"La mémoire des États façonne l'histoire"
— Henry Kissinger
Simplified Meaning:
The actions and decisions of countries in the past influence how their histories are told and remembered. For example, consider how different countries remember a war. One country might see it as a great victory, teaching its citizens about heroes and bravery, while another remembers the same war as a time of loss and suffering. These memories affect how people in those countries feel about each other today. When governments or leaders highlight certain memories, they can build national pride or even create tension with other nations. Understanding this helps people see why relationships between countries can be friendly or strained, depending on how they remember shared events. People can use this knowledge to be more aware of different perspectives and work toward better international understanding.
