“At least within our own consciousness, the past is malleable and flexible, constantly changing as our recollection reinterprets and re-explains what has happened.”
Source: Invitation to Sociology (1963), p. 57 ; Cited in: Robert Benjamin Smith, Peter K. Manning (1982), Qualitative methods. p. 64
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Peter L. Berger 45
Austrian-born American sociologist 1929–2017Related quotes
“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.”
Source: A Nation of Immigrants
Source: Theory of the Earth (Paper, published in Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1785)
Source: The Devil and Miss Prym [O Demônio e a srta Prym] (2000), p. x; this has also been misquoted as "A moment is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny."
Context: When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.