Memory Quotes in The Lightning Thief

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Even I am not old enough to remember that, child, but I know it was a time of darkness and savagery for mortals. Kronos, the lord of the Titans, called his reign the Golden Age because men lived innocent and free of all knowledge. But that was mere propaganda. The Titan king cared nothing for your kind except as appetizers or a source of cheap entertainment. It was only in the early reign of Lord Zeus, when Prometheus, the good Titan brought fire to mankind, that your species began to progress, and even then Prometheus was branded a radical thinker." (10.68)

There are certain things that the gods can't remember very well – they haven't been around forever. Before them was the Golden Age of the Titans, which was definitely a brutal, horrible time. The gods do have a painful memory in their past of Kronos's reign. Perhaps this memory helps them rule better than he did.

Quote #8

"May the Fates forbid that the gods should ever suffer such a doom, or that we should ever return to the darkness and the chaos of the past. All we can do, child, is follow our destiny." (10.70)

Chiron understands that the only way to overcome fear is to move forward and go with the flow of life. Following one's destiny seems like it might involve letting go of the past. The gods' immortality makes them very forward-thinking.

Quote #9

"She sacrificed herself to save us," he said miserably. "Her death was my fault. The Council of Cloven Elders said so." (16.69)

Grover carries his memory of Thalia and Thalia's death with him all the time. He feels such guilt for not being able to keep her alive. Even though his memory of Thalia is a painful one, remembering her seems to be a way of honoring her.