He who seeks to approach his own buried past must conduct himself like a man digging. He must not be afraid to return again and again to the same matter; to scatter it as one scatters earth, to turn it over as one turns over soil. For the matter itself is only a deposit, a stratum, which yields only to the most meticulous examination what constitutes the real treasure hidden within the earth: the images, severed from all earlier associations, that stand --like precious fragments or torsos in a collector's gallery --in the prosaic rooms of our later understanding.

Summary

This quote suggests that in order to understand and uncover our past, we must approach it with determination and thoroughness. It likens the process to digging, emphasizing the need to repeatedly delve into our memories and experiences. By treating the past as a buried treasure, we are encouraged not to fear revisiting the same material and carefully examining it, as it holds valuable insights and images stripped of their initial context. It highlights the importance of dissecting and understanding our past to construct a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves.

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