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Full Idea
It has yet to be proven that there is such a thing as forgetting; all we know is that the act of remembering is not within our power.
Gist of Idea
We may be unable to remember, but we may never actually forget
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 126)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Dawn (Daybreak) (v 5)', ed/tr. Smith, Brittain [Stanford 2011], p.93
A Reaction
There is some evidence for this. We forget innumerable people, but then find that we recognise them if we meet them many years later. Anecdotes report very ancient memories suddenly surfacing.