Once, in his first term, Cartwright had been bold enough to ask him why he was clever, what exercises he did to keep his brain fit. Healey had laughed." It's memory, Cartwright, old dear. Memory, the mother of the Muses... at least that's what thingummy said."

Stephen Fry
About This Quote

In this quote from the novel, The Whistle Stop, by James Herriot, Dr. Richard Shears, a veterinarian who opened a practice in a small town called Fisheside, discusses his daily activities with police constable Harry Cartwright. In the novel, Harry talks about his own medical practice and how he is able to remember all of his patients names and what they have been going through. Dr.

Shears answers Harry’s question about how he can remember so many things by saying that it is because he has a super memory. This quote is also a play on words as Harry was trying to ask Dr. Shears if he had trained as a medical doctor or if he was just plain smart or "thingummy."

Source: The Liar

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