"Memory depends very much on the perspicuity, regularity, and order of our thoughts. Many complain of the want of memory, when the defect is in the judgment; and others, by grasping at all, retain nothing"
About this Quote
Thomas Fuller draws attention to the ways in which memory functions not in isolation, but in conjunction with clarity, structure, and discernment within our minds. The effectiveness of our memory, he asserts, stems largely from "perspicuity, regularity, and order", qualities indicating how clearly we form ideas, how methodically we approach information, and how logically we arrange our thoughts. When thoughts are muddled, disorganized, or lack clear connections, the ability to recall them suffers. Memory is not simply a passive receptacle, but an active process shaped and even limited by the ways our minds process and structure experience.
Fuller suggests that some individuals who lament their poor memory are perhaps misattributing the root of their struggles. The real problem, in his view, resides in defective judgment, meaning the inability to properly assess, discriminate, and categorize incoming information. Without this discerning “judgment,” thoughts remain foggy, scattered, and difficult to retrieve, regardless of raw memory capacity. The act of remembering thus involves both the intake of information and the mental sorting, evaluating, and storing of that information in a way that makes recall possible.
He further cautions against intellectual greediness, the impulse to "grasp at all", as ultimately counterproductive. Eagerness to retain every piece of information often yields the opposite result, resulting in mental overload and superficial understanding. The mind, overwhelmed by undifferentiated facts or experiences, fails to preserve anything with clarity. A selective, organized approach proves more fruitful, allowing the mind to anchor ideas with meaningful connections and context.
Fuller’s reflection underscores the importance of not only what we know, but how we learn and organize what we know. By fostering clarity of thought, disciplined categorization, and judicious selection, we enhance memory’s capacity and depth, transforming information into lasting knowledge rather than fleeting fragments.
Fuller suggests that some individuals who lament their poor memory are perhaps misattributing the root of their struggles. The real problem, in his view, resides in defective judgment, meaning the inability to properly assess, discriminate, and categorize incoming information. Without this discerning “judgment,” thoughts remain foggy, scattered, and difficult to retrieve, regardless of raw memory capacity. The act of remembering thus involves both the intake of information and the mental sorting, evaluating, and storing of that information in a way that makes recall possible.
He further cautions against intellectual greediness, the impulse to "grasp at all", as ultimately counterproductive. Eagerness to retain every piece of information often yields the opposite result, resulting in mental overload and superficial understanding. The mind, overwhelmed by undifferentiated facts or experiences, fails to preserve anything with clarity. A selective, organized approach proves more fruitful, allowing the mind to anchor ideas with meaningful connections and context.
Fuller’s reflection underscores the importance of not only what we know, but how we learn and organize what we know. By fostering clarity of thought, disciplined categorization, and judicious selection, we enhance memory’s capacity and depth, transforming information into lasting knowledge rather than fleeting fragments.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
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