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About this quote

What does it mean?
He refuses to burn letters until he first forgets the person who wrote them.
In plain terms
He must forget first before destroying the letters.
What can you take from it?
Emotional closure precedes symbolic acts.

Where it applies

  • breakups
  • grieving

Putting it to work

  • process emotions before disposing of m

Questions to consider

  • Can you truly forget before acting?
  • What does burning symbolize?

Another view

Sometimes letting go requires confronting the past directly.

More from John Adams

  1. Let them revere nothing but religion, morality and liberty.

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  2. There is something very unnatural and odious in a government a thousand leagues off. A whole government of our own choice, managed by persons whom we love, rev…

    Permalink to quote #12
  3. I agree with you that in politics the middle way is none at all.

    Permalink to quote #9

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