Much memory and little judgment.
Much memory and little judgment.
Meaning in plain English
Remembering many details does not by itself show how wisely they are assessed. The saying separates recall from the judgement needed to use it.
Example
A discussion participant recalls many dates but then checks which events actually support the explanation being proposed.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Memory supplies stored material; judgement concerns how that material bears on a present question. The contrast can describe an impressive recital that fails to examine relevance, reliability or consequences. It should not demean a strong memory or claim that good recall prevents sound thinking. A useful response asks which facts matter, how they were obtained and whether the conclusion follows, rather than judging the speaker solely by the amount remembered.
When to use it
Use it when extensive recall is being mistaken for a complete argument.
Keep in mind
Memory and judgement can support one another; this is not a measure of intelligence.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 7; French section, paragraph 148; source wording: Beaucoup de mémoire et peu de jugement.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗