--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Memory isn't something that stays with…" description: "\"“Memory isn't something that stays with you at all times. It's a quantity that gets summoned or evoked or brought to mind. It gets carried to an arena ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jodi-picoult-45_memory_memory-isn-t-something-that-stays-with-y_2265960.jpg" --- # Memory isn't something that stays with you at all times… ![“Memory isn't something that stays with you at all times. It's a quantity that gets summoned or evoked or brought to mind. It gets carried to an arena for our viewing pleasure. By definition, then, there are times it must go missing.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jodi-picoult-45_memory_memory-isn-t-something-that-stays-with-y_2265960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jodi-picoult-45_memory_memory-isn-t-something-that-stays-with-y_2265960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jodi-picoult-45_memory_memory-isn-t-something-that-stays-with-y_2265960.jpg) > ““Memory isn't something that stays with you at all times. It's a quantity that gets summoned or evoked or brought to mind. It gets carried to an arena for our viewing pleasure. By definition, then, there are times it must go missing.”” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## 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 not constant; it appears when needed and can disappear, highlighting its selective nature. **In simple terms:** Memory comes and goes, not always present. Key Takeaway Accept memory's limits and use notes. Themes cognition memory impermanence Mood thoughtful practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying - public speaking - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts retrieval episodic memory Questions to Reflect On - How do you compensate for forgotten details? - What strategies help you retrieve elusive memories? A Different Perspective Relying solely on memory can lead to gaps in critical tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brought Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought-mind-4264636/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-isn-820819/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-gets-973227/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I balanced all, brought all to mind, the years to come seemed waste of breath, a waste of breath the years behind, in balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-balanced-all-brought-all-to-mind-the-years-to-come-seemed-waste-of-2/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I don't think anybody would be interested in my memoir - and my memory isn't very good either!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-serafinowicz/i-don-t-think-anybody-would-be-interested-in-my-memoir-and-my-memory/) [Peter Serafinowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-serafinowicz/) > [But the heart has a mind of its own and it always gets what it wants, especially when it's dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/but-the-heart-has-a-mind-of-its-own-and-it-always-gets-what-it-wants/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“My mind gets caught up in the world,becoming so disconnected and lost,you find guidance from ghosts that have no direction and only aim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hawkins/my-mind-gets-caught-up-in-the-world-becoming-so-disconnected-and-lost/) [Tyler Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hawkins/) > [“There are some places the mind should not go; it gets steered there anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/there-are-some-places-the-mind-should-not-go-it-gets-steered-there/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [The mind gets distracted in all sorts of ways. The heart is its own exclusive concern and diversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-de-chazal/the-mind-gets-distracted-in-all-sorts-of-ways-the-heart-is-its-own/) [Malcolm De Chazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-de-chazal/) > [My mind gets into a verbal mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/my-mind-gets-into-a-verbal-mode/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Memory fans out from imagination, and vice versa, and why not. Memory isn’t a well but an offshoot. It goes secretly. Comes apart. Deceives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/memory-fans-out-from-imagination-and-vice-versa-and-why-not-memory/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [The loss of memory isn't always the problem; sometimes--maybe even often--it's the solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-loss-of-memory-isn-t-always-the-problem-sometimes-maybe-even/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Pure memory isn't based on recall but rather involuntary memory that's in your body and your nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-gregson-wagner/pure-memory-isn-t-based-on-recall-but-rather-involuntary-memory-that/) [Natasha Gregson Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-gregson-wagner/) > [My short-term memory isn't great. I don't get headaches, but I know that the damage from football is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/my-short-term-memory-isn-t-great-i-don-t-get-headaches-but-i-know/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [The selective memory isn't selective enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-morrison/the-selective-memory-isn-t-selective-enough/) [Blake Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-morrison/) > [One of the unique things about the human brain is that it can do only what it thinks it can do. The minute you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/one-of-the-unique-things-about-the-human-brain-is-that-it-can-do-only/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Memory isn't the defective tape recording you've been led to believe. It's the tape player itself, playing back the tracks of music we select—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-kimmel/memory-isn-t-the-defective-tape-recording-you-ve-been-led-to-believe/) [James P. Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-kimmel/) > [Memory isn't the facts, it's just a record you keep to yourself. With the facts, memory is useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/memory-isn-t-the-facts-it-s-just-a-record-you-keep-to-yourself-with/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Memory quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“Maybe there is something when it all ends. Maybe there is memory, memory of the person you loved, when you lived. Maybe this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ellison/maybe-there-is-something-when-it-all-ends-maybe-there-is-memory/) [Kate Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ellison/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Memory is funny. Once you hit a vein the problem is not how to remember but how to control the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/memory-is-funny-once-you-hit-a-vein-the-problem-is-not-how-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [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/) > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [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/) > [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/) > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [What’s the use of remembering anything? If it was unpleasant it was unpleasant and if it was pleasant it’s over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/what-s-the-use-of-remembering-anything-if-it-was-unpleasant-it-was/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [Always remember a little thing can change everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-remember-a-little-thing-can-change-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) [Browse all 12,248 Memory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Memory isn't something that stays with you at all times. It's a quantity that gets summoned or evoked or brought to mind. It gets carried to an arena for our viewing pleasure. 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