--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I…" description: "\"Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a gene for efficiency. Had I not been a therapist, I would have been an efficiency expert.\" — Alb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/albert-ellis-3379_efficiency_freud-had-a-gene-for-inefficiency-and-i_2156166.jpg" --- # Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a… ![“Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a gene for efficiency. Had I not been a therapist, I would have been an efficiency expert.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/albert-ellis-3379_efficiency_freud-had-a-gene-for-inefficiency-and-i_2156166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/albert-ellis-3379_efficiency_freud-had-a-gene-for-inefficiency-and-i_2156166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cb/albert-ellis-3379_efficiency_freud-had-a-gene-for-inefficiency-and-i_2156166.jpg) > “Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a gene for efficiency. Had I not been a therapist, I would have been an efficiency expert.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously suggests a genetic predisposition to efficiency, contrasting it with Freud’s supposed inefficiency, and implies a career shift would have suited them. **In simple terms:** Efficiency may be innate; careers can align with traits. Key Takeaway Leverage natural strengths in work. Themes efficiency genetics career Mood analytical insightful Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - personal development - workplace productivity Key Concepts self‑assessment psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you use your strengths effectively? - Can you develop efficiency skills? A Different Perspective Traits don’t guarantee success without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freud/) [Freud Gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freud-gene-3462250/) [Gene Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gene-efficiency-3462251/) [Gene Inefficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gene-inefficiency-3462249/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Inefficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inefficiency/) [Inefficiency Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inefficiency-think-3462252/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Therapist Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapist-efficiency-4554627/) [Therapists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapists/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a gene for efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/freud-had-a-gene-for-inefficiency-and-i-think-i-have-a-gene-for-2/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/patriotism-means-to-stand-by-the-country-it-does-not-mean-to-stand-by/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [ \[The healthcare bill is a\] headlong rush into socialism…we will not stand for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid hijacking of our freedom and democracy so they can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/the-healthcare-bill-is-a-headlong-rush-into-socialism-we-will-not/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) > [“Freedom, inefficiency, and prosperity are not in it frequently found together, and it is seldom easy to distinguish between the first two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-inefficiency-and-prosperity-are-not-in-it-frequently-found/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [South Africa does not have a poverty problem. Poverty is a result of denialism of the way corruption taxes poor people, the inefficiencies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamphela-ramphele/south-africa-does-not-have-a-poverty-problem-poverty-is-a-result-of/) [Mamphela Ramphele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamphela-ramphele/) > [Government-to-government foreign aid promotes statism, centralized planning, socialism, dependence, pauperization, inefficiency, and waste. It prolongs the poverty it is designed to cure. Voluntary private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/government-to-government-foreign-aid-promotes-statism-centralized/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Yet, when these facts are seen side by side with other facts in the case, it is difficult not to become lost in superstitious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ambler/yet-when-these-facts-are-seen-side-by-side-with-other-facts-in-the/) [Eric Ambler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ambler/) > [Watching the economies in various parts of the world, I believe that there is scope for improvement everywhere. There is some corruption and inefficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasios-orphanides/watching-the-economies-in-various-parts-of-the-world-i-believe-that/) [Athanasios Orphanides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasios-orphanides/) > [A vital function of the free market is to penalize inefficiency and misjudgment and to reward efficiency and good judgment. By distorting economic calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/a-vital-function-of-the-free-market-is-to-penalize-inefficiency-and/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [The most striking about modern industry is that it requires so much and accomplishes so little. Modern industry seems to be inefficient to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/the-most-striking-about-modern-industry-is-that-it-requires-so-much/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-were-a-gladiator-in-olden-days-i-bet-the-inefficiency-of-how/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as an "old man". Discredited by lapse of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/old-adj-in-that-stage-of-usefulness-which-is-not-inconsistent-with/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [It is like using a smoke screen, the same thing for an individual. The topic here is Islam. If French politicians are no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/it-is-like-using-a-smoke-screen-the-same-thing-for-an-individual-the/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. Presumably the plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-ogburn/we-trained-hard-but-it-seemed-that-every-time-we-were-beginning-to/) [Charlton Ogburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-ogburn/) > [Unless structure follows strategy, inefficiency results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-d-chandler-jr/unless-structure-follows-strategy-inefficiency-results/) [Alfred D. Chandler, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-d-chandler-jr/) ## More by Albert Ellis > [The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/for-that-again-is-what-all-manner-of-religion-essentially-is-childish/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Thinking rationally is often different from "positive thinking," in that it is a realistic assessment of the situation, with a view towards rectifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/thinking-rationally-is-often-different-from-positive-thinking-in-that/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Efficiency quotes > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [There are many examples of companies and countries that have improved their competitiveness and efficiency by adopting open source strategies. The creation of skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shuttleworth/there-are-many-examples-of-companies-and-countries-that-have-improved/) [Mark Shuttleworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shuttleworth/) > [Efficiency is the golden word for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendie-renard/efficiency-is-the-golden-word-for-me/) [Wendie Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendie-renard/) > [Japan is already a leader in energy efficiency, and it has a wealth of innovative technologies. We must put this expertise to use creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihiko-noda/japan-is-already-a-leader-in-energy-efficiency-and-it-has-a-wealth-of/) [Yoshihiko Noda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihiko-noda/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [We must commit ourselves to an 'all of the above' energy approach, with a major focus on increasing domestic production and expanding alternatives fuels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-roskam/we-must-commit-ourselves-to-an-all-of-the-above-energy-approach-with/) [Peter Roskam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-roskam/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Most people may not think about it, but the aftermath of war is very costly. Costly not just in lives, but the treatment. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/most-people-may-not-think-about-it-but-the-aftermath-of-war-is-very/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > [No one accuses the gunner of maudlin affection for anything except his beasts and his weapons. He serves as least three jealous gods-his horse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/no-one-accuses-the-gunner-of-maudlin-affection-for-anything-except/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [It is difficult to find another branch of knowledge where a small amount of study produces such great results in increased efficiency in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-difficult-to-find-another-branch-of-knowledge-where-a-small/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The human mind works at low efficiency. Twenty percent is the figure usually given. When, momentarily, there is a flash of greater power, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-human-mind-works-at-low-efficiency-twenty-percent-is-the-figure/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The formation of the News America Publishing Group will lead to greater editorial excitement, new business opportunities and greater efficiencies and coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/the-formation-of-the-news-america-publishing-group-will-lead-to/) [Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/) > [“In Japan, a number of time-honored everyday activities (such as making tea, arranging flowers, and writing) have traditionally been deeply examined by their proponents.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/in-japan-a-number-of-time-honored-everyday-activities-such-as-making/) [H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/) [Browse all 782 Efficiency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freud had a gene for inefficiency, and I think I have a gene for efficiency. 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