--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have an awful memory, and I have a…" description: "\"I have an awful memory, and I have a great memory. Meaning that, if I'm trying to remember something, I can't remember it. But my recall is fantastic.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_awful_i-have-an-awful-memory-and-i-have-a-grea_304089.jpg" --- # I have an awful memory, and I have a great memory. Meaning… ![“I have an awful memory, and I have a great memory. Meaning that, if I'm trying to remember something, I can't remember it. But my recall is fantastic.” quote by Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_awful_i-have-an-awful-memory-and-i-have-a-grea_304089.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_awful_i-have-an-awful-memory-and-i-have-a-grea_304089.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/philip-seymour-hoffman-2704_awful_i-have-an-awful-memory-and-i-have-a-grea_304089.jpg) > “I have an awful memory, and I have a great memory. Meaning that, if I'm trying to remember something, I can't remember it. But my recall is fantastic.” [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrasting memory strengths highlights that recall and retention are distinct abilities. **In simple terms:** Memory types differ. Key Takeaway Recognize and leverage your specific memory strengths. Themes memory cognition strengths limitations Mood analytical insightful Type advice educational When to use this quote - studying - work tasks - creative projects Key Concepts neuroscience psychology self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - Which memory skill helps you most? - How can you improve weaker aspects? A Different Perspective Relying on one memory type may limit performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Great memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-memories/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Remember something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-something/) ## Related quotes > [What we, or at any rate what I, refer to confidently as memory--meaning a moment, a scene, a fact that has been subjected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/what-we-or-at-any-rate-what-i-refer-to-confidently-as-memory-meaning/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [Where Washington hath left His awful memory A light for after times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/where-washington-hath-left-his-awful-memory-a-light-for-after-times/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [“What we, or at any rate what I, refer to confidently as memory - meaning a moment, a scene, a fact that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/what-we-or-at-any-rate-what-i-refer-to-confidently-as-memory-meaning-2/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [I've got an awful memory, and I can't read or write, but you can read me a script once or twice, and I've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gilgun/i-ve-got-an-awful-memory-and-i-can-t-read-or-write-but-you-can-read/) [Joe Gilgun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gilgun/) > [Memory is a great artist. For every man and for every woman it makes the recollection of his or her life a work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/memory-is-a-great-artist-for-every-man-and-for-every-woman-it-makes/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Having a sharp memory is great..but sometimes the ability to forget is a lot better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-a-sharp-memory-is-great-but-sometimes-the-ability-to-forget-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Memory is a great servant, but really bad master. When memory plays its role as a master, it limits our choices. It choices doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ika-natassa/memory-is-a-great-servant-but-really-bad-master-when-memory-plays-its/) [Ika Natassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ika-natassa/) > [Memory is the great deceiver. 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The dream can be had by anyone. The memory -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/it-s-realizing-that-a-great-dream-is-not-as-good-as-a-great-memory/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I have a great memory. And actually, I remember Russia in some ways better than I remember Queens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/i-have-a-great-memory-and-actually-i-remember-russia-in-some-ways/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I do not hold grudges...but I do have a GREAT memory! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-do-not-hold-grudges-but-i-do-have-a-great-memory/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Even if their is not a guy name Gun anymore, he remains a great memory in our hearts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/song/even-if-their-is-not-a-guy-name-gun-anymore-he-remains-a-great-memory/) Song ## More by Philip Seymour Hoffman > [To act well isn't an easy thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/to-act-well-isn-t-an-easy-thing/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I would never not work on the part without it playing. That's what being an actor is. You use everything that's influenced you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-would-never-not-work-on-the-part-without-it-playing-that-s-what/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I have a fine level of recognition in the business and among the acting community now, so I consider myself one of the lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-have-a-fine-level-of-recognition-in-the-business-and-among-the/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I don't want to repeat myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-want-to-repeat-myself/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [Life's pretty funny when you're objectively on the outside looking at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/life-s-pretty-funny-when-you-re-objectively-on-the-outside-looking-at/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. 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It was very painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-stephenson/there-was-a-special-challenge-in-describing-the-awful-childhood-of-a/) [Pamela Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-stephenson/) > [On balance the moral influence of religion has been awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/on-balance-the-moral-influence-of-religion-has-been-awful/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [When you finish a poem, it clicks shut like the top of a jewel box, but prose is endless. I haven't experienced an awful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-koch/when-you-finish-a-poem-it-clicks-shut-like-the-top-of-a-jewel-box-but/) [Kenneth Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-koch/) > [Fascism: awful stench of saw and axe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/fascism-awful-stench-of-saw-and-axe/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [No one with a bad tie is getting my vote. 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