What exactly is memory? In Book ten, more specifically, Chapters eight through fourteen of The Confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine examines what he believes the memory to be, and how it functions. Augustine first addresses memory specifically in Chapter eight of Book ten where he describes memory as “where are treasures of countless images of things of every manner . . . [and] also whatever we think about . . .” (p. 236). He can recall any of these memories that “forgetfulness …showed first 75 words of 826 total…

…showed last 75 words of 826 total…but is able to distinguish between the different memories, knowing one is true and another false. And him understanding that he can discern the difference is now a new memory which he will retain. In these few chapters of The Confessions Augustine was able to thoroughly investigate memory and its many aspect, such as he does with time in the following book. He comes to many satisfactory conclusions that one cannot help to agree with.