--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Close your eyes and get quiet for a…" description: "\"“Close your eyes and get quiet for a minute, until the chatter starts up. Then isolate one of the voices and imagine the person speaking as a mouse. Pi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/anonymous-1_chatter_close-your-eyes-and-get-quiet-for-a-minu_3224376.jpg" --- # Close your eyes and get quiet for a minute, until the… ![“Close your eyes and get quiet for a minute, until the chatter starts up. Then isolate one of the voices and imagine the person speaking as a mouse. Pick it up by the tail and drop it into a mason jar. Then isolate another voice, pick it up by the tail, drop it in the jar. And so on. Drop in any…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/anonymous-1_chatter_close-your-eyes-and-get-quiet-for-a-minu_3224376.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/anonymous-1_chatter_close-your-eyes-and-get-quiet-for-a-minu_3224376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d5/anonymous-1_chatter_close-your-eyes-and-get-quiet-for-a-minu_3224376.jpg) > ““Close your eyes and get quiet for a minute, until the chatter starts up. Then isolate one of the voices and imagine the person speaking as a mouse. Pick it up by the tail and drop it into a mason jar. Then isolate another voice, pick it up by the tail, drop it in the jar. And so on. Drop in any high-maintenance parental units, drop in any contractors, lawyers, colleagues, children, anyone who is whining in your head. Then put the lid on, and watch all these mouse people clawing at the glass, jabbering away, trying to make you feel like shit because you won’t do what they want—won’t give them more money, won’t be more successful, won’t see them more often. Then imagine that there is a volume-control button on the bottle. Turn it all the way up for a minute, and listen to the stream of angry, neglected, guilt-mongering voices. Then turn it all the way down and watch the frantic mice lunge at the glass, trying to get to you. Leave it down, and get back to your shitty first draft.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Visualizing inner criticism as trapped mice helps recognize and control negative self‑talk. **In simple terms:** Seeing inner voices as mice lets you manage them. Key Takeaway Practice mental distancing from self‑criticism. Themes self‑awareness mental health mindfulness Mood reflective hopeful Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - stress management - writing process - personal therapy Key Concepts cognitive reframing visualization inner dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What inner voices dominate your thoughts? - How could you transform them constructively? A Different Perspective May not work for everyone; could feel dismissive of genuine concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chatter/) [Close your eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-your-eyes/) [Glass Jabbering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glass-jabbering-6074749/) [Isolate Voices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolate-voices-6074747/) [Minute Chatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minute-chatter-6074748/) [Speaking Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-mouse-6074746/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-i-chatter-on-far-too-much-but-if-you-only-knew-how-many-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This meal happened to be a make-believe tea, and they sat round the board guzzling in their greed; and really, what with their chatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-meal-happened-to-be-a-make-believe-tea-and-they-sat-round-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is only chatter, friends are all that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-only-chatter-friends-are-all-that-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She didn't like to be talked about. Equally, she didn't like not to be talked about, when the high-minded chatter rushed on as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-didn-t-like-to-be-talked-about-equally-she-didn-t-like-not-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inner silence is for our race a difficult achievement. There is a chattering part of the mind which continues, until it is corrected, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inner-silence-is-for-our-race-a-difficult-achievement-there-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-close-your-eyes-to-the-things-you-don-t-want-to-see-but-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you just have to close your eyes, count to ten, take a deep breath, remind yourself that you wouldn't look good in prison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-just-have-to-close-your-eyes-count-to-ten-take-a-deep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Close your eyes and ill kiss you tomorrow ill miss you remember ill always be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/close-your-eyes-and-ill-kiss-you-tomorrow-ill-miss-you-remember-ill/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As the day turns into night, keep your worries out of sight. Close your eyes and go to sleep, for all the good times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-day-turns-into-night-keep-your-worries-out-of-sight-close-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Close your eyes for a taste of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/close-your-eyes-for-a-taste-of-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sleep Sleep precious Sleep my love Sleep until nothings left Sleep until the world is gone Sleep until its cold Sleep until the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sleep-sleep-precious-sleep-my-love-sleep-until-nothings-left-sleep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Dont look and its magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-should-fall-in-love-with-their-eyes-closed-just-close-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate that feeling when you close your eyes to apply shampoo, and get paranoid that someone will kill you in the shower \*HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-that-feeling-when-you-close-your-eyes-to-apply-shampoo-and-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every Time I Close Your Eyes I See You, Every Time I Open Eyes, I'm Missing You.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-close-your-eyes-i-see-you-every-time-i-open-eyes-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, you just have to close your eyes... and be thankful for everything bad or good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-just-have-to-close-your-eyes-and-be-thankful-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Chatter quotes > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [Silence and solitude are more distracting to me than chatter and commotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilu-henner/silence-and-solitude-are-more-distracting-to-me-than-chatter-and/) [Marilu Henner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilu-henner/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [When the insane people start the chatter, there's no way to win that fight. It's literally like arguing with someone who is speaking another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-konner/when-the-insane-people-start-the-chatter-there-s-no-way-to-win-that/) [Jennifer Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-konner/) > [Poetry is the least imposition on silence in a world of chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bell/poetry-is-the-least-imposition-on-silence-in-a-world-of-chatter/) [Marvin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bell/) > [I think that people are constantly thinking about capturing things that they're not actually present for the moment they're trying to capture. I'm quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/i-think-that-people-are-constantly-thinking-about-capturing-things/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [“...the presence of others has become even more intolerable to me, their conversation most of all. Oh, how it all annoys and exasperates me:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/the-presence-of-others-has-become-even-more-intolerable-to-me-their/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [Salesforce's Chatter is what convinced me that the company understood what is going on in the enterprise; this was the biggest attraction for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-rangaswami/salesforce-s-chatter-is-what-convinced-me-that-the-company-understood/) [J.P. Rangaswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-rangaswami/) > [“Do not be deviated from your journey by the chatter of monkeys”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-bax/do-not-be-deviated-from-your-journey-by-the-chatter-of-monkeys/) [Timothy Bax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-bax/) > [All seasoned players know, or at least have felt, that when you are playing your best, you are much the same as in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-penick/all-seasoned-players-know-or-at-least-have-felt-that-when-you-are/) [Harvey Penick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-penick/) > [For themost of us, if we donot talkof ourselves, orat any rate of the individual circles of which we are the centres, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/for-themost-of-us-if-we-donot-talkof-ourselves-orat-any-rate-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [We take for granted that we need to take showers, clean our house, and wash our clothes. Yet the mind and its thoughts need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anodea-judith/we-take-for-granted-that-we-need-to-take-showers-clean-our-house-and/) [Anodea Judith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anodea-judith/) > [I think most working relationships could benefit by excluding personal matters from the office chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-think-most-working-relationships-could-benefit-by-excluding/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [“to sit in the empty stands of a Florida ball park and hear the sounds of glove leather and chatter;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/to-sit-in-the-empty-stands-of-a-florida-ball-park-and-hear-the-sounds/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“as if languagelessness was a step up, in evolution, from the chatter of consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/as-if-languagelessness-was-a-step-up-in-evolution-from-the-chatter-of/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) [Browse all 169 Chatter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chatter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Close your eyes and get quiet for a minute, until the chatter starts up. Then isolate one of the voices and imagine the person speaking as a mouse. Pick it up by the tail and drop it into a mason jar. Then isolate another voice, pick it up by the tail, drop it in the jar. And so on. Drop in any high-maintenance parental units, drop in any contractors, lawyers, colleagues, children, anyone who is whining in your head. Then put the lid on, and watch all these mouse people clawing at the glass, jabbering away, trying to make you feel like shit because you won’t do what they want—won’t give them more money, won’t be more successful, won’t see them more often. Then imagine that there is a volume-control button on the bottle. Turn it all the way up for a minute, and listen to the stream of angry, neglected, guilt-mongering voices. Then turn it all the way down and watch the frantic mice lunge at the glass, trying to get to you. 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