Jonas says, ' I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now. 'Do you think that's a good way to live? Chapter 10

There is some wisdom in this to a point but, within the context of the story, it is terrible. The people in the community are taught to disregard reality. The past is manufactured as is the present and the future. There is little meaning in the here and now because people have learned nothing from the past.