--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't trust your memory. You change…" description: "\"You can't trust your memory. You change it to suit yourself.\" — Sydney Pollack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/sydney-pollack-2385_change_you-can-t-trust-your-memory-you-change-i_1877048.jpg" --- # You can't trust your memory. You change it to suit yourself. ![“You can't trust your memory. You change it to suit yourself.” quote by Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/sydney-pollack-2385_change_you-can-t-trust-your-memory-you-change-i_1877048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/sydney-pollack-2385_change_you-can-t-trust-your-memory-you-change-i_1877048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f08/sydney-pollack-2385_change_you-can-t-trust-your-memory-you-change-i_1877048.jpg) > “You can't trust your memory. You change it to suit yourself.” [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memory is malleable; we reshape recollections to fit our narratives. **In simple terms:** Memories can be altered to fit our story. Key Takeaway Question your recollections. Themes psychology memory self‑deception Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - personal relationships - legal testimony - therapy sessions Key Concepts cognitive bias subjective truth Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the accuracy of your memories? - What motives might drive you to rewrite the past? A Different Perspective Memory can be unreliable, especially under stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/memory-can-change-the-shape-of-a-room-it-can-change-the-color-of-a/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Do not trust your memory; it is a net full of holes; the most beautiful prizes slip through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-duhamel/do-not-trust-your-memory-it-is-a-net-full-of-holes-the-most-beautiful/) [Georges Duhamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-duhamel/) > [At the time I could no more believe my eyes than now I can trust my memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/at-the-time-i-could-no-more-believe-my-eyes-than-now-i-can-trust-my/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [At the time I could no more believe my eyes than I can now trust my memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/at-the-time-i-could-no-more-believe-my-eyes-than-i-can-now-trust-my/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [“If one wishes to be instructed--not that anyone does--concerning the treacherous role that memory plays in a human life, consider how relentlessly the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/if-one-wishes-to-be-instructed-not-that-anyone-does-concerning-the/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Everyone is perfect in there own way and never need to change to suit others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-graham/everyone-is-perfect-in-there-own-way-and-never-need-to-change-to-suit/) [Wendy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-graham/) > [How can I change me to suit the script?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/how-can-i-change-me-to-suit-the-script/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Never change who you are to suit who wouldnt notice if you were there or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-charin/never-change-who-you-are-to-suit-who-wouldnt-notice-if-you-were-there/) [Levita Charin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-charin/) > [“It's not enough that you move through the world - you must change it to suit your expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stein/it-s-not-enough-that-you-move-through-the-world-you-must-change-it-to/) [Michael Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stein/) > [“If you change who you are to suit other people, you may end up dressed for the wrong occasion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-bellamacina/if-you-change-who-you-are-to-suit-other-people-you-may-end-up-dressed/) [Benny Bellamacina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-bellamacina/) > [You know yourself better than anyone and you have to trust that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruel/you-know-yourself-better-than-anyone-and-you-have-to-trust-that/) Ruel > [There are seasons in life. Don't ever let anyone try to deny you the joy of one season because they believe you should stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-clayson/there-are-seasons-in-life-don-t-ever-let-anyone-try-to-deny-you-the/) [Jane Clayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-clayson/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [If you want to edit your photos and make yourself look different, go for it. That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) ## More by Sydney Pollack > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [It's my job to motivate the audience to believe. I have to get them to suspend their judgment in favor of involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/it-s-my-job-to-motivate-the-audience-to-believe-i-have-to-get-them-to/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [The marketing of anything is full of exploitation and lies and hype.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/the-marketing-of-anything-is-full-of-exploitation-and-lies-and-hype/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Burt Lancaster was largely responsible for me becoming a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/burt-lancaster-was-largely-responsible-for-me-becoming-a-director/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [People sense when you're pretending, when you're worried about your own ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/people-sense-when-you-re-pretending-when-you-re-worried-about-your/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I personally have never made a movie in Hollywood, because I don't want to get up in my own bed and then go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-personally-have-never-made-a-movie-in-hollywood-because-i-don-t/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Every film I've made has a kind of frustrated love story in the center of it. They were people who saw life from opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/every-film-i-ve-made-has-a-kind-of-frustrated-love-story-in-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You mustn't regret decisions that you make. Because the decisions are made out of your gut in a way and you have to stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-mustn-t-regret-decisions-that-you-make-because-the-decisions-are/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [When you're shooting a feature that costs $200,000 a day with a crew of 250, you don't want accidents; you want to know exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/when-you-re-shooting-a-feature-that-costs-200-000-a-day-with-a-crew/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [What makes architecture extraordinary is that you're looking at the building, but your peripheral vision is also seeing how it fits within a space.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/what-makes-architecture-extraordinary-is-that-you-re-looking-at-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't get nervous talking about my films, but if I'm the subject, it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-get-nervous-talking-about-my-films-but-if-i-m-the-subject-it/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [You are not an active creator of the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-are-not-an-active-creator-of-the-film/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [All films are political, whether they mean to be or not. Star Wars is political. As soon as you have conflict, which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/all-films-are-political-whether-they-mean-to-be-or-not-star-wars-is/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [There will be people who are sensitive about seeing the American point of view presented as less than sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/there-will-be-people-who-are-sensitive-about-seeing-the-american/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I don't consider myself a teacher of moral and political positions. I don't want to be that. I can't help but have a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-teacher-of-moral-and-political-positions-i/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) [Explore all 169 Sydney Pollack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't trust your memory. 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