Between Quote by Antonio Damasio
“We do not merely perceive objects and hold thoughts in our minds: all our perceptions and thought processes are felt. All have a distinctive component that announces an unequivocal link between images and the existence of life in our organism.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Feeling of What Happens, Antonio Damasio, 1999
Perception and thought are not just mental; they are embodied experiences that connect images to the living organism.
In simple terms: Our mind feels what it perceives.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the bodily basis of cognition.
Themes
embodiment
consciousness
perception
neuroscience
Mood
reflective
intriguing
Type
philosophical
scientific
insightful
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- mindfulness practice
- creative design
- education
- clinical diagnosis
Key Concepts
qualia
mind‑body integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does bodily feeling shape your decisions?
- Can you notice the physical sensations when thinking?
A Different Perspective
The claim may overstate the universality of feeling in all cognitive tasks.
![“But, say you, surely there is nothing easier than for me to imagine trees, for instance, in a park [. . .] and nobody by to perceive them. [...] The objects of sense exist only when they are perceived; the trees therefore are in the garden [. . .] no longer than while there is somebody by to…” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/844/george-berkeley-8287_easier_but-say-you-surely-there-is-nothing-easi_583192.jpg)
![“We may express them [emotions] physically slightly differently, and it's of course graded depending on the circumstance, but the essence of the process is going to be the same, unless one of us is not quite well put together and is missing something, otherwise it's going to be the same.” quote by Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/461/antonio-damasio-9144_circumstances_we-may-express-them-emotions-physically_245207.jpg)
