When someone or something is not visible or present, it tends to be forgotten or ignored.
This phrase appears in various forms throughout history, with the earliest English version found in a 1562 translation of Homer's works. The concept exists in many languages and cultures, suggesting it reflects a fundamental aspect of human psychology about attention and memory.
Psychologists have confirmed this folk wisdom through studies showing that physical presence significantly affects our thoughts and relationships - the 'propinquity effect' demonstrates that we're more likely to form friendships with people we see regularly. Interestingly, the opposite phrase 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' exists alongside this one, showing how human experience encompasses both tendencies.
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