When you get down to the bottom of it, only about half of what we remember really happened. We tend to modify things to make ourselves look better in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. Then, if what we did wasn't really very admirable, we tend to forget that it ever happened. A normal human being's grasp on reality is very tenuous at best. Our imaginary lives are usually much nicer.

Summary

This quote highlights the tendency of human beings to distort their memories and paint a more favorable picture of themselves. It suggests that only about half of what we recall actually occurred, as we selectively modify and forget moments to enhance our self-image. By doing so, we construct inflated, idealized versions of our lives, which often diverge from the reality we experience. It emphasizes the fragile nature of our understanding of reality, suggesting that our perception of ourselves is often far removed from the truth.

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