-But rational thoughts lead only to rational thoughts, whereas irrational thoughts lead to new experiences.
Alan LightmanRead
Events, once happened, lose reality, alter with a glance, a storm, a night. In time, the past never happened. But who could know? Who could know that the past is not as solid as this instant.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The past is flexible and changes with our perceptions over time.
This quote reflects on the fluid nature of time and memory, suggesting that our experiences and events from the past can shift in significance and reality based on our current thoughts and emotions. Alan Lightman emphasizes the idea that the past is not a fixed entity; rather, it evolves as we reflect on it, raising questions about the reliability of memory and the subjective nature of reality.
Themes
PastMemoryTimePerceptionReality
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about how we remember events, this quote can be shared to illustrate the subjective nature of memory.
More from Alan Lightman
All quotes →In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum of iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay. The first is unyielding, predetermined. The second makes up its mind as it goes along.
Alan LightmanRead
And at the place where time stands still, one sees lovers kissing in the shadows of buildings, in a frozen embrace that will never let go. The loved one will never take his arms from where they are now, will never give back the bracelet of memories, will never journey afar from his lover, will never place himself in danger of self-sacrifice, will never fail to show his love, will never become jealous, will never fall in love with someone else, will never lose the passion of this instant of time.
Alan LightmanRead
In a world without future, each moment is the end of the world.
Alan LightmanRead
Who would fare better in this world of fitful time? Those who have seen the future and live only one life? Or those who have not seen the future and wait to live life? Or those who deny the future and live two lives?
Alan LightmanRead
The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present.
Alan LightmanRead
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