--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He frowned as he struggled to remember…" description: "\"He frowned as he struggled to remember. It was like watching an elephant crochet.\" — Val McDermid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/val-mcdermid-13650_elephants_he-frowned-as-he-struggled-to-remember-i_1054766.jpg" --- # He frowned as he struggled to remember. It was like… ![“He frowned as he struggled to remember. It was like watching an elephant crochet.” quote by Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/val-mcdermid-13650_elephants_he-frowned-as-he-struggled-to-remember-i_1054766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/val-mcdermid-13650_elephants_he-frowned-as-he-struggled-to-remember-i_1054766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/val-mcdermid-13650_elephants_he-frowned-as-he-struggled-to-remember-i_1054766.jpg) > “He frowned as he struggled to remember. It was like watching an elephant crochet.” [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He struggles to recall, likening it to an elephant attempting crochet. **In simple terms:** Memory can be tangled and absurd. Key Takeaway Accept mental lapses, use humor. Themes memory humor frustration Mood lighthearted reflective Type psychology creative When to use this quote - writing - teaching - public speaking - stress management Key Concepts cognitive load creative metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve memory recall? - When is humor appropriate for frustration? A Different Perspective Humor may mask underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) ## Related quotes > [Dealing with the State Department is like watching an elephant become pregnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/dealing-with-the-state-department-is-like-watching-an-elephant-become/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [My first experience with film was through a still camera. I would sit, very much against my will, with my father in the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavid-hood/my-first-experience-with-film-was-through-a-still-camera-i-would-sit/) [Gavid Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavid-hood/) > [Football is the priority, even more than school. Art is frowned upon. I had to sneak music in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccall/football-is-the-priority-even-more-than-school-art-is-frowned-upon-i/) [Kevin McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccall/) > [In India, public display of affection is frowned upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/in-india-public-display-of-affection-is-frowned-upon/) [Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/) > [“Adam frowned. "What possessed you to come to Newgate? 'Tis no place for a woman, especially one as young as you, and unaccompanied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-calkins/adam-frowned-what-possessed-you-to-come-to-newgate-tis-no-place-for-a/) Susanna Calkins > [“I didn't tell you this because I'm sure you would've changed your mind about the dress." "What?" I frowned. "Does it make my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-didn-t-tell-you-this-because-i-m-sure-you-would-ve-changed-your/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Will everyone stop eating dinosaurs?' she frowned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-osborne/will-everyone-stop-eating-dinosaurs-she-frowned/) Neale Osborne > [“You’re not like a relative of hers or something?” I cocked my head. “No. Though she does carry my name.” He frowned. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/you-re-not-like-a-relative-of-hers-or-something-i-cocked-my-head-no/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“She raised her gaze to his. “Are you kicking me out?” “Will you go willingly?” “Only if you ask nicely,” she said and stepped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/she-raised-her-gaze-to-his-are-you-kicking-me-out-will-you-go/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [“His excuse made the corners of my mouth turn up. “You think I’m beautiful?” He frowned with disgust. “You’re gorgeous and you know it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/his-excuse-made-the-corners-of-my-mouth-turn-up-you-think-i-m/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Reinhart frowned at him. “I am surprised you are so quick to allude to your new wife’s lawbreaking activities.” “She would not be breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/reinhart-frowned-at-him-i-am-surprised-you-are-so-quick-to-allude-to/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [Hey show some respect. They’re real people with names. Carla and Krissy” He frowned. “Or was it Missy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-show-some-respect-they-re-real-people-with-names-carla-and-krissy/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I frowned. This from a man who just watched a midget riding a gimp?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-wells/i-frowned-this-from-a-man-who-just-watched-a-midget-riding-a-gimp/) [Jaye Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaye-wells/) > [“I frowned. “I need her more than Jesus does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-frowned-i-need-her-more-than-jesus-does/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More by Val McDermid > [“I told her you were probably here'. 'Thanks,' Tony said. 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He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Discovering dedicated mystery booksellers was a bit like going to heaven without having to die first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/discovering-dedicated-mystery-booksellers-was-a-bit-like-going-to/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Everybody's got the right to go to hell in the handcart of their choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/everybody-s-got-the-right-to-go-to-hell-in-the-handcart-of-their/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“It wasn't enough but it was a start. It might keep him going...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-wasn-t-enough-but-it-was-a-start-it-might-keep-him-going/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Look at you. Finally, you look upset. Is that what's bothering you now?' She stepped close to him and pushed him hard in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/look-at-you-finally-you-look-upset-is-that-what-s-bothering-you-now/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [That was the trouble with moving houses; no matter how carefully you packed the books, they never ended up on the new shelves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/that-was-the-trouble-with-moving-houses-no-matter-how-carefully-you/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Why are you only coming home just after three? Do you want a drink? I'm wide awake now.' 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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/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [I watched a film called 'Elephant' recently. Its not stylish in the sense of expensive suits and Italian cars, but the styling on every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/i-watched-a-film-called-elephant-recently-its-not-stylish-in-the/) [Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/) > ['Helping industry' is the elephant pit of socialism, a deep hole with sharp spikes at the bottom, covered over with twigs and fresh grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/helping-industry-is-the-elephant-pit-of-socialism-a-deep-hole-with/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [I returned to New Orleans and my problems with pari-mutuel windows and a dark-haired, milk-skinned wife from Martinique who went home with men from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-returned-to-new-orleans-and-my-problems-with-pari-mutuel-windows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-of-elephant-strength-or-of-lion-claw-still-peace-is-in-my/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Unlike the primate hand, the elephant's grasping organ is also its nose. Elephants use their trunks not only to reach food but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/unlike-the-primate-hand-the-elephant-s-grasping-organ-is-also-its/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I have little space from the suffering of elephants right now. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. The plight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-have-little-space-from-the-suffering-of-elephants-right-now-i-wake/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [It wasn't that I hated being asked a bunch of questions. I had nothing against questions. I just didn't like listening to them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/it-wasn-t-that-i-hated-being-asked-a-bunch-of-questions-i-had-nothing/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) [Browse all 589 Elephants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He frowned as he struggled to remember. 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