This essay examines the transformation of the function of memory and the writing of memoirs throughout human history. The author suggests that the human desire to preserve the past stems from the inherent instability and transience of the present moment. Historically, collective memory served primarily to reinforce mutual obligations and to transmit significant events through storytelling, which possessed a ritualistic or magical quality. However, the contemporary situation is markedly different. The modern phenomenon of memoir writing reflects an individualized society where authors focus on their personal experiences and subjective interpretations of the world. The text contrasts the original communal purpose of memory, aimed at maintaining social order, with the current drive for self-expression and the presentation of individual opinions. This shift indicates a profound change in how humanity perceives time and the significance of personal experience in the modern era, moving from collective myth-making to individual narratives.