“As flowers turn toward the sun, by dint of a secret heliotropism the past strives to turn toward that sun which is rising in the sky of history.”
— Walter Benjamin
Simplified Meaning:
Just like flowers naturally grow and face the sunlight, our past experiences and memories often look forward to new opportunities and better days ahead in history. Imagine a flower in your garden that always leans toward the sunlight as it grows. Similarly, our history and experiences tend to move toward positive changes and brighter futures, even if it's not always obvious. For example, think about how societies have fought for freedom and better rights over time. People remember the struggles and lessons from the past but keep working towards a hopeful future, like civil rights movements that learn from past hardships and push for a better tomorrow. This idea suggests that we should recognize our past but focus on the new and positive possibilities that lie ahead. Applying this to our lives, we can look at past challenges and use them to guide us towards making better decisions and improving our future.