--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A constant flow of thoughts expressed by…" description: "\"“A constant flow of thoughts expressed by other people can stop and deaden your own thought and your own initiative…. That is why constant learning sof..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/arthur-schopenhauer-226_philosophy-of-mind_a-constant-flow-of-thoughts-expressed-by_1188252.jpg" --- # A constant flow of thoughts expressed by other people can… ![“A constant flow of thoughts expressed by other people can stop and deaden your own thought and your own initiative…. That is why constant learning softens your brain…. Stopping the creation of your own thoughts to give room for the thoughts from other books reminds me of Shakespeare’s remark about…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/arthur-schopenhauer-226_philosophy-of-mind_a-constant-flow-of-thoughts-expressed-by_1188252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/arthur-schopenhauer-226_philosophy-of-mind_a-constant-flow-of-thoughts-expressed-by_1188252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/arthur-schopenhauer-226_philosophy-of-mind_a-constant-flow-of-thoughts-expressed-by_1188252.jpg) > ““A constant flow of thoughts expressed by other people can stop and deaden your own thought and your own initiative…. That is why constant learning softens your brain…. Stopping the creation of your own thoughts to give room for the thoughts from other books reminds me of Shakespeare’s remark about his contemporaries who sold their land in order to see other countries.”” [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overexposure to others' ideas can dull personal thinking and initiative, while constant learning can numb the mind. **In simple terms:** Too many external thoughts can mute your own and learning can desensitize you. Key Takeaway Guard your mental space and balance external input with original thinking. Themes self‑reflection intellectual independence learning creativity Mood contemplative cautious Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - academic study - creative work - personal decision‑making - self‑development - reading Key Concepts cognitive overload mindfulness originality Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between valuable external input and noise? - What practices help you preserve your own creative thought? A Different Perspective Your own thinking can be stifled if you never pause to generate your own ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Stopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-stopping-3515234/) [Constant Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant-learning/) [Deaden Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaden-thought-3515233/) [Flow Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow-thoughts-925150/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thoughts Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-expressed-1066192/) ## Related quotes > [“My manias, at least in their early and mild forms, were absolutely intoxicating states that gave rise to great personal pleasure, an incomparable flow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/my-manias-at-least-in-their-early-and-mild-forms-were-absolutely/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Thinking involves not only the flow of thoughts, but their arrest as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/thinking-involves-not-only-the-flow-of-thoughts-but-their-arrest-as/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [To be still means to empty yourself from the incessant flow of thoughts and create a state of consciousness that is open and receptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/to-be-still-means-to-empty-yourself-from-the-incessant-flow-of/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [It may offend us to hear our own thoughts expressed by others: we are not sure enough of their souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/it-may-offend-us-to-hear-our-own-thoughts-expressed-by-others-we-are/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [The power of our thoughts may never be measured or appreciated, but it became obvious to me as a young boy that there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-power-of-our-thoughts-may-never-be-measured-or-appreciated-but-it/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Music allows a person to express their deepest thoughts, thoughts that cannot be expressed with just words. 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