"The past can be seen only as an image which flashes up at the instant when it can be recognized and is never seen again. “The truth will not run away from us”: in the historical outlook of historicism these Words of Gottfried Keller mark the exact point Where historical materialism curs through historicisrn. .For every image of the past that is not recognized by the present as one of its own concerns threatens to disappear irretríevably. (The good tidings which the historian of the past brings with throbbing heart may be lost in a void the very moment he mouth.)."
I found this passage extremely hard to grasp but this passage spoke to me. It is such an interesting concept to think about. Different things can bring ourselves to think about our past or past situations. But there are certain things that spark those images engrained into our head when we encounter them when we aren't thinking about it. A certain smell, object, color, it could be anything, really, that makes us have a dejavu moment and brings up happy/sad etc emotions. But after an instant, the spark of remembrance is gone, and we are just left with the emotion that was evoked.
The second part of the passage which states that if the image of the past isn't part of our future then it is threatened to disappear irretrievably. This is an extremely scary thought to have, but could also be a blessing depending on the situation and image that is being lost forever.
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