Yes, but in my experience, it helps to thoroughly understand (down to first principles if you want to), and then memorize anyway. I quickly figured out that ev

Yes, but in my experience, it helps to thoroughly understand (down to first principles if you want to), and then memorize anyway. I quickly figured out that even if I've deeply spent time with a subject, understanding every step and derivation of some equation, if I can just quickly pop up equations (and other facts) in my head to "look" at them, it not only helps with application, but also with further understanding. Being able to quickly recite the Taylor Series or an Inverse Fourier Transform in my head to apply in a problem beats stuff like "oh I remember understanding how it was derived, but I'd need to look it up", because all the details I otherwise once understood but did not bother memorizing might be important.