-negative-ev_2113799.jpg) > ““We are hardwired to remember negative events over positive ones, so we ruminate on our mistakes and the slights of others. Our ability to use language means that we can spend hours mentally criticizing what we did in the past or worrying about what we'll do in the future. No wonder we love dogs, who don't need meditation retreats to get over the shame of getting into the garbage last Thursday.”” [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans obsess over negative memories, while dogs naturally let go, highlighting our tendency to ruminate. **In simple terms:** People dwell on negatives; dogs don’t. Key Takeaway Practice letting go like a dog. Themes mental health mindfulness animals Mood thoughtful lighthearted Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - stress management - pet therapy - self‑compassion Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you release past mistakes? - How can pets aid emotional balance? A Different Perspective Our focus on negatives can be adaptive for learning, not just harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mentally Criticizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-criticizing-4279899/) [Remember Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-negative-1364082/) [Ruminate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruminate-2229576/) [Ruminate Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruminate-mistakes-4279898/) [Use Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-language/) ## Related quotes > [You know, I can't remember my good reviews. I remember negative ones. They stay in my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/you-know-i-can-t-remember-my-good-reviews-i-remember-negative-ones/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [Always remember the negative people are like tenants in our minds. They will try to rent out space to harm and to disfavor us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chee-vai-tang/always-remember-the-negative-people-are-like-tenants-in-our-minds/) [Chee Vai Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chee-vai-tang/) > [“Evolutionary biologists tell us we have a “negativity bias” that makes our brains remember negative events more strongly than positive ones. So when we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/evolutionary-biologists-tell-us-we-have-a-negativity-bias-that-makes/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [It really is easy to forget the unpleasant if we simply refuse to recall it. Withdraw only positive thoughts from your memory bank. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/it-really-is-easy-to-forget-the-unpleasant-if-we-simply-refuse-to/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [“Despite all the drugs, I do not sleep. Instead, I ruminate. Which is both what cows do to their cud and the bad habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliann-garey/despite-all-the-drugs-i-do-not-sleep-instead-i-ruminate-which-is-both/) [Juliann Garey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliann-garey/) > [The memory is perpetually looking back when we have nothing present to entertain us. It is like those repositories in animals that are filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/the-memory-is-perpetually-looking-back-when-we-have-nothing-present/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [As an actor you have to keep working, were perishable fruit. Its an instrument and if you sit and wait too long a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr-2/as-an-actor-you-have-to-keep-working-were-perishable-fruit-its-an/) [Cuba Gooding Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr-2/) > [Go a little easier on yourself, and in so doing, be prepared to make and do things that might seem silly at first. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-mann/go-a-little-easier-on-yourself-and-in-so-doing-be-prepared-to-make/) [Merlin Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-mann/) > [I would rather raise certain topics and maybe let you ruminate on them. I'm not big on answering them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-would-rather-raise-certain-topics-and-maybe-let-you-ruminate-on/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Why does one ruminate about the past? He is treating his wounded egoism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/why-does-one-ruminate-about-the-past-he-is-treating-his-wounded-egoism/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We don't ruminate during a fight. Maybe in a bath, or driving a car, or as we take a walk. But not right smack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-don-t-ruminate-during-a-fight-maybe-in-a-bath-or-driving-a-car-or/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [To ruminate upon evils, to make critical notes upon injuries, and be too acute in their apprehensions, is to add unto our own tortures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/to-ruminate-upon-evils-to-make-critical-notes-upon-injuries-and-be/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [... I try ... to use my own voice in a way that shows caring, respect, appreciation, and patience. Your voice, your language, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-try-to-use-my-own-voice-in-a-way-that-shows-caring-respect/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [I appreciate people who try and use language in an interesting way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-appreciate-people-who-try-and-use-language-in-an-interesting-way/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [“I could use language in a way that would get me into trouble and out of trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-use-language-in-a-way-that-would-get-me-into-trouble-and-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Patricia B. McConnell > [“If “OK” meant that “it’s all right to get up now,” it makes sense that Pip would respond when she heard it. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/if-ok-meant-that-it-s-all-right-to-get-up-now-it-makes-sense-that-pip/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“The next time you see a dog you’d like to greet, stop a few feet away, stand sideways rather than straight on, and avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/the-next-time-you-see-a-dog-you-d-like-to-greet-stop-a-few-feet-away/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“The next time you see a dog you’d like to greet, stop a few feet away, stand sideways rather than straight on, and avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/the-next-time-you-see-a-dog-you-d-like-to-greet-stop-a-few-feet-away-2/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“up and down like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/up-and-down-like/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“That the mental experiences of dogs aren’t as complex as ours is no reason to dismiss those experiences altogether.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/that-the-mental-experiences-of-dogs-aren-t-as-complex-as-ours-is-no/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“Ideally play is joyful and childlike, a physically and psychologically healthy exercise for both people and dogs. Psychologists and spiritual counselors advise us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/ideally-play-is-joyful-and-childlike-a-physically-and-psychologically/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“As a matter of fact, the universal tendency of adult domestic dogs to bark is one of the many behavioral markers that suggests that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/as-a-matter-of-fact-the-universal-tendency-of-adult-domestic-dogs-to/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“When people visit my farm they often envision their dog, finally off-leash in acres of safely fenced countryside, running like Lassie in a television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/when-people-visit-my-farm-they-often-envision-their-dog-finally-off/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“Don’t feel like a failure if you can’t make a social butterfly out of the dog you rescued from a nightmarish beginning. Giving him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/don-t-feel-like-a-failure-if-you-can-t-make-a-social-butterfly-out-of/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“Humankind is drawn to dogs because they are so like ourselves—bumbling, affectionate, confused, easily disappointed, eager to be amused, grateful for kindness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/humankind-is-drawn-to-dogs-because-they-are-so-like-ourselves/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“Ideally play is joyful and childlike, a physically and psychologically healthy exercise for both people and dogs. Psychologists and spiritual counselors advise us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/ideally-play-is-joyful-and-childlike-a-physically-and-psychologically-2/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“Even in the best of times, when we’re not stressed or needy, many of us enjoy petting our dogs as much as any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/even-in-the-best-of-times-when-we-re-not-stressed-or-needy-many-of-us/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“If barking correlates with a juvenile and submissive condition, then it’s doubtful that dogs read our loud vocal displays as dominant or impressive. Rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/if-barking-correlates-with-a-juvenile-and-submissive-condition-then/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) > [“I drove my Border Collies crazy for a few weeks trying to teach them to wait at the door as a group and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-b-mcconnell/i-drove-my-border-collies-crazy-for-a-few-weeks-trying-to-teach-them/) [Patricia B. McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) [Explore all 15 Patricia B. McConnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-b-mcconnell/) ## More Use Language quotes > [“I could use language in a way that would get me into trouble and out of trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-use-language-in-a-way-that-would-get-me-into-trouble-and-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I appreciate people who try and use language in an interesting way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/i-appreciate-people-who-try-and-use-language-in-an-interesting-way/) [Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/) > [... I try ... to use my own voice in a way that shows caring, respect, appreciation, and patience. Your voice, your language, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-try-to-use-my-own-voice-in-a-way-that-shows-caring-respect/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Young people can sometimes use language either thoughtlessly or deliberately, particularly around the use of the word 'gay.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/young-people-can-sometimes-use-language-either-thoughtlessly-or/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [When it comes to personal communication, words are all we've got. It is the simple use of language that makes us human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/when-it-comes-to-personal-communication-words-are-all-we-ve-got-it-is/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [Unless I'm writing in the Igbo language, I use a language developed elsewhere, which is English. That affects the way I write. It even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/unless-i-m-writing-in-the-igbo-language-i-use-a-language-developed/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/use-what-language-you-will-you-can-never-say-anything-but-what-you-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I'm a firm believer that language and how we use language determines how we act, and how we act then determines our lives and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-language-and-how-we-use-language-determines/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Ads and logos are our shared global culture and language, and people are insisting on the right to use that language, to reformulate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/ads-and-logos-are-our-shared-global-culture-and-language-and-people/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The use of language is all we have to pit against death and silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-use-of-language-is-all-we-have-to-pit-against-death-and-silence/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“To use language is to enter into the territory of categories, which are as necessary as they are dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/to-use-language-is-to-enter-into-the-territory-of-categories-which/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [That's one of the ways language evolved, by some very obscure form becoming common usage. 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I want them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-mitchell/i-use-the-language-i-use-to-my-friends-they-wouldn-t-believe-me-if-i/) [Adrian Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-mitchell/) [Browse all 74 Use Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are hardwired to remember negative events over positive ones, so we ruminate on our mistakes and the slights of others. Our ability to use language means that we can spend hours mentally criticizing what we did in the past or worrying about what we'll do in the future. No wonder we love dogs, who don't need meditation retreats to get over the shame of getting into the garbage last Thursday.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patricia B. 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