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Forgetting Quote by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi

“[M]y terror of forgetting is greater than my terror of having too much to remember. Let the accumulated facts about the past continue to multiply. ... So that those who need can find that this person did live, those events really took place, this interpretation is not the only one.” quote by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi
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““[M]y terror of forgetting is greater than my terror of having too much to remember. Let the accumulated facts about the past continue to multiply. ... So that those who need can find that this person did live, those events really took place, this interpretation is not the only one.””

Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi

About This Quote

Source Essay: Memory and History, 1995

He warns that fear of forgetting can dominate, urging preservation of facts while acknowledging multiple interpretations.

In simple terms: Preserve facts, accept varied views.

Key Takeaway

Document history, respect differing narratives.

Themes

history memory truth interpretation scholarship

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • research
  • teaching
  • archiving
  • public discourse

Key Concepts

Epistemology collective memory historical methodology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance memory with interpretation?
  • What sources ensure accurate recollection?
A Different Perspective

Risk of over‑emphasizing documentation over lived experience.

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