What was that?

Ever forget something? (What a question!) Ever wonder why?

L. Ron Hubbard had a very simple take on the problem, in a recorded lecture of December 1951:

“The only reason a person forgets is because he doesn’t want to remember. The only reason he doesn’t want to remember is because it hurts him to remember. If it hurts him to remember, then he can’t handle his facsimiles. Simple.

So you just want to get him up to a point where he can handle all of his facsimiles and that’s all you’re trying to do with this guy—all you’re trying to do. Of course, he won’t have any chronic somatics at that point.”

— L. Ron Hubbard, a lecture delivered  29 December 1951.