--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We still know so little about how the…" description: "\"We still know so little about how the brain interacts with the body chemistry or, for that matter, whether we should be talking about the brain or the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/allen-c-guelzo-17586_body-chemistry_we-still-know-so-little-about-how-the-br_3109706.jpg" --- # We still know so little about how the brain interacts with… ![“We still know so little about how the brain interacts with the body chemistry or, for that matter, whether we should be talking about the brain or the mind, that it would be perilous to hazard any guess about the way Abraham Lincoln's biological health may or may not have affected him. Of course…” quote by Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/allen-c-guelzo-17586_body-chemistry_we-still-know-so-little-about-how-the-br_3109706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/allen-c-guelzo-17586_body-chemistry_we-still-know-so-little-about-how-the-br_3109706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be6/allen-c-guelzo-17586_body-chemistry_we-still-know-so-little-about-how-the-br_3109706.jpg) > “We still know so little about how the brain interacts with the body chemistry or, for that matter, whether we should be talking about the brain or the mind, that it would be perilous to hazard any guess about the way Abraham Lincoln's biological health may or may not have affected him. Of course, we don't have Lincoln on hand to ask him directly; but even if we did, we still might not be able to make sense of how all the parts worked together.” [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our understanding of brain‑body links is so limited that attributing health effects to Lincoln’s decisions is speculative. **In simple terms:** We can’t reliably link Lincoln’s health to his actions. Key Takeaway Acknowledge uncertainty in historical health analysis. Themes history science uncertainty Mood cautious inquisitive Type academic analytical When to use this quote - Medical history research - psychological profiling of leaders - public health policy - educational curricula Key Concepts Neuroscience psychology biography Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would be needed to draw reliable conclusions? - How does uncertainty affect our view of leadership? A Different Perspective Speculation may mislead public perception of historical figures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham Lincoln's](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham-lincolns/) [Body chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-chemistry/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [We are our brains. My brain is talking to your brain; our bodies are hanging along for the ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hawkins/we-are-our-brains-my-brain-is-talking-to-your-brain-our-bodies-are/) [Jeff Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hawkins/) > [Dying is one of those things that can’t be fixed. Not by talking about it, not with all the brain surge in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dying-is-one-of-those-things-that-can-t-be-fixed-not-by-talking-about/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [When I need to stretch my legs, I can walk across the street to the museum and relax among the illustrations of Abraham Lincoln's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/when-i-need-to-stretch-my-legs-i-can-walk-across-the-street-to-the/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“what it is...is a place where I can return to myself. It's enough of a scramble to get to...that the energy expended is significant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-it-is-is-a-place-where-i-can-return-to-myself-it-s-enough-of-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I can’t help it; this isn’t like you at all. I know the blood exchange changes things—including mood and body chemistry—but this is beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-saare/i-can-t-help-it-this-isn-t-like-you-at-all-i-know-the-blood-exchange/) [J.A. Saare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-saare/) > [ All experience is a drug experience. Whether it's mediated by our own \[endogenous\] drugs, or whether it's mediated by substances that we ingest that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-mckenna/all-experience-is-a-drug-experience-whether-it-s-mediated-by-our-own/) [Dennis McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-mckenna/) > [When you're angry, you can't fight rationally. Your body chemistry is all messed up. Your energy goes to all the wrong places. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/when-you-re-angry-you-can-t-fight-rationally-your-body-chemistry-is/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [I think that all the years of exposure to amps and electricity has altered my body chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-think-that-all-the-years-of-exposure-to-amps-and-electricity-has/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [Crying purifies and cleanses. I once read about a scientific experiment which demonstrated that there are 38 toxic chemicals in a tear of sadness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/crying-purifies-and-cleanses-i-once-read-about-a-scientific/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The moment you change your perception is the moment you rewrite the chemistry of your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/the-moment-you-change-your-perception-is-the-moment-you-rewrite-the/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [“There's no such thing as emotion. It's only body chemistry in action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/there-s-no-such-thing-as-emotion-it-s-only-body-chemistry-in-action/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“The real reason to exercise is to change your body's chemistry, not to burn a lot of calories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-reason-to-exercise-is-to-change-your-body-s-chemistry-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sure I tampered with my body chemistry -- and I emerged more than human! It's only a matter of time before an entire race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-canseco/sure-i-tampered-with-my-body-chemistry-and-i-emerged-more-than-human/) [José Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-canseco/) > [I've got this weird body chemistry that I don't like to get high. I'm not going to say I never tried drugs. I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-ve-got-this-weird-body-chemistry-that-i-don-t-like-to-get-high-i-m/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism. It is the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/racism-is-the-lowest-most-crudely-primitive-form-of-collectivism-it/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Allen C. Guelzo > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Abraham Lincoln would have been happy to have solved the slavery problem by compensation - in fact, drew up a gradual, compensated emancipation plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/abraham-lincoln-would-have-been-happy-to-have-solved-the-slavery/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [I suppose I've been interested in Abraham Lincoln for almost as long as I can remember. My first Lincoln book was the Classics Illustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/i-suppose-i-ve-been-interested-in-abraham-lincoln-for-almost-as-long/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-two-graves/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Patriotism without criticism has no head; criticism without patriotism has no heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/patriotism-without-criticism-has-no-head-criticism-without-patriotism/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Men who are industrious, and sober, and honest in the pursuit of their own interests should after a while accumulate capital, and after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/men-who-are-industrious-and-sober-and-honest-in-the-pursuit-of-their/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-question-is-simply-this-can-a-negro-whose-ancestors-were-imported/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my own ground.” So he waited to see what would happen—which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/have-got-lee-just-where-i-want-him-he-must-fight-me-on-my-own-ground/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“On the side of the Union,” Lincoln said, it is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/on-the-side-of-the-union-lincoln-said-it-is-a-struggle-for/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Corporations did not achieve the scale we normally associate with them until the 1880s; but it's still hard to imagine that Abraham Lincoln would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/corporations-did-not-achieve-the-scale-we-normally-associate-with/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“It seems only human nature to hang the label irrational on what we do not understand, since it is easy for us to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-seems-only-human-nature-to-hang-the-label-irrational-on-what-we-do/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Lincoln was “the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely who in no single instance reminded me of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/lincoln-was-the-first-great-man-that-i-talked-with-in-the-united/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“And so Jefferson wrote the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which organized the new territories of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin so that slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/and-so-jefferson-wrote-the-northwest-ordinance-of-1787-which/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The struggle of the Union and Confederate economies to supply and support their armies thus became a reflection of the prewar antagonism between liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-struggle-of-the-union-and-confederate-economies-to-supply-and/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [It is possible to have pardon without forgiveness-a murderer can be pardoned by the governor, but that does not mean the victim's family has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-is-possible-to-have-pardon-without-forgiveness-a-murderer-can-be/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) [Explore all 36 Allen C. Guelzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## More Body chemistry quotes > [“what it is...is a place where I can return to myself. It's enough of a scramble to get to...that the energy expended is significant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-it-is-is-a-place-where-i-can-return-to-myself-it-s-enough-of-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've got this weird body chemistry that I don't like to get high. I'm not going to say I never tried drugs. I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-ve-got-this-weird-body-chemistry-that-i-don-t-like-to-get-high-i-m/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [“Sure I tampered with my body chemistry -- and I emerged more than human! It's only a matter of time before an entire race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-canseco/sure-i-tampered-with-my-body-chemistry-and-i-emerged-more-than-human/) [José Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-canseco/) > [“The real reason to exercise is to change your body's chemistry, not to burn a lot of calories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-reason-to-exercise-is-to-change-your-body-s-chemistry-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There's no such thing as emotion. It's only body chemistry in action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/there-s-no-such-thing-as-emotion-it-s-only-body-chemistry-in-action/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [The moment you change your perception is the moment you rewrite the chemistry of your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/the-moment-you-change-your-perception-is-the-moment-you-rewrite-the/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [Crying purifies and cleanses. I once read about a scientific experiment which demonstrated that there are 38 toxic chemicals in a tear of sadness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/crying-purifies-and-cleanses-i-once-read-about-a-scientific/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I think that all the years of exposure to amps and electricity has altered my body chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-think-that-all-the-years-of-exposure-to-amps-and-electricity-has/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [When you're angry, you can't fight rationally. Your body chemistry is all messed up. Your energy goes to all the wrong places. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/when-you-re-angry-you-can-t-fight-rationally-your-body-chemistry-is/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [ All experience is a drug experience. Whether it's mediated by our own \[endogenous\] drugs, or whether it's mediated by substances that we ingest that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-mckenna/all-experience-is-a-drug-experience-whether-it-s-mediated-by-our-own/) [Dennis McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-mckenna/) > [“I can’t help it; this isn’t like you at all. I know the blood exchange changes things—including mood and body chemistry—but this is beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-saare/i-can-t-help-it-this-isn-t-like-you-at-all-i-know-the-blood-exchange/) [J.A. Saare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-saare/) > [Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism. It is the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/racism-is-the-lowest-most-crudely-primitive-form-of-collectivism-it/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) [Browse all 13 Body chemistry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-chemistry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We still know so little about how the brain interacts with the body chemistry or, for that matter, whether we should be talking about the brain or the mind, that it would be perilous to hazard any guess about the way Abraham Lincoln's biological health may or may not have affected him. Of course, we don't have Lincoln on hand to ask him directly; but even if we did, we still might not be able to make sense of how all the parts worked together.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen C. 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