David Boles: Human Meme

The idea of "not speaking ill of the dead" is a deeply rooted cultural and historical construct, and its origins and evolution provide significant insight into the ways societies shape their collective memories. This concept, often summarized in the Latin phrase -- De mortuis nihil nisi bonum -- ("Of the dead, nothing but good should be said"), has existed for millennia, emerging from an interplay of morality, religious beliefs, and the need for social cohesion.