--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people think that 'I don't recall'…" description: "\"Most people think that 'I don't recall' is a clever answer. But it isn't that clever. You might not recall that you had bacon and eggs for breakfast- b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/f-lee-bailey-24446_answers_most-people-think-that-i-don-t-recall-is_251448.jpg" --- # Most people think that 'I don't recall' is a clever… ![“Most people think that 'I don't recall' is a clever answer. But it isn't that clever. You might not recall that you had bacon and eggs for breakfast- but if you killed your mother, you'll remember it.” quote by F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/f-lee-bailey-24446_answers_most-people-think-that-i-don-t-recall-is_251448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/f-lee-bailey-24446_answers_most-people-think-that-i-don-t-recall-is_251448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/f-lee-bailey-24446_answers_most-people-think-that-i-don-t-recall-is_251448.jpg) > “Most people think that 'I don't recall' is a clever answer. But it isn't that clever. You might not recall that you had bacon and eggs for breakfast- but if you killed your mother, you'll remember it.” [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often use "I don’t recall" to evade responsibility, but memory is sharp for emotionally charged events, revealing the tactic’s weakness. **In simple terms:** Denial tactics fail when emotions are strong. Key Takeaway Beware of vague denials. Themes ethics memory law psychology Mood cautious reflective Type legal psychological When to use this quote - courtroom testimony - police interrogation - personal conflicts - self‑reflection Key Concepts cognitive bias emotional salience legal strategy Questions to Reflect On - When have you used vague recall? - How does emotion affect memory? A Different Perspective The phrase can be a legitimate lack of memory, not just a dodge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related 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/) > [Opportunity has never knocked on my door as far as I can recall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-milintachinda/opportunity-has-never-knocked-on-my-door-as-far-as-i-can-recall/) Woody Milintachinda > [I am a frustrating interviewee. I'm like Ronald Reagan. I don't remember and I don't recall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/i-am-a-frustrating-interviewee-i-m-like-ronald-reagan-i-don-t/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [I remember my parents yelling at each other and at me from an early age, and I remember a lot of things smashing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-diamond/i-remember-my-parents-yelling-at-each-other-and-at-me-from-an-early/) [Jason Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-diamond/) > [Who can ever be alone for a moment in Italy? Every stone has a voice, every grain of dust seems instinct with spirit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/who-can-ever-be-alone-for-a-moment-in-italy-every-stone-has-a-voice/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Christmas was a miserable time for a Jewish child in those days, and I still recall the feeling. ... Decades later, I still feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-moskowitz/christmas-was-a-miserable-time-for-a-jewish-child-in-those-days-and-i/) [Faye Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-moskowitz/) > [I still recall the day when I became known not just as Gay Brewer, but 'Gay Brewer, winner of the 1967 Masters.' The reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gay-brewer/i-still-recall-the-day-when-i-became-known-not-just-as-gay-brewer-but/) Gay Brewer > [Looking back through the mists of time, I recall some distinctly religious experiences in my teens--when I was only fourteen years old to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/looking-back-through-the-mists-of-time-i-recall-some-distinctly/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [I seemed to recall some words from an old Zen master, something like, "My Zen cuts down mountains." My rejection of Buddhism was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-seemed-to-recall-some-words-from-an-old-zen-master-something-like/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [Between trying to impeach Bill Clinton, Florida 2000, and the recall in California, I'm beginning to think that Republicans will do anything to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/between-trying-to-impeach-bill-clinton-florida-2000-and-the-recall-in/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I was well aware of that when I heard they were remaking 'Total Recall.' My first reaction was: 'Ewww, really okay?' And the director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/i-was-well-aware-of-that-when-i-heard-they-were-remaking-total-recall/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) ## More by F. Lee Bailey > [The people I have no feeling for are professional killers. But I count that man no worse than a governor who won't commute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/the-people-i-have-no-feeling-for-are-professional-killers-but-i-count/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [My experience is, people who retire die sooner than they should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/my-experience-is-people-who-retire-die-sooner-than-they-should-have/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [There are no major cities I haven't been in - at least once. I'd be just as happy not to go out of town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/there-are-no-major-cities-i-haven-t-been-in-at-least-once-i-d-be-just/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn't even get out of committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/can-any-of-you-seriously-say-the-bill-of-rights-could-get-through/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [If I'm offered a good case in Florida or a good case somewhere else, South Florida will win every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/if-i-m-offered-a-good-case-in-florida-or-a-good-case-somewhere-else/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [A person in the business of defending criminal cases is going to live in controversy all of his or her life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/a-person-in-the-business-of-defending-criminal-cases-is-going-to-live/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [I use the rules to frustrate the law. But I didn't set up the ground rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/i-use-the-rules-to-frustrate-the-law-but-i-didn-t-set-up-the-ground/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [I get paid for seeing that my clients have every break the law allows. I have knowingly defended a number of guilty men. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/i-get-paid-for-seeing-that-my-clients-have-every-break-the-law-allows/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [I have never seen a major trial which lacked significant perjury, and I have yet to see that perjury punished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/i-have-never-seen-a-major-trial-which-lacked-significant-perjury-and/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [The legal profession is a business with a tremendous collection of egos. Few people who are not strong egotistically gravitate to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/the-legal-profession-is-a-business-with-a-tremendous-collection-of/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [Among the rednecks of America, which there are many more than people seem to realize, it was terribly damaging. I got blamed for O.J.'s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/among-the-rednecks-of-america-which-there-are-many-more-than-people/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [The public regards lawyers with great distrust. They think lawyers are smarter than the average guy but use their intelligence deviously. Well, they're wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/the-public-regards-lawyers-with-great-distrust-they-think-lawyers-are/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [Each lawyer makes somebody unhappy either by beating him, embarrassing him or tying him in knots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/each-lawyer-makes-somebody-unhappy-either-by-beating-him-embarrassing/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [I enjoy personal injury cases. I've tried quite a few of those. And, frankly, any kind of litigation that is trouble-shooting, whether it's equities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/i-enjoy-personal-injury-cases-i-ve-tried-quite-a-few-of-those-and/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) > [Justice Scalia is predictable. He can be counted on to come down with a conservative opinion, and generally, to bring Justice Clarence Thomas with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-lee-bailey/justice-scalia-is-predictable-he-can-be-counted-on-to-come-down-with/) [F. Lee Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) [Explore all 24 F. Lee Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-lee-bailey/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people think that 'I don't recall' is a clever answer. 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