--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If something is irrational, that means it…" description: "\"If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually unrealistic.\" — Albert Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/albert-ellis-3379_irrational_if-something-is-irrational-that-means-it_2648683.jpg" --- # If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's… ![“If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually unrealistic.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/albert-ellis-3379_irrational_if-something-is-irrational-that-means-it_2648683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/albert-ellis-3379_irrational_if-something-is-irrational-that-means-it_2648683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/albert-ellis-3379_irrational_if-something-is-irrational-that-means-it_2648683.jpg) > “If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually unrealistic.” [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. Irrational ideas lack practicality and often fail to succeed. **In simple terms:** Unrealistic thoughts rarely work. Key Takeaway Question irrational beliefs. Themes rationality psychology critical thinking Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - decision making - problem solving - personal goals - relationship conflicts Key Concepts cognitive distortions logic Questions to Reflect On - What irrational belief holds you back? - Can irrationality ever be beneficial? A Different Perspective Not all irrational ideas are useless; creativity can be irrational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) ## Related quotes > [Some girls go for bad boys because they like the challenge of changing them - which is usually unrealistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/some-girls-go-for-bad-boys-because-they-like-the-challenge-of/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [Work usually follows will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/work-usually-follows-will/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [I have done all the work I usually do and a little bit more, so hopefully that will produce results in at least one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gilchrist/i-have-done-all-the-work-i-usually-do-and-a-little-bit-more-so/) [Adam Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gilchrist/) > [Most so-called women's work is not recognized as real activity. One reason for this attitude may be that such work is usually associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baker-miller/most-so-called-women-s-work-is-not-recognized-as-real-activity-one/) [Jean Baker Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baker-miller/) > [I don't usually turn down work, it usually involves a very big debate with agents and family and your conscience and your sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/i-don-t-usually-turn-down-work-it-usually-involves-a-very-big-debate/) [Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/) > [proper work" usually involves performing a task you hate on behalf of people you'd gleefully club to death with a bull's knee if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/proper-work-usually-involves-performing-a-task-you-hate-on-behalf-of/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [The kind of work I do, there's usually a lot of money on the line; there are jobs on the line. It's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-avenatti/the-kind-of-work-i-do-there-s-usually-a-lot-of-money-on-the-line/) [Michael Avenatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-avenatti/) > [There is nothing wrong with making money, but it was just not in my family's habits to know how to do that. All we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-making-money-but-it-was-just-not-in-my/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [If I want to get work done, that's usually about 3 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/if-i-want-to-get-work-done-that-s-usually-about-3-in-the-morning/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [When people tell you what doesn't work, they're usually right. When they tell you how to fix it, they're usually wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/when-people-tell-you-what-doesn-t-work-they-re-usually-right-when/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I start work around 8 a.m. and usually finish around noon. If there's more to do, I do it in the late afternoon, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-start-work-around-8-a-m-and-usually-finish-around-noon-if-there-s/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [So much of my life is not about work and that is usually mainly what I do tweet about. We live a very quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ehle/so-much-of-my-life-is-not-about-work-and-that-is-usually-mainly-what/) [Jennifer Ehle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ehle/) > [When it seems impossible like nothing is going to work, you are usually just a few millimeters away from making it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/when-it-seems-impossible-like-nothing-is-going-to-work-you-are/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Sometimes it's a struggle to make everything work. I usually work on music from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-peter-lindstr-m/sometimes-it-s-a-struggle-to-make-everything-work-i-usually-work-on/) [Hans-Peter Lindstrøm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-peter-lindstr-m/) > [One's work usually occupies more than half of one's waking life. Choosing work that does not bring happiness will lead to a life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/one-s-work-usually-occupies-more-than-half-of-one-s-waking-life/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) ## 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 Irrational quotes > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-irrational-will-have-its-say-perhaps-because-irrational-is-the/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [But jealousy... it's a strange thing. So much more powerful then I would have thought. And irrational!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-cullen/but-jealousy-it-s-a-strange-thing-so-much-more-powerful-then-i-would/) [Edward Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-cullen/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [America must deal once and for all with an utterly irrational health care financing system that allows private interests to make billions in profits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-gordon/america-must-deal-once-and-for-all-with-an-utterly-irrational-health/) [Suzanne Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-gordon/) > [My greatest personal mistake is ever to allow a word or moment that “doesn’t count,” i.e., that I do not refer to my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/my-greatest-personal-mistake-is-ever-to-allow-a-word-or-moment-that/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [At that moment, she cannot think of a more reckless, irrational thing than choosing to become a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/at-that-moment-she-cannot-think-of-a-more-reckless-irrational-thing/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“steam-tactics saga illustrates that (4) Rationalism, unlike empiricism, tends to assume an accretion of vested interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-andrew-hugh-gordon/steam-tactics-saga-illustrates-that-4-rationalism-unlike-empiricism/) [Gilbert Andrew Hugh Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-andrew-hugh-gordon/) > [“Many people do simply awful things out of sincere religious belief, not using religion as a cover the way that Saddam Hussein may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/many-people-do-simply-awful-things-out-of-sincere-religious-belief/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [Remember that failure is part of the process of successful running. Performance is a roller coaster; to think otherwise is irrational and will cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lynch/remember-that-failure-is-part-of-the-process-of-successful-running/) Jerry Lynch > [ In \[the soul\] one part naturally rules, and the other is subject, and the virtue of the ruler we maintain to be different from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/in-the-soul-one-part-naturally-rules-and-the-other-is-subject-and-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Advancing bourgeois society liquidates memory, time, recollection as irrational leftovers of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/advancing-bourgeois-society-liquidates-memory-time-recollection-as/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) [Browse all 785 Irrational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If something is irrational, that means it won't work. 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