> but if libraries were hash tables with O(1) lookup time a large messy one is better. If the lookup time was O(1) then it's not a large messy library, it's a

> but if libraries were hash tables with O(1) lookup time a large messy one is better. If the lookup time was O(1) then it's not a large messy library, it's a large neat library. Besides, the "neatness" of your mind is an metaphor for your ability understand a piece of knowledge in the context of the whole. This is not a literal organizational issue, but a conceptual understanding of how different ideas "fit" together. It takes time and effort to deeply understand and connect a single piece of knowledge to the whole. This quote is not about your ability to quickly recall X, but your ability to relate X to A, B, and C.