The Importance of Memory

How in the world is it that, while a mental impression persists, although the thing itself is no longer at hand, one remembers what is not present? Evidently we must regard this phenomenon which, through the mediation of sensation, is produced in the soul as similar to a painting. For an act of stimulus stamps on the soul a sort of imprint of the sensation, analogous to stamping with a seal ring. In other persons, because of their worn-out condition, like old buildings, or because of the hardness of their receptive principle, no impression is made. The very young and the aged have poor memories,. for the former are in a fluent condition owing to their growth, and the