Out of sight, out of mind.

Origin

This adage, a stark truth about human memory and attachment, has echoed through cultures for centuries. While its exact phrasing in English emerged around the 15th century, famously penned by poet John Lydgate, its wisdom is far older. Ancient Roman philosopher Quintus Ennius, for instance, captured the essence with his Latin proverb, 'Quod oculis non videtur, cor non desiderat' – what the eyes do not see, the heart does not desire. The idea that distance erodes connection and presence fuels remembrance isn't a modern discovery; it's a timeless observation on the fragile nature of our focus, a reminder that if someone or something isn't directly in our line of vision, it quickly fades from our thoughts.