--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mental activity is like a deadly…" description: "\"Mental activity is like a deadly poisonous cobra. If we don't interfere with a cobra, how poisonous it may be, it simply goes its own away.\" — Ajahn Chah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/ajahn-chah-4829_activity_mental-activity-is-like-a-deadly-poisono_1824331.png" --- # Mental activity is like a deadly poisonous cobra. If we… ![“Mental activity is like a deadly poisonous cobra. If we don't interfere with a cobra, how poisonous it may be, it simply goes its own away.” quote by Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/ajahn-chah-4829_activity_mental-activity-is-like-a-deadly-poisono_1824331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/ajahn-chah-4829_activity_mental-activity-is-like-a-deadly-poisono_1824331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/ajahn-chah-4829_activity_mental-activity-is-like-a-deadly-poisono_1824331.png) > “Mental activity is like a deadly poisonous cobra. If we don't interfere with a cobra, how poisonous it may be, it simply goes its own away.” [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uncontrolled thoughts can be as harmful as a venomous snake, spreading danger if left unchecked. **In simple terms:** Unchecked thoughts are dangerous. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to calm the mind. Themes mindfulness mental health awareness Mood calm reflective Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - meditation - stressful work - anxiety attacks - conflict resolution Key Concepts Buddhist psychology thought patterns mental discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice harmful thoughts? - What practice helps you intervene? A Different Perspective Mindfulness requires consistent effort; thoughts may resurface. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Cobra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cobra/) [Cobra Poisonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cobra-poisonous-2220935/) [Cobras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cobras/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Interfere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interfere/) [Interfere Cobra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interfere-cobra-2220939/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mental Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-activity-1275758/) [Poisonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisonous/) [Poisonous Cobra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisonous-cobra-2220937/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Nature shows suck ass, though cobras are pretty sweet. Pretty much any animal that has a gang named after it is pretty bad ass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/nature-shows-suck-ass-though-cobras-are-pretty-sweet-pretty-much-any/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [I am from the jungle where the lion eats the cobra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-am-from-the-jungle-where-the-lion-eats-the-cobra/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [What are you? Weak? Don’t tell me you want me to spare this pathetic animal when it wouldn’t show you any such mercy. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-are-you-weak-don-t-tell-me-you-want-me-to-spare-this-pathetic/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Like a cobra, your strike should be felt before it is seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/like-a-cobra-your-strike-should-be-felt-before-it-is-seen/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [May God keep you away from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger, and the revenge of the Afghans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/may-god-keep-you-away-from-the-venom-of-the-cobra-the-teeth-of-the/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [I've never actually met one in the wild, but I have seen a king cobra. They go towards people, they rear up six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-ve-never-actually-met-one-in-the-wild-but-i-have-seen-a-king-cobra/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“I am staring into the hissing face of a cobra. A surprisingly pink tongue slithers in and out of a cruel mouth while an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-am-staring-into-the-hissing-face-of-a-cobra-a-surprisingly-pink/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“And I'm here gazing back at him like a rabbit mesmerized by a beautiful cobra, and any minute he's going to strike and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/and-i-m-here-gazing-back-at-him-like-a-rabbit-mesmerized-by-a/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [The cobra will bite you whether you call it cobra or Sir. Cobra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/the-cobra-will-bite-you-whether-you-call-it-cobra-or-sir-cobra/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > ['Cobra Clutch' was to let the world know we ain't going nowhere. We got the game in the cobra clutch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/cobra-clutch-was-to-let-the-world-know-we-ain-t-going-nowhere-we-got/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [I drive a 1965 Shelby Cobra. I love classic muscle cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/i-drive-a-1965-shelby-cobra-i-love-classic-muscle-cars/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [“Wisdom is finding out that a cobra is deadly; without first having to lose one’s life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/wisdom-is-finding-out-that-a-cobra-is-deadly-without-first-having-to/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [So anyway, Brasky would put on a white tie and tails and walk his cobra through the park on a leash. He named the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-brasky/so-anyway-brasky-would-put-on-a-white-tie-and-tails-and-walk-his/) [Bill Brasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-brasky/) > [“In a fight one must always be a COBRA and strike in the eyes of an opponent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudo-mathivha/in-a-fight-one-must-always-be-a-cobra-and-strike-in-the-eyes-of-an/) [Rudo Mathivha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudo-mathivha/) > [The cobra is deadly but mongoose can overcome it. We all have possibillity to defeat prejudiced and resentment in our lives. Fear is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/the-cobra-is-deadly-but-mongoose-can-overcome-it-we-all-have/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) ## More by Ajahn Chah > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/letting-go-a-little-brings-a-little-peace-letting-go-a-lot-brings-a/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/mindfulness-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-mindfulness-when-we-are/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Some people are afraid of generosity. They feel they will be taken advantage of or oppressed. In cultivating generosity, we are only oppressing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/some-people-are-afraid-of-generosity-they-feel-they-will-be-taken/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Know and watch your heart. It's pure but emotions come to colour it. So let your mind be like a tightly woven net to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/know-and-watch-your-heart-it-s-pure-but-emotions-come-to-colour-it-so/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/a-woman-wanted-to-know-how-to-deal-with-anger-i-asked-when-anger/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Sati is life. Whenever we don't have sati, when we are heedless, it's as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/sati-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-sati-when-we-are-heedless-it-s-as/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/when-sitting-in-meditation-say-that-s-not-my-business-with-every/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/proper-effort-is-not-the-effort-to-make-something-particular-happen/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another's word for it. We need to develop meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/regarding-this-dhamma-it-is-not-something-that-we-can-simply-talk/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Things are simply the way they are. They don't give us suffering. Like a thorn: Does a sharp thorn give us suffering? No. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/things-are-simply-the-way-they-are-they-don-t-give-us-suffering-like/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) [Explore all 105 Ajahn Chah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mental activity is like a deadly poisonous cobra. 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