---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are three side effects of acid…"
description: "\"There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.\" — Timothy Leary"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png"
---

#  There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term…

![“There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.” quote by Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png)

> “There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.”

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acid can boost long-term memory but harms short-term recall, and the third effect is humorously omitted.

**In simple terms:** Acid improves long-term memory, worsens short-term, joke about a missing effect.

Key Takeaway

Consider both benefits and risks before use.

Themes

memory psychology psychedelics

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

analytical humorous

When to use this quote

- personal experimentation
- research studies
- harm reduction
- creative work

Key Concepts

neuroplasticity cognitive trade‑offs

Questions to Reflect On

- What cognitive tasks could benefit from enhanced long‑term memory?
- How do you mitigate short‑term deficits?

A Different Perspective

Long‑term gains may be offset by short‑term loss and unknown risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid/) [Acid Enhanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid-enhanced-4435012/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Effects Acid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects-acid-4435011/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Memory Decreased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-decreased-4435013/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/) [Term Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-memory/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/)

## Related quotes

> [Fifteen years ago tomorrow I had open heart surgery, a quintuple bypass surgery. Thanks to all of my doctors. Because of them, in 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/fifteen-years-ago-tomorrow-i-had-open-heart-surgery-a-quintuple/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [When I was a practicing alcoholic, I was unbelievable. One side effect was immense suspicion: I'd come off tour like Inspector Clouseau on acid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/when-i-was-a-practicing-alcoholic-i-was-unbelievable-one-side-effect/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [The mission of DNA is to evolve nervous systems able to escape from the doomed planet and contact manifestations of the same amino-acid seeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-mission-of-dna-is-to-evolve-nervous-systems-able-to-escape-from/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Acid is not for every brain … Only the healthy, happy, wholesome, handsome, hopeful, humorous, high-velocity should seek these experiences. This elitism is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/acid-is-not-for-every-brain-only-the-healthy-happy-wholesome-handsome/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [I had short-term memory at zero, so you don't have this problem of worry or anxiety, because you don't remember what you're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/i-had-short-term-memory-at-zero-so-you-don-t-have-this-problem-of/)

[Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/)

> [As we get older it is our short term memory that fades rather than our long term memory. Perhaps we have evolved like this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/as-we-get-older-it-is-our-short-term-memory-that-fades-rather-than/)

[Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/)

> [“Are you interested in medical marijuana but have no idea what it is? In recent years, there is a growing cry for the legalization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt/are-you-interested-in-medical-marijuana-but-have-no-idea-what-it-is/)

[Kurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt/)

> [I don't know anyone who's going to see Grind 22 times in the theater. My mom. Some kid who has short-term memory loss and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-brody/i-don-t-know-anyone-who-s-going-to-see-grind-22-times-in-the-theater/)

[Adam Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-brody/)

> [If you have a lesion in the hippocampus in both sides, you have short term memory, but you can convert that short term memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/if-you-have-a-lesion-in-the-hippocampus-in-both-sides-you-have-short/)

[Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/)

> [Whether you're a quarterback and you just threw a pick, or you're a corner and you just got beat for a touchdown, you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mariucci/whether-you-re-a-quarterback-and-you-just-threw-a-pick-or-you-re-a/)

[Steve Mariucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mariucci/)

> [“When we consider how much of the anxiety and pain of daily life stems from attending to our long-term memories and worrying about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-corkin/when-we-consider-how-much-of-the-anxiety-and-pain-of-daily-life-stems/)

[Suzanne Corkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-corkin/)

> [The hardest thing about losing your short term memory is… 'Happy Birthday' Yes it's someone's Happy Birthday isn't o\_O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/the-hardest-thing-about-losing-your-short-term-memory-is-happy/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [“It’s been said that the average person’s short-term memory can only retain seven chunks of information. So the theory behind cognitive load is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-scott/it-s-been-said-that-the-average-person-s-short-term-memory-can-only/)

[S.J. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-scott/)

> [Short term memory is not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcmahon/short-term-memory-is-not-good/)

[Jim McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcmahon/)

> [“The neurological/cognitive symptoms are more characteristically variable than constant and often have a distinct fatiguing component to them. Especially common are cognitive ‘fog’ or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-m-carruthers/the-neurological-cognitive-symptoms-are-more-characteristically/)

[Bruce M. Carruthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-m-carruthers/)

## More by Timothy Leary

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Psychedelic drugs cause paranoia, confusion, and total loss of reality in politicians that have never taken them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/psychedelic-drugs-cause-paranoia-confusion-and-total-loss-of-reality/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Tune in, turn on, and drop out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/tune-in-turn-on-and-drop-out/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [The most important thing you do in your life is to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-most-important-thing-you-do-in-your-life-is-to-die/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [The aim of human life is to know thyself. Think for yourself. Question authority. Think with your friends. Create, create new realities. Philosophy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-aim-of-human-life-is-to-know-thyself-think-for-yourself-question/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Learning how to operate a soul figures to take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/learning-how-to-operate-a-soul-figures-to-take-time/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [At the peak of his scientific triumphs, Newton became a 'head,' a student of the inner spiritual world - or in modern terms, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/at-the-peak-of-his-scientific-triumphs-newton-became-a-head-a-student/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [When you teach someone how to perform creatively (ie, associate dead symbols in new combinations), you expand his potential for experiencing more widely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/when-you-teach-someone-how-to-perform-creatively-ie-associate-dead/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [In the Eleusinian mysteries, they would always warn people, "if you go in here, your ego will die. You're going to have to confront…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/in-the-eleusinian-mysteries-they-would-always-warn-people-if-you-go/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [At every level there are eight stages of intelligence. You have to turn your brain on to the circuits that are used at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/at-every-level-there-are-eight-stages-of-intelligence-you-have-to/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Intelligence is the ultimate aphrodisiac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/intelligence-is-the-ultimate-aphrodisiac/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [You cannot use butterfly language to communicate with caterpillars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-cannot-use-butterfly-language-to-communicate-with-caterpillars/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Of course, the drug does not produce the transcendent experience. It merely acts as a chemical key — it opens the mind, frees the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/of-course-the-drug-does-not-produce-the-transcendent-experience-it/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [Seven million people I turned on, and only one hundred thousand have come by to thank me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/seven-million-people-i-turned-on-and-only-one-hundred-thousand-have/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Explore all 165 Timothy Leary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

## More Acid quotes

> [Grew up in a small town where there was only one crazy guy. He didn't even go insane doing anything good, like going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/grew-up-in-a-small-town-where-there-was-only-one-crazy-guy-he-didn-t/)

[Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/)

> [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/)

[Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/)

> [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/)

[Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/)

> [Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/canada-is-a-country-whose-main-exports-are-hockey-players-and-cold/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/)

[Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/)

> [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/envy-may-justly-be-called-the-gall-of-bitterness-and-bond-of-iniquity/)

[Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/)

> [“They threw rotten fruit at me and told me next time it would be acid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/they-threw-rotten-fruit-at-me-and-told-me-next-time-it-would-be-acid/)

[Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/)

> [“We were left with nothing because of a love like acid that ate its way through our entire family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-ronald/we-were-left-with-nothing-because-of-a-love-like-acid-that-ate-its/)

[R.D. Ronald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-ronald/)

> [The acid test of our love for God is obedience to His Word. The greatest ability is dependability. The test of your character is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-jones-sr/the-acid-test-of-our-love-for-god-is-obedience-to-his-word-the/)

[Bob Jones, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-jones-sr/)

> [You must have had such a great childhood with a man like that for your father. (Delphine) Yeah. All puppy dogs and rainbows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-must-have-had-such-a-great-childhood-with-a-man-like-that-for/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Since I was gay and loved disco music, it was kinda pre-programmed that my first experiences with house music and acid - which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-kohncke/since-i-was-gay-and-loved-disco-music-it-was-kinda-pre-programmed/)

[Justus Kohncke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justus-kohncke/)

> [We open the halves of a miracle, and a clotting of acids brims into the starry divisions: creation's original juices, irreducible, changeless, alive: so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/we-open-the-halves-of-a-miracle-and-a-clotting-of-acids-brims-into/)

[Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/)

> [I was standing in the street with people walking past me and I could feel my face evaporating. I thought I was on fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-was-standing-in-the-street-with-people-walking-past-me-and-i-could/)

[Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/)

> [Once I slapped a rapper with mace, Then I spit acid in his face, after he rinsed his eyes, no wait... I actually grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/once-i-slapped-a-rapper-with-mace-then-i-spit-acid-in-his-face-after/)

[Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/)

[Browse all 448 Acid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acid/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Timothy Leary"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enhanced-long-term-memory/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acid"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enhanced-long-term-memory/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/timothy-leary-2431_acid_there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enh_2137401.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget…” — Timothy Leary",
                "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": "Timothy Leary",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are three side effects of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enhanced-long-term-memory/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/there-are-three-side-effects-of-acid-enhanced-long-term-memory/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
