"On the basis of the familiar experience that that which is learned with difficulty is better retained, it would have been safe to prophesy such an effect from the greater number of repetitions"
- Hermann Ebbinghaus
About this Quote
Hermann Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who studied memory and knowing. In this quote, he is suggesting that repeating is a reliable method to find out and remember info. He is drawing on the concept that if something is discovered with trouble, it is more likely to be remembered. He is suggesting that if we repeat something several times, it will be much better retained in our memory. This idea is supported by research which has actually found that repetition is an effective method to find out and remember details. Ebbinghaus' quote recommends that if we want to keep in mind something, we must repeat it multiple times. This is an useful suggestion for anyone who is trying to find out something brand-new or keep in mind something crucial.
About the Author