Our memories are independent of our wills. It is not easy to forget.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Recollection is the only paradise from which we cannot be turned out.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
What is forgiven is usually well remembered.
—Louis Dudek (1918–2001) Canadian Poet, Publisher
The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The palest ink is better than the best memory.
—Chinese Proverb
Memory feeds imagination.
—Amy Tan (b.1952) Chinese-American Novelist
There is not any memory with less satisfaction than the memory of some temptation we resisted.
—James Branch Cabell (1879–1958) American Author of Fantasy Fiction
There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
A civil guest will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Memory is the primary and fundamental power, without which there could be no other intellectual operation.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Memory is not so brilliant as hope, but it is more beautiful, and a thousand times more true.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor, Poet
Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door.
—Saul Bellow (1915–2005) Canadian-American Novelist
Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.
—Sarah Ban Breathnach (b.1947) American Self-help Author
In memory’s telephoto lens, far objects are magnified.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
Memory is a complicated thing, a relative to truth, but not its twin.
—Barbara Kingsolver (b.1955) American Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.
—Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) Russian Dissident Novelist
The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
Memory is what makes us young or old.
—Alfred de Musset (1810–57) French Dramatist, Poet, Novelist
Memory itself is an internal rumour.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
God gave us memory that we might have roses in December.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Everyone complains of his lack of memory, but nobody of his want of judgement.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.
—Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–98) British Author, Mathematician, Clergyman, Logician
Pleasure is the flower that fades; remembrance is the lasting perfume.
—Stanislas de Boufflers (1738–1815) French Political Leader, Writer
When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.
—Bill Clinton (b.1946) American Head of State, Lawyer, Public Speaker
Life is all memory except for the one present moment that goes by so quick you can hardly catch it going.
—Tennessee Williams (1911–83) American Playwright
The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
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