Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.

Read as an aphorism, the line suggests that remembering is not merely retrospective; it is formative. Memories—especially of suffering, love, failure, or moral courage—can function as guidance for choices still to be made, shaping character and directing action. The “key” metaphor implies access: recollection unlocks lessons, warnings, and motivations that help a person navigate what comes next. In a broader ethical sense, it can be taken as an argument for testimony and remembrance: preserving what happened (personally or collectively) is valuable insofar as it informs responsibility, resilience, and hope in the future.