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Full Idea
Forgetfulness is not just a vis inertiae, as superficial people believe, but is rather an active ability to suppress, positive in the strongest sense of the word.
Clarification
'vis inertiae' is laziness
Gist of Idea
Forgetfulness is a strong positive ability, not mental laziness
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (On the Genealogy of Morals [1887], II.§01)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'On the Genealogy of Morals', ed/tr. Diethe, Carol [CUP 1997], p.35
A Reaction
It is unimpressive when people remember small slights and grievances for a long time - and even being owed small sums - so the ability to forget such things is admirable. But wilfully forgetting some things is obviously shameful.
Related Idea
Idea 23716 A strong rounded person soon forgets enemies, misfortunes, and even misdeeds [Nietzsche]