A great memory is never made synonymous with wisdom, any more than a dictionary would be called a treatise.

Newman draws a sharp distinction between the accumulation of information and the possession of wisdom. A “great memory” can store facts, quotations, and data, but that capacity alone does not yield sound judgment, insight, or moral and intellectual discernment. His comparison—memory to wisdom as a dictionary to a treatise—underscores that reference works are repositories, not arguments: they contain words, but do not by themselves develop understanding. The remark fits Newman’s broader educational concerns: genuine learning involves synthesis, reasoning, and formation of mind, not mere recall. It also cautions against mistaking academic display or erudition for depth of thought.