--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They say an elephant never forgets. Well…" description: "\"They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies…t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/aaron-koblin-20483_elephants_they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-well_1086965.jpg" --- # They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an… ![“They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies…the medium doesn't matter, so long as it inspires you. When you're stumped, go to your notes like a wizard to his spellbook. Mash those thoughts…” quote by Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/aaron-koblin-20483_elephants_they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-well_1086965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/aaron-koblin-20483_elephants_they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-well_1086965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/aaron-koblin-20483_elephants_they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-well_1086965.jpg) > “They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies…the medium doesn't matter, so long as it inspires you. When you're stumped, go to your notes like a wizard to his spellbook. Mash those thoughts together. Extend them in every direction until they meet.” [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistently capture ideas across media and combine them creatively to solve problems. **In simple terms:** Take notes and remix ideas. Key Takeaway Keep a versatile idea journal. Themes creativity learning productivity Mood inspired curious Type advice motivational When to use this quote - research - writing - design brainstorming - innovation - problem solving Key Concepts knowledge management idea synthesis Questions to Reflect On - How do you organize diverse notes? - What methods help you remix ideas effectively? A Different Perspective Notes can become overwhelming without organization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Get well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-well/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Wizards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizards/) ## Related quotes > [They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies... the medium doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-well-you-are-not-an-elephant-take-2/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [You know...they say an elephant never forgets. What they don't tell you is, you never forget an elephant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/you-know-they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-what-they-don-t-tell-you/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [When I write a political column for the Chicago Sun-Times, when liberals disagree with me, they send in long, logical e-mails explaining all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/when-i-write-a-political-column-for-the-chicago-sun-times-when/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [There are some wounds that one can heal only by deepening them and making them worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auguste-de-villiers-de-l-isle-adam/there-are-some-wounds-that-one-can-heal-only-by-deepening-them-and/) [Auguste de Villiers de l'Isle-Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auguste-de-villiers-de-l-isle-adam/) > [We are all wounded. But wounds are necessary for his healing light to enter into our beings. Without wounds and failure and frustrations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-sanchez/we-are-all-wounded-but-wounds-are-necessary-for-his-healing-light-to/) [Bo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-sanchez/) > [When I worked with various healers of one kind or another, very often what came up was that there was an "inner" person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/when-i-worked-with-various-healers-of-one-kind-or-another-very-often/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [To impute our recovery to medicine, and to carry our view no further, is to rob God of His honor, and is saying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/to-impute-our-recovery-to-medicine-and-to-carry-our-view-no-further/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [The Church is not a monastery for the isolation of perfect people. It is more like a hospital provided for those who wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-church-is-not-a-monastery-for-the-isolation-of-perfect-people-it/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“It is when our budding hopes are nipped beyond recovery by some rough wind, that we are the most disposed to picture ourselves what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-when-our-budding-hopes-are-nipped-beyond-recovery-by-some-rough/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness, - an open and noble temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/health-is-the-condition-of-wisdom-and-the-sign-is-cheerfulness-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/everyone-has-a-doctor-in-him-or-her-we-just-have-to-help-it-in-its/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [I am convinced that nine out of every ten persons seeing a psychiatrist do not need one. They need someone who will love them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/i-am-convinced-that-nine-out-of-every-ten-persons-seeing-a/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [“Our body is a sacred temple A place to connect with people. As we aren't staying any younger We might as well keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/our-body-is-a-sacred-temple-a-place-to-connect-with-people-as-we-aren/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I was very lucky to get well known much later in life. You need to have flopped quite a few times to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-was-very-lucky-to-get-well-known-much-later-in-life-you-need-to/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) ## More by Aaron Koblin > [As we get more transparent with data sets about infrastructure and systems management, I have a feeling we'll see big changes in how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-we-get-more-transparent-with-data-sets-about-infrastructure-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [The possibilities for creation and insight are endless. We're constantly collecting more data, and it's starting to be very relevant to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/the-possibilities-for-creation-and-insight-are-endless-we-re/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [When I look at a pie chart, I just go numb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/when-i-look-at-a-pie-chart-i-just-go-numb/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I've always been excited by rotoscoping, the technique used in films like 'Waking Life,' which fuses animation with real-life emotion. It seemed like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/i-ve-always-been-excited-by-rotoscoping-the-technique-used-in-films/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I think you can have a ridiculously enormous and complex data set, but if you have the right tools and methodology then it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/i-think-you-can-have-a-ridiculously-enormous-and-complex-data-set-but/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [It's so hard for me to wrap my head around the concept of truth, I don't even know what people mean by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/it-s-so-hard-for-me-to-wrap-my-head-around-the-concept-of-truth-i-don/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I studied at UC Santa Cruz before going on to do a grad program at UCLA. Santa Cruz was like an awesome hippie summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/i-studied-at-uc-santa-cruz-before-going-on-to-do-a-grad-program-at/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [There's something that happens with the collection of a large amount of data when it's dumped into an Excel spreadsheet or put into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/there-s-something-that-happens-with-the-collection-of-a-large-amount/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [The truth is I'm not actually an expert programmer! I really don't consider myself to be an expert at anything. For me, it's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/the-truth-is-i-m-not-actually-an-expert-programmer-i-really-don-t/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [What's clear - and exciting - is that communication for social change is growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/what-s-clear-and-exciting-is-that-communication-for-social-change-is/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [As a kid, I was always into art at the same time as computers, and eventually I realised I was making more interesting stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-a-kid-i-was-always-into-art-at-the-same-time-as-computers-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I grew up with the idea of the cyborg and the robot, but at the same time I felt this intense disconnection between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/i-grew-up-with-the-idea-of-the-cyborg-and-the-robot-but-at-the-same/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I've found that when everyone rallies behind a cause, and when they learn their effort can contribute something bigger, they get engaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/i-ve-found-that-when-everyone-rallies-behind-a-cause-and-when-they/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [My work is focused on using data to tell stories and explore our common humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/my-work-is-focused-on-using-data-to-tell-stories-and-explore-our/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [The trouble with progress is that it tends to happen slowly and quietly. It's not necessarily going to shout about itself, or make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/the-trouble-with-progress-is-that-it-tends-to-happen-slowly-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) [Explore all 30 Aaron Koblin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) ## More Elephants quotes > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [I watched a film called 'Elephant' recently. Its not stylish in the sense of expensive suits and Italian cars, but the styling on every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/i-watched-a-film-called-elephant-recently-its-not-stylish-in-the/) [Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/) > ['Helping industry' is the elephant pit of socialism, a deep hole with sharp spikes at the bottom, covered over with twigs and fresh grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/helping-industry-is-the-elephant-pit-of-socialism-a-deep-hole-with/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [I returned to New Orleans and my problems with pari-mutuel windows and a dark-haired, milk-skinned wife from Martinique who went home with men from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-returned-to-new-orleans-and-my-problems-with-pari-mutuel-windows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-of-elephant-strength-or-of-lion-claw-still-peace-is-in-my/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Unlike the primate hand, the elephant's grasping organ is also its nose. Elephants use their trunks not only to reach food but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/unlike-the-primate-hand-the-elephant-s-grasping-organ-is-also-its/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I have little space from the suffering of elephants right now. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. 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