[Ads-l] Quote Origin: God Gave Us Memory So That We Might Have Roses in December

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The saying in the subject line has been attributed to Scottish author
James Matthew Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Barrie did employ the
expression during a Rectorial Address he delivered at the University
of St Andrews in Scotland on May 3, 1922; however, he disclaimed
credit.

The Quote Investigator article explores a family of closely related
sayings. Here are four instances:

(1) Memory was given to mortals so that they might have roses in December.
(2) God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
(3) God gave us memory that we might have roses in winter.
(4) Memory is the power to gather roses in winter.

The first expression appeared in Good Cheer magazine in May 1901.
The article also cites poems which use the image of roses in winter to
symbolize memory.

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2024/12/15/memory-roses/

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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