"Suppose a man has gradually become skilled in the science or art, let us say, of geometry or medicine, up to the point of reaching perfection, having trained himself for a long time by instructions and exercises so as to acquire completely the knowledge of the aforesaid art. It could surely never happen that such a man should lie down to sleep with all this skill and wake up without it. It is not to the point to bring forward or take account here of accidents which happen through some injury or weakness, for these do not apply in the case we have proposed as an illustration. According to that, so long as the geometrician or doctor in question occupies himself in the studies and rational instructions relating to his art, a knowledge of the subject will remain with him. If, however, he loses interest in these exercises and neglects to work, then thtough this negligence ~is knowledge is gradually lost, a few derails at first, then more, and so on until after a long time the whole vanishes into oblivion and is utterly erased from his memory."
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On First Principles, Bk. I, Chapter IV
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Origen
Origenes (or Origen Adamantios; 184/185–253/254) was an Alexandrian theologian and Biblical scholar. He is considered one of the most distinguished of the early fathers of the Christian Church.
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