--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Memory is like a dog that lies down where…" description: "\"Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.\" — Cees Nooteboom" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg" --- # Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases. ![“Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.” quote by Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg) > “Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.” [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memory is compared to a dog that chooses its own resting place, implying it is unpredictable and selective. **In simple terms:** Memory behaves unpredictably, settling where it wants. Key Takeaway Accept memory's quirks and work with them. Themes memory unpredictability control selectivity Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - studying - creative writing - therapy - daily planning Key Concepts psychology metaphor cognitive function Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage selective memory? - What strategies help retrieve forgotten details? A Different Perspective Memory cannot be fully controlled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dog Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog-lies-2347536/) [Lies Pleases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-pleases-2347537/) [Like Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-dog/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-like/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Pleases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleases/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness to a dog is what lies on the other side of the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-ogburn/happiness-to-a-dog-is-what-lies-on-the-other-side-of-the-door/) [Charlton Ogburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-ogburn/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [I abhor crime novels in which the main character can behave however he or she pleases, or do things that normal people do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-abhor-crime-novels-in-which-the-main-character-can-behave-however/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-cannot-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [I count something as successful if it pleases the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/i-count-something-as-successful-if-it-pleases-the-audience/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but can- not please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-can-not-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Prejudice, which sees what it pleases, cannot see what is plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/prejudice-which-sees-what-it-pleases-cannot-see-what-is-plain/) [Aubrey Thomas de Vere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/) > [It pleases me that people can be interactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-pleases-me-that-people-can-be-interactive/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“If it pleases me, then it is good and I want more; If it displeases me, then it must be destroyed as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/if-it-pleases-me-then-it-is-good-and-i-want-more-if-it-displeases-me/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [What is good only because it pleases cannot be pronounced good till it has been found to please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-is-good-only-because-it-pleases-cannot-be-pronounced-good-till/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more one pleases everybody, the less one pleases profoundly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-one-pleases-everybody-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“The more one pleases generally, the less one pleases profoundly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krister-stendahl/the-more-one-pleases-generally-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Krister Stendahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krister-stendahl/) > [“I highly recommend cleanliness. It pleases women and annoys men, which are two excellent ways to get on in society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ross/i-highly-recommend-cleanliness-it-pleases-women-and-annoys-men-which/) [Kate Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ross/) > [Whatever pleases You is a pure action of karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/whatever-pleases-you-is-a-pure-action-of-karma/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [“But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact pleases You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-i-believe-that-the-desire-to-please-you-does-in-fact-pleases-you/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by Cees Nooteboom > [Man has been thrown into the world. It had always made him think of Icarus and those other great tumblers, Ixion, Phaeton, Tantalus -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/man-has-been-thrown-into-the-world-it-had-always-made-him-think-of/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“We are our secrets, and, if all goes well, we will take them with us to where no-one can touch them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/we-are-our-secrets-and-if-all-goes-well-we-will-take-them-with-us-to/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“Kummer hat etwas in den Linien deines Gesichts zu suchen, nicht in deiner Erinnerung.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/kummer-hat-etwas-in-den-linien-deines-gesichts-zu-suchen-nicht-in/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [I have never cared much for people. Most of them are cowards, conformists, muddleheads, moneygrubbers, and they infect each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/i-have-never-cared-much-for-people-most-of-them-are-cowards/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [As far as he could see, the world was moving, in an orderly capitalist fashion, toward a logical, perhaps provisional, perhaps permanent, end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/as-far-as-he-could-see-the-world-was-moving-in-an-orderly-capitalist/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [The world is a never-ending cross-reference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/the-world-is-a-never-ending-cross-reference/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“...a poem is only finished when the last reader has read it or listened to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/a-poem-is-only-finished-when-the-last-reader-has-read-it-or-listened/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“All right, she thought I was a funny little geezer, but my charred Phaethon had impressed her, I was very obviously available, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/all-right-she-thought-i-was-a-funny-little-geezer-but-my-charred/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [Through men ... you learn how the world is. Through women you learn what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/through-men-you-learn-how-the-world-is-through-women-you-learn-what/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“Conversations consist for the most part of things one does not say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/conversations-consist-for-the-most-part-of-things-one-does-not-say/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [So-called real life has only once interfered with me, and it had been a far cry from what the words, lines, books had prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/so-called-real-life-has-only-once-interfered-with-me-and-it-had-been/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [I am a hindrance to the world, and the world is a hindrance to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/i-am-a-hindrance-to-the-world-and-the-world-is-a-hindrance-to-me/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [Man is a sad mammal that combs its hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/man-is-a-sad-mammal-that-combs-its-hair/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [Language is something you inherit, it's never just you doing the talking, which helps when you're pretending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/language-is-something-you-inherit-it-s-never-just-you-doing-the/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) > [“Omnivore, omnifume, omniboit, omnivoit. Ne znaš odabrati, to je uvijek nedostatak izvrsnosti. Zato si ti svaštar. To je netko kome je sve lijepo. Život…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/omnivore-omnifume-omniboit-omnivoit-ne-zna-odabrati-to-je-uvijek/) [Cees Nooteboom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) [Explore all 24 Cees Nooteboom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/) ## More Dog quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ “A hasty dog always burns his mouth. \[192\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-t-plaatje/a-hasty-dog-always-burns-his-mouth-192/) [Sol T. Plaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-t-plaatje/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [“A year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, ending in 2009 and published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science (Elsevier), showed that aggressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-custo/a-year-long-study-by-the-university-of-pennsylvania-ending-in-2009/) [Edward Custo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-custo/) [Browse all 6,836 Dog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cees Nooteboom" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-where-it-pleases/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dog" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-where-it-pleases/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d8/cees-nooteboom-17398_dog_memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-wher_2650695.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Memory is like a dog that lies down where it pleases.” — Cees Nooteboom", "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": "Cees Nooteboom", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cees-nooteboom/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Memory is like a dog that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-where-it-pleases/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cees-nooteboom/memory-is-like-a-dog-that-lies-down-where-it-pleases/#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 } } ] } ```