---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't remember things. I black out and…"
description: "\"“I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember where I've been or what I've done. Sometimes I wonder if I've done or said terrible things, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg"
---

#  I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember…

![“I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember where I've been or what I've done. Sometimes I wonder if I've done or said terrible things, and I can't remember. And if...if someone tells me something I've done, it doesn't even feel like me. it doesn't feel like it was me who was doing…” quote by Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg)

> ““I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember where I've been or what I've done. Sometimes I wonder if I've done or said terrible things, and I can't remember. And if...if someone tells me something I've done, it doesn't even feel like me. it doesn't feel like it was me who was doing that thing. And it's so hard to feel responsible for something you don't remember. So I never feel bad enough. i feel bad, but the thing that i've done --it's removed from me. It's like it doesn't belong to me.””

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker feels detached from past actions due to memory gaps, making accountability and guilt difficult to experience.

**In simple terms:** Memory loss creates a sense of alienation from one’s own deeds.

Key Takeaway

Recognize that responsibility persists even without recollection.

Themes

memory identity responsibility guilt

Mood

conflicted detached uncertain

Type

reflective philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- legal testimony
- personal reflection
- relationship counseling

Key Concepts

psychology self perception moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you hold yourself accountable when you cannot recall your actions?
- Can external verification replace internal memory for responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Memory loss may be a symptom of underlying trauma or neurological issues, complicating moral judgment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blackout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackout/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Feel Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-bad-243649/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Remember Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-feel-287779/) [Remember Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-tells-480895/) [Remember Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-things-432263/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) [Things Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-remember-271152/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm always going to look and refer to things and remember things differently than perhaps a real or honest viewer can. I'm tainted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-williamson/i-m-always-going-to-look-and-refer-to-things-and-remember-things/)

[Kevin D. Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-williamson/)

> [The things we remember are often things that have great emotional importance, and so they have a lasting effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-things-we-remember-are-often-things-that-have-great-emotional/)

[Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/)

> [“There's things I remember and things I forget. I miss you; I guess that I should.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/counting-crows/there-s-things-i-remember-and-things-i-forget-i-miss-you-i-guess-that/)

[Counting Crows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/counting-crows/)

> [When life gets stressful, never forget the things you should remember, and remember the things you should forget. Life can only be understood backwards;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/when-life-gets-stressful-never-forget-the-things-you-should-remember/)

[Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/)

> [For my own children, I do want for them to look back and remember that it was me in the kitchen, that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/for-my-own-children-i-do-want-for-them-to-look-back-and-remember-that/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [Often in life we forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-in-life-we-forget-the-things-we-should-remember-and-remember/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When life gets stressful, we often forget the things we should remember, and remember the things we should forget. Life can only be understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/when-life-gets-stressful-we-often-forget-the-things-we-should/)

[Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/)

> [We all remember things, it's what we remember that determines how we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/we-all-remember-things-it-s-what-we-remember-that-determines-how-we/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [“That’s how I remember things, anyway. I remember stories. I connect the dots and then out of that comes a story. And the dots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/that-s-how-i-remember-things-anyway-i-remember-stories-i-connect-the/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“These are the things we do sometimes, she thinks. We remind ourselves of why we're in love, so that we can stay that way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/these-are-the-things-we-do-sometimes-she-thinks-we-remind-ourselves/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [LOVE is a four letter word so remember that when he tells you that you say its a 4 letter word..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-four-letter-word-so-remember-that-when-he-tells-you-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Each time I have a lapse of memory, I think of the anguish which must afflict those who know they no longer remember anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/each-time-i-have-a-lapse-of-memory-i-think-of-the-anguish-which-must/)

[Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/)

> [“The things I want to remember I can't, and the things I try so hard to forget just keep coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/the-things-i-want-to-remember-i-can-t-and-the-things-i-try-so-hard-to/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“Some days I feel so bad that I have to drink; some days I feel so bad that I can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/some-days-i-feel-so-bad-that-i-have-to-drink-some-days-i-feel-so-bad/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

## More by Paula Hawkins

> [“It’s less acceptable to drink on the train on a Monday,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/it-s-less-acceptable-to-drink-on-the-train-on-a-monday/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“I am not the girl I used to be...it's as if people can see the damage written all over me, can see it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-am-not-the-girl-i-used-to-be-it-s-as-if-people-can-see-the-damage/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“She felt it when she woke, not a presence but an absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/she-felt-it-when-she-woke-not-a-presence-but-an-absence/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“Beautiful sunshine, cloudless skies, no one to play with, nothing to do. Living like this, the way I'm living at the moment, is harder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/beautiful-sunshine-cloudless-skies-no-one-to-play-with-nothing-to-do/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“I want to drag knives over my skin, just to feel something other than shame, but I'm not even brave enough for that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-want-to-drag-knives-over-my-skin-just-to-feel-something-other-than/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“I forgot to feel what I was supposed to be feeling...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-forgot-to-feel-what-i-was-supposed-to-be-feeling/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“gardens over. One of them was crying—maybe they both were—and there was a child bawling its head off,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/gardens-over-one-of-them-was-crying-maybe-they-both-were-and-there/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“The things I want to remember I can't, and the things I try so hard to forget just keep coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/the-things-i-want-to-remember-i-can-t-and-the-things-i-try-so-hard-to/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“the author claimed that blacking out wasn’t simply a matter of forgetting what had happened, but having no memories to forget in the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/the-author-claimed-that-blacking-out-wasn-t-simply-a-matter-of/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“LA VIE N’EST PAS UN PARAGRAPHE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/la-vie-n-est-pas-un-paragraphe/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“me thinking straight. I take a shower, get dressed and make another cup of coffee, and then I sit down in the living room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/me-thinking-straight-i-take-a-shower-get-dressed-and-make-another-cup/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“Something felt off, but I realized eventually that it was just me. Still,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/something-felt-off-but-i-realized-eventually-that-it-was-just-me-still/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“the holes in your life are permanent. You have to grow around them, like tree roots around concrete; you mould yourself through the gaps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/the-holes-in-your-life-are-permanent-you-have-to-grow-around-them/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“Some days I feel so bad that I have to drink; some days I feel so bad that I can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/some-days-i-feel-so-bad-that-i-have-to-drink-some-days-i-feel-so-bad/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

> [“He lies to himself the way he lies to me. He believes this. He actually believes that he was good to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/he-lies-to-himself-the-way-he-lies-to-me-he-believes-this-he-actually/)

[Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

[Explore all 64 Paula Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/)

## More Blackout quotes

> [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

> [The next time you experience a blackout, take some solace by looking at the sky. You will not recognize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/the-next-time-you-experience-a-blackout-take-some-solace-by-looking/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [Blackout is the way we feel how the blind people feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blackout-is-the-way-we-feel-how-the-blind-people-feel/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The August 2003 blackout was a wake-up call for both industry and government regulators.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-august-2003-blackout-was-a-wake-up-call-for-both-industry-and/)

[Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/)

> [I'm from Downer's Grove, Illinois. We had a blackout there the other day, but fortunately the police made him get back into his car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-m-from-downer-s-grove-illinois-we-had-a-blackout-there-the-other/)

[Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/)

> [The first 'Blackout!' just started out with us doing the first song, 'How High' - I guess it was 'How High' - and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/the-first-blackout-just-started-out-with-us-doing-the-first-song-how/)

[Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/)

> [I'm supporting the New Orleans economy by maxing out my credit cards in a prolonged blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardi-gras/i-m-supporting-the-new-orleans-economy-by-maxing-out-my-credit-cards/)

[Mardi Gras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardi-gras/)

> [The L. A. Times is reporting that Britney Spears' album Blackout will be number one on the Billboard charts. Not to toot my horn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/the-l-a-times-is-reporting-that-britney-spears-album-blackout-will-be/)

[Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/)

> [“hands, other have Solo cups. Most stand with their hands in their pockets. As we move closer to the crowd, my stomach begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-b-nelson/hands-other-have-solo-cups-most-stand-with-their-hands-in-their/)

[K.B. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-b-nelson/)

> [“Maddie quickly pulled down the blackout curtains over her bright and vulnerable soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/maddie-quickly-pulled-down-the-blackout-curtains-over-her-bright-and/)

[Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/)

> [Oh my God! It's a blackout!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/oh-my-god-it-s-a-blackout/)

[Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/)

> [Oh my God, 'Blackout' is my favorite Britney album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peaches/oh-my-god-blackout-is-my-favorite-britney-album/)

[Peaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peaches/)

> [May your Valentine's Day dinner have the romantic lighting of a stadium blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-your-valentine-s-day-dinner-have-the-romantic-lighting-of-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Breakup blackout is when you're so upset and you've been crying so much that you basically black out for a couple of days. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-willis/breakup-blackout-is-when-you-re-so-upset-and-you-ve-been-crying-so/)

[Rumer Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-willis/)

> [I like the gunplay of 'Blackout.' If 'Warzone' had 'Blackout's gunplay... ah, it would be the most perfect battle royale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-disrespect/i-like-the-gunplay-of-blackout-if-warzone-had-blackout-s-gunplay-ah/)

[Dr. Disrespect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-disrespect/)

[Browse all 40 Blackout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackout/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember where I've been or what I've done. Sometimes I wonder if I've done or said terrible things, and I can't remember. And if...if someone tells me something I've done, it doesn't even feel like me. it doesn't feel like it was me who was doing that thing. And it's so hard to feel responsible for something you don't remember. So I never feel bad enough. i feel bad, but the thing that i've done --it's removed from me. It's like it doesn't belong to me.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paula Hawkins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and-i-can-t-remember-where-i-ve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blackout"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and-i-can-t-remember-where-i-ve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/paula-hawkins-9343_blackout_i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and_628214.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't remember things. I black out and I can't remember where I've been or what I've done. Sometimes I…” — Paula Hawkins",
                "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": "Paula Hawkins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don't remember things. I black...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and-i-can-t-remember-where-i-ve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/i-don-t-remember-things-i-black-out-and-i-can-t-remember-where-i-ve/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
