Memories and the Past Quotes in Life After Life

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing," Klara said. "If we all had it there would be no history to write about." (24.125)

Ursula tries to use her somewhat supernatural hindsight to eliminate "history" in other timelines, like when she shoots Hitler. Too bad she doesn't live to see how that might change the world.

Quote #8

"We cannot turn away," Miss Woolf told [Ursula], "we must get on with our job and we must bear witness." What did that mean? Ursula wondered. "It means," Miss Woolf said, "that we must remember these people when we are safely in the future." (25.28)

Memories keep people alive, and in times of war, that's about all you can hope to do, because you can't save everyone.

Quote #9

Ursula tried to think of the meadow at the back of the copse at Fox Corner. Flax and larkspur, corn poppies, red campion, and oxeye daisies. She thought of the smell of new-mown grass and the freshness of summer rain. (25.303)

Ursula has to rely on her memories during wartime in order to get a little peace and quiet. When bombs are falling on London, about the only thing she can do is try to put herself back into happier times.