W. G. Sebald Quotes

The star S0-2 orbits around Sgr A* every 16 years and will go through its closest approach in 2018. That's an opportunity to test Einstein's General Relativity theory through very precise measurements of this star's short period orbit.

How beautiful is forgetting! What relief it would be for the world to lose some of its contents.

There is nothing that makes a man more self-satisfied than a poor memory.

The names are the first things to go, after the breath has gone, and the beating of the heart. We keep our memories longer than our names.

One look at each other and it was immediately understood that they both needed a clean slate,,, The obliteration of memory.

I can remember much forgetfulness.

Have you ever heard of the theory of relativity?" Artemis blinked. "Is this a joke? I have traveled through time, Doctor. I think I know a little something about relativity.

When they're gone out of his head, these words, they'll be gone, everywhere, forever. As if they had never been.

The sands of time are quicksands ... so much can sink into them without a trace.

Who knows whither the clouds have fled? In the unscarred heaven they leave no wake; And the eyes forget the tears they have shed, The heart forgets its sorrow and ache.

Do we soon forget the things we cannot see?

I'm horrified to find, as I look at these diaries of twenty-five years ago or more, that I don't remember who the people were. "Bill and Tony were constantly in and out. We went to La Jolla" - or something. I haven't the bluest idea who they were!

Kisses honeyed by oblivion.

The name of the author is the first to go followed obediently by the title, the plot, the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never even heard of, as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain, to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

If a rabbit gave advice and the advice wasn't accepted, he immediately forgot it, and so did everyone else.

Remembering is the most overrated thing. Forgetting is far superior.

Life cannot go on without much forgetting.

The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd

Oblivion is not to be hired.

And though I remember her name I cannot recall her face. All things pass.

Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten, Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold, Let it be forgotten forever and ever, Time is a kind friend, he will make us old.

There's a brief moment when you first wake up, where you have no memories. A blissful blank slate, a happy emptiness.

All the promises we made in the beginning, did we forget because we were busy? Or are we already too busy forgetting?

I realized people would soon forget me once I was dead. I couldn't even say that this was hard to stomach; really, there's no idea to which one doesn't get acclimatized in time.