Arseholes Quote by Steve Toltz
“After all, memory may be the only thing on earth we can truly manipulate to serve us, so we don't have to look back at ourselves in the receding past and think, What an arsehole!”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Other Days, Steve Toltz, 2008
Memory is the only tool we can truly control, allowing us to reshape our self‑image without confronting past flaws.
In simple terms: We can edit our memories to avoid self‑criticism.
Key Takeaway
Use memory wisely, but stay honest with yourself.
Themes
memory
self‑image
control
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- therapy
- creative writing
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths might we miss by editing memories?
- How can we balance memory control with authenticity?
A Different Perspective
Relying on memory alteration can distort reality and impede growth.
![“Pretty much all memory is fiction and heavily edited. [...] A memory is its own thing each time it's recalled. It's not absolute. Stories based on actual events often share more with fiction than fact. Both fictions and memories are recalled and retold. They're both forms of stories. Stories are…” quote by Iain Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5bd/iain-reid-34619_memory_pretty-much-all-memory-is-fiction-and-he_1422117.jpg)
![“To my horror principles have wormed their way into [the] fabric of my being.” quote by Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d1d/steve-toltz-3783_horror_to-my-horror-principles-have-wormed-thei_21514.jpg)
![“[I'll teach you] how not to leave the windows of your heart open when it looks like rain and how everyone has a stump where something necessary was amputated.” quote by Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce3/steve-toltz-3783_heart_i-ll-teach-you-how-not-to-leave-the-wind_361549.jpg)
![“Arseholes who are expert at making something out of nothing [...] appeared equally capable of making nothing out of something” quote by John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/250/john-le-carre-651_arseholes_arseholes-who-are-expert-at-making-somet_238786.jpg)
