Hermann Ebbinghaus
German psychologist who pioneered the study of memory through nonsense syllables, noting 'Psychology has a long past, yet its real history is short.'
Most quoted
"Out of the simple consonants and vowels several hundred syllables can be formed, many of which are very little inferior in intelligibility to words of the language."
— from Book, 1885
"The most striking result of these experiments is the regular decrease of the amount of material retained with the increase of the time elapsed since the learning."
— from Über das Gedächtnis (On Memory), 1885
"The relations of association by which one idea is converted into another are three in number: similarity, contiguity, and contrast."
— from Book, 1885
All quotes by Hermann Ebbinghaus (102)
What is true of the individual is true of the race: forgetting is the fate of all.
In the depths of my mind, I find the echoes of forgotten lessons.
Science demands precision, and memory is its most elusive subject.
Life is a series of associations, each building upon the last.
The nonsense syllable is a tool, not a toy, for unlocking the mind's secrets.
Repetition strengthens the chain of memory, link by link.
I have often felt the weight of forgotten knowledge pressing upon me.
The mind is like a garden; weeds of forgetfulness grow if not tended.
In my experiments, I learned more about myself than about others.
Time erodes the edges of recollection, but the core remains.
Psychology must free itself from metaphysics to advance.
The joy of discovery in the lab outweighs the drudgery of repetition.
Associations form the invisible threads binding our thoughts.
Forgetfulness is not a flaw, but a feature of the human design.
My syllables, though meaningless, reveal profound truths about retention.
In solitude, the mind replays its own history.
The experimental method is the scalpel of psychological inquiry.
Memories are savings in the mind's bank, drawing interest through recall.
I regret only the knowledge I failed to pursue.
Humor in science? The absurdity of forgetting one's own name.
Contemporaries of Hermann Ebbinghaus
Other Psychologys born within 50 years of Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850–1909).