--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am slow to learn and slow to forget…" description: "\"I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a piece of steel, very hard to scratch any thing on it and almost impo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png" --- # I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have… ![“I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a piece of steel, very hard to scratch any thing on it and almost impossible after you get it there to rub it out.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png) > “I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a piece of steel, very hard to scratch any thing on it and almost impossible after you get it there to rub it out.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning is slow and hard to erase; the mind becomes rigid once knowledge is set, making it difficult to change. **In simple terms:** Learning sticks and is hard to forget. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility in thinking. Themes learning memory rigidity Mood reflective determined Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - skill acquisition - habit formation Key Concepts cognitive psychology education Questions to Reflect On - How can you keep an open mind? - What strategies help revise entrenched beliefs? A Different Perspective Rigid thinking can hinder adaptation and new insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forget Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget-learned-1827812/) [I have learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-have-learned/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Learn Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-slow-1867838/) [Learned Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-mind-673282/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Scratches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratches/) [Slow Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-forget-1867839/) [Slow Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-learn-1867836/) [Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steel/) ## Related quotes > [pity me that the heart is slow to learn what the swift mind beholds at every turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/pity-me-that-the-heart-is-slow-to-learn-what-the-swift-mind-beholds/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Mistakes are expensive. Mistakes are good, because we can learn from them. I must be a slow learner because I repeat most of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-greenlaw/mistakes-are-expensive-mistakes-are-good-because-we-can-learn-from/) [Linda Greenlaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-greenlaw/) > [The more aware you become, the more you shed from day to day what you have learned so that your mind is always fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-more-aware-you-become-the-more-you-shed-from-day-to-day-what-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [He who has learned to do nothing with his whole mind and body will have everything done for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/he-who-has-learned-to-do-nothing-with-his-whole-mind-and-body-will/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [One thing I learned is that the mind, rather than being the master, should be the servant of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/one-thing-i-learned-is-that-the-mind-rather-than-being-the-master/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [Forget what hurt you in the past. But never forget what you have learned from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/forget-what-hurt-you-in-the-past-but-never-forget-what-you-have/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I've learned to keep my mind open to ideas from any source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-ve-learned-to-keep-my-mind-open-to-ideas-from-any-source/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You must try to forget all you have learned,” said the old man. “You must begin to dream. From this time on you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/you-must-try-to-forget-all-you-have-learned-said-the-old-man-you-must/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [I learned again that the mind-body-spirit connection has to be in balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynonna-judd/i-learned-again-that-the-mind-body-spirit-connection-has-to-be-in/) [Wynonna Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynonna-judd/) > [And as I had my father's kind of mind-which was also his mother's-I learned that the mind is not sex-typed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/and-as-i-had-my-father-s-kind-of-mind-which-was-also-his-mother-s-i/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Never forget what you learned in the light when you are in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-davis/never-forget-what-you-learned-in-the-light-when-you-are-in-the-dark/) [Bryan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-davis/) > [Lord AUGUSTUS:(looking around) Time to educate yourself, I suppose. DUMBY: No, time to forget all I have learned. That is much more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lord-augustus-looking-around-time-to-educate-yourself-i-suppose-dumby/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I learned that if I put my mind to something vocally, I can pull it off. You just have to get your head-space right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-learned-that-if-i-put-my-mind-to-something-vocally-i-can-pull-it/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I study I take the test I pass it I forget what I learned. ï(ð\_o)/ï](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-study-i-take-the-test-i-pass-it-i-forget-what-i-learned-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had no reason to doubt that brains were suitable for a woman. And as I had my father's kind of mind-which was also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/i-had-no-reason-to-doubt-that-brains-were-suitable-for-a-woman-and-as/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Forget quotes > [I Never met her,i never talked to her,but in my whole day I am either thinking about her or trying to forget her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhananda/i-never-met-her-i-never-talked-to-her-but-in-my-whole-day-i-am-either/) [Subhananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhananda/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/the-problem-with-people-is-they-forget-that-most-of-the-time-it-s-the/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/remind-a-man-of-what-he-remembers-and-you-will-make-him-forget-it/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [“So you try, and try, to move past it and forget about them, but it's like they're stuck in your head -- you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-mcdonald/so-you-try-and-try-to-move-past-it-and-forget-about-them-but-it-s/) [Abby McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-mcdonald/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) [Trunxbeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trunxbeats/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Browse all 11,315 Forget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a piece of steel, very hard to scratch any thing on it and almost impossible after you get it there to rub it out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-that-which-i-have-learned-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forget" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-that-which-i-have-learned-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/298/abraham-lincoln-88_forget_i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-th_172985.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned. My mind is like a piece of steel, very hard…” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am slow to learn and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-that-which-i-have-learned-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-slow-to-learn-and-slow-to-forget-that-which-i-have-learned-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```