--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We actually needed the memory - if you…" description: "\"We actually needed the memory - if you see the film - as a very different kind of a plot device of revealing some information to our main character. So..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/pete-docter-7914_absolutes_we-actually-needed-the-memory-if-you-see_2859853.png" --- # We actually needed the memory - if you see the film - as a… ![“We actually needed the memory - if you see the film - as a very different kind of a plot device of revealing some information to our main character. So we chose to represent it as these sort of beautiful little snow globes, which kind of, weirdly, that's the way we think of memories - at least…” quote by Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/pete-docter-7914_absolutes_we-actually-needed-the-memory-if-you-see_2859853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/pete-docter-7914_absolutes_we-actually-needed-the-memory-if-you-see_2859853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37c/pete-docter-7914_absolutes_we-actually-needed-the-memory-if-you-see_2859853.png) > “We actually needed the memory - if you see the film - as a very different kind of a plot device of revealing some information to our main character. So we chose to represent it as these sort of beautiful little snow globes, which kind of, weirdly, that's the way we think of memories - at least, most of the folks that we talked to. You think of these memories as being very pure and absolute and unchanging. That's not actually real life.” [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memories are portrayed as pure, static objects, but real memories are fluid and imperfect. **In simple terms:** Memories aren’t fixed. Key Takeaway Accept memory’s fluid nature. Themes memory perception imperfection Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type cinematic educational When to use this quote - therapy - education - creative writing Key Concepts cognitive psychology storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile cherished memories with change? - What role does memory play in identity? A Different Perspective Idealizing memory can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devices/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-kinds/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Globes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globes/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Main character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-character/) [Main characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-characters/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memories Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories-folks-3854147/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-film-2808931/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Revealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealing/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Think Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-memories-311523/) [Think of me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-of-me/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unchanging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchanging/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [We have to create images that remain in people's memory because a film is judged by what they have already seen. You are trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/we-have-to-create-images-that-remain-in-people-s-memory-because-a/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Memory is strange. Scientifically, it is not a mechanical means of repeating something. I can think a thousand times about when I broke my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/memory-is-strange-scientifically-it-is-not-a-mechanical-means-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be excited about these things. That they’re defining moments we cannot miss out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-l-johnson/think-we-put-a-lot-of-pressure-on-ourselves-to-be-excited-about-these/) [Amber L. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-l-johnson/) > [Isn't it funny how the memories you cherish before a breakup can become your worst enemies afterwards? The thoughts you loved to think about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/isn-t-it-funny-how-the-memories-you-cherish-before-a-breakup-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, before I fall asleep...I sit back and think about all the memories I had with you...yes, sometimes I still miss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-before-i-fall-asleep-i-sit-back-and-think-about-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, myself, that one's memories represent those moments which, insignificant as they may seem, nevertheless represent the inner self and oneself as most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-think-myself-that-one-s-memories-represent-those-moments-which/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Gates of memories will never close... How much I miss you no one knows... Days will pass away into years... And we'll think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gates-of-memories-will-never-close-how-much-i-miss-you-no-one-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We tend to think of memories as monuments we once forged and may find intact beneath the weedy growth of years. But, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/we-tend-to-think-of-memories-as-monuments-we-once-forged-and-may-find/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [At eighteen you don't think about memories, you tell them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet-2/at-eighteen-you-don-t-think-about-memories-you-tell-them/) [Naz?m Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet-2/) > [It's just when I think about all of what we had .. and still have .. and its just when I think about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-sami/it-s-just-when-i-think-about-all-of-what-we-had-and-still-have-and/) [Rita Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-sami/) > [Be sweet as sugar, bitter if you dont know it better. Bed the best place to think of memories which put you to sleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-sweet-as-sugar-bitter-if-you-dont-know-it-better-bed-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its like I miss you but I dont. Like I know I dont feel the same, but sometimes I like to go back. &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaney-ridnour/its-like-i-miss-you-but-i-dont-like-i-know-i-dont-feel-the-same-but/) [Delaney Ridnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delaney-ridnour/) > [If you think the memories of the past too much, you will miss creating the new ones!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-think-the-memories-of-the-past-too-much-you-will-miss-creating/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It's not necessarily getting older or the change that comes with it, I think it's more about the memories that you have. Where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/it-s-not-necessarily-getting-older-or-the-change-that-comes-with-it-i/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [You are always in my mind when I think,You are always in my memories when I dream,You are always in the vision what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-always-in-my-mind-when-i-think-you-are-always-in-my-memories/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Pete Docter > [Well, we try to - we definitely try to have a balance. And I think things have gotten a lot better at Pixar. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/well-we-try-to-we-definitely-try-to-have-a-balance-and-i-think-things/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [It's, like, you know, if you're sad, it's a way of connecting with other people. 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So we chose to represent it as these sort of beautiful little snow globes, which kind of, weirdly, that's the way we think of memories - at least, most of the folks that we talked to. You think of these memories as being very pure and absolute and unchanging. 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