---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists say we use 10% of our brain…"
description: "\"Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too much. By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task completely overwhelm me.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png"
---

#  Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too…

![“Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too much. By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task completely overwhelm me.” quote by Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png)

> “Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too much. By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task completely overwhelm me.”

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often overestimate brain usage; small daily actions prevent feeling overwhelmed.

**In simple terms:** We overestimate brain use; tiny steps help.

Key Takeaway

Take tiny steps daily.

Themes

productivity self‑help overwhelm

Mood

encouraging pragmatic

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- learning new skill
- habit formation
- stress management
- personal growth

Key Concepts

brain myth incremental effort

Questions to Reflect On

- What tiny habit could you start today?
- How does consistency change perception?

A Different Perspective

Small steps may still feel insufficient without consistency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/)

## Related quotes

> [My own brain. When I get it out of the way, I'm fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-yamagata/my-own-brain-when-i-get-it-out-of-the-way-i-m-fine/)

[Rachael Yamagata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-yamagata/)

> [“... and my brain put them together in that way brains sometimes do: pairing the ideas that shouldn't be paired, yet nonetheless were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/and-my-brain-put-them-together-in-that-way-brains-sometimes-do/)

[Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/)

> [I think I have more of a director's brain than an actor's brain, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt/i-think-i-have-more-of-a-director-s-brain-than-an-actor-s-brain-in-a/)

[Helen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt/)

> [“YOU HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT DISTANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE. TOO CLOSE, AND THEY OVERWHELM YOU, TOO FAR AND THEY ABANDON YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/you-have-to-find-the-right-distance-between-people-too-close-and-they/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

> [“Perseverance in everyday life often looks different. It is softer, quieter, sometimes simply about showing up. It is getting out of bed when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajmal-from-the-book-borders-of-the-inner-world/perseverance-in-everyday-life-often-looks-different-it-is-softer/)

[Ajmal, from the book "Borders of the Inner World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajmal-from-the-book-borders-of-the-inner-world/)

> [“A true WTF Moment makes you aware of your current reality. It demands you accept full responsibility for where you are and it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-sparks/a-true-wtf-moment-makes-you-aware-of-your-current-reality-it-demands/)

Jennifer Sparks

> [“Guests arrived carrying more than luggage. They brought frustration, uncertainty, exhaustion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-kelderhouse/guests-arrived-carrying-more-than-luggage-they-brought-frustration/)

[Belinda Kelderhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-kelderhouse/)

> [“Karina, life can overwhelm you. The trick is to put your head down and just get on with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlaina-tibensky/karina-life-can-overwhelm-you-the-trick-is-to-put-your-head-down-and/)

[Arlaina Tibensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlaina-tibensky/)

> [Let's overwhelm the Castro regime with iPhones, iPads, American cars and American ingenuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/let-s-overwhelm-the-castro-regime-with-iphones-ipads-american-cars/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [We can pretend that China is not there. But China is there, and unless we put our economy on the right track, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/we-can-pretend-that-china-is-not-there-but-china-is-there-and-unless/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [There's no need to overwhelm yourself with thoughts, because you know that you're just as good or better than some of the players you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/there-s-no-need-to-overwhelm-yourself-with-thoughts-because-you-know/)

[Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/)

> [“The tide of human desire, the desire for more and better, would overwhelm them. It would take control and drive events, as it had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-tide-of-human-desire-the-desire-for-more-and-better-would/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [If you focus your awareness only upon your own rightness, then you invite the forces of opposition to overwhelm you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/if-you-focus-your-awareness-only-upon-your-own-rightness-then-you/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [“When you begin to claim someone as your man or woman, that's normally when you start to lose your ability to overwhelm them with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/when-you-begin-to-claim-someone-as-your-man-or-woman-that-s-normally/)

[Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/)

> [There are different kinds of artists: the ones that inspire you, and the ones that overwhelm you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mars/there-are-different-kinds-of-artists-the-ones-that-inspire-you-and/)

[Thomas Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mars/)

## More by Ashleigh Brilliant

> [There is a world which I alone rule, but it ends at my fingertips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/there-is-a-world-which-i-alone-rule-but-it-ends-at-my-fingertips/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [How can there ever possibly be a conflict between my private interests and the public good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/how-can-there-ever-possibly-be-a-conflict-between-my-private/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [I'm not always depressed: only when I think and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/i-m-not-always-depressed-only-when-i-think-and-feel/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [Cheer up! The worst effects of what we're doing won't be felt until after we're all dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/cheer-up-the-worst-effects-of-what-we-re-doing-won-t-be-felt-until/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-play-was-a-complete-success-the-audience-was-a-failure/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [Hold on to me: Someday I may be quite valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/hold-on-to-me-someday-i-may-be-quite-valuable/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [“Modern travel would be totally delightful if only I could learn to enjoy boredom, discomfort, and fatigue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/modern-travel-would-be-totally-delightful-if-only-i-could-learn-to/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [As long as I have you there is just one other thing I'll always need - tremendous self control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/as-long-as-i-have-you-there-is-just-one-other-thing-i-ll-always-need/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [There may not be a Heaven, but there is a San Francisco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/there-may-not-be-a-heaven-but-there-is-a-san-francisco/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [Everything takes longer than you expect, even when you expect it to take longer than you expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/everything-takes-longer-than-you-expect-even-when-you-expect-it-to/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-opinions-may-have-changed-but-not-the-fact-that-i-m-right/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [Better start rushing before the rush begins!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/better-start-rushing-before-the-rush-begins/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [The longer I live, the less future there is to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/the-longer-i-live-the-less-future-there-is-to-worry-about/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [Cling to your insecurity, in this world, it's the only thing you can be sure of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/cling-to-your-insecurity-in-this-world-it-s-the-only-thing-you-can-be/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [It's hard letting go of the past, when there are no firm handholds in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/it-s-hard-letting-go-of-the-past-when-there-are-no-firm-handholds-in/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

[Explore all 323 Ashleigh Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

## More Brain quotes

> [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/)

[Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/)

> [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

> [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/)

[Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/)

> [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/)

[Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/)

> [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/)

[Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/)

[Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/)

> [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/)

[Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/)

> [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/)

[Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/)

> [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/)

[Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/)

> [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/)

[Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/)

> [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/)

[Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/)

[Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too much. By doing just a little every day, I can gradually let the task completely overwhelm me.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ashleigh Brilliant"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-that-s-way-too-much-by-doing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-that-s-way-too-much-by-doing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/ashleigh-brilliant-944_brain_scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-th_2028638.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Scientists say we use 10% of our brain. That's way too much. By doing just a little every day, I can…” — Ashleigh Brilliant",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ashleigh Brilliant",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Scientists say we use 10% of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-that-s-way-too-much-by-doing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/scientists-say-we-use-10-of-our-brain-that-s-way-too-much-by-doing/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
