Your brain is not like sticking plaster, it is like putty; you must make an impression of the things you wish to retain. To make these impressions will always require an effort, no help will ever be devised which will enable you to remember without effort. The ideas given to you in this book are aids, and you should become able to use them as such. The principles of memory are scientifically accurate and you need to become familiar with them and to use them to add to your success in study and progress. Do not be like the carpenter who "is too busy to sharpen his tools," or like the drowning man who refused to grasp the rope because he feared it was not strong enough. Use every idea that proves helpful and apply it in every possible way. There is no intent to give here all of the applications, but merely to give principles and to suggest one or two ways in which they have been used. The applications that are of most value to you are those you make for yourself. The principles will cover every need, if you will be resourceful in their use. Get Out of the Rut Make an effort. Insist upon your brain waking up and "getting on the job" and doing its share. The old method of "learning by heart" requires a maximum of time and mental effort. This visual method requires only a minimum of time and mental effort. Time is of the utmost value to you. Dr. James tells us that over seventy-five per cent of our Mental power is dormant, asleep. Stir yourself. Put a Maximum of Mental Effort into a Minimum of Time; develop an accurate and retentive memory--a worthy servant to be at all times relied upon--the very foundation of your success. You can work wonders with yourself by intelligent and persistent effort. The Capacity of the Visual Memory is Unlimited. Faith is the Atmosphere in which Success lives. Kill Mental Laziness. It has always been fatal--it is as deadly NOW! It Can Be Done Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But he with a chuckle replied, That maybe it couldn't, but he would not be one To say so until he tried. So he buckled right in with a bit of a grin On his face; if he worried he hid it, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done--and he did it. Somebody scoffed, "Oh, you'll never do that-- At least, no one ever has done it," But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he'd begun it. With a bit of a grin and a lift of his chin Without any doubting or quit it He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done--and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you; But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That cannot be done--and you'll do it.