--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a strong proof of men knowing most…" description: "\"It is a strong proof of men knowing most things before birth, that when mere children they grasp innumerable facts with such speed as to show that they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_birth_it-is-a-strong-proof-of-men-knowing-most_1739156.jpg" --- # It is a strong proof of men knowing most things before… ![“It is a strong proof of men knowing most things before birth, that when mere children they grasp innumerable facts with such speed as to show that they are not then taking them in for the first time, but are remembering and recalling them.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_birth_it-is-a-strong-proof-of-men-knowing-most_1739156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_birth_it-is-a-strong-proof-of-men-knowing-most_1739156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_birth_it-is-a-strong-proof-of-men-knowing-most_1739156.jpg) > “It is a strong proof of men knowing most things before birth, that when mere children they grasp innumerable facts with such speed as to show that they are not then taking them in for the first time, but are remembering and recalling them.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cicero argues that humans possess innate knowledge, recalling facts from before birth rather than learning anew. **In simple terms:** Humans recall innate knowledge from before birth. Key Takeaway Trust intuition as a source of knowledge. Themes knowledge innate memory education philosophy Mood inquisitive analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - self‑directed learning - psychology - philosophical debate Key Concepts epistemology cognitive psychology innatism Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports innate knowledge? - How do experience and memory interact? A Different Perspective The claim lacks empirical evidence and may oversimplify learning processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Innumerable Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innumerable-facts-1502665/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-things/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-knowing-269222/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reincarnation/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-proof-1502664/) ## Related quotes > [The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. 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I was, and I knew it, an ordinary person who long after he was grown retained the childhood assumption that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-finney/i-was-stunned-i-was-and-i-knew-it-an-ordinary-person-who-long-after/) [Jack Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-finney/) > [The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-disadvantage-of-men-not-knowing-the-past-is-that-they-do-not-know/) [Gilbert K. 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She wrinkled her nose. "Everybody did. I told you. It's nothing special, knowing how things work. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-you-used-to-know-everything-she-wrinkled-her-nose-everybody-did-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/knowing-how-things-work-is-the-basis-for-appreciation-and-is-thus-a/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [“Knowing what things are not is often as important as knowing what they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/knowing-what-things-are-not-is-often-as-important-as-knowing-what/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. 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(Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. 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