--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the mind there is no absolute or free…" description: "\"In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which has also been determined by another ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg" --- # In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the… ![“In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which has also been determined by another cause, and this last by another cause, and so on to infinity.” quote by Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg) > “In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which has also been determined by another cause, and this last by another cause, and so on to infinity.” [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human actions are part of an infinite chain of causes; free will is an illusion because every desire originates from prior determinants. **In simple terms:** Our choices are caused by earlier events, not free will. Key Takeaway Recognize the chain of causes behind decisions. Themes determinism causality philosophy free will ethics Mood thoughtful analytical serious Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - personal decision making - ethical reasoning - psychology - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts causal determinism metaphysics human agency Questions to Reflect On - Do we still hold people accountable if choices are predetermined? - How does this view affect personal growth? A Different Perspective It may undermine personal responsibility and moral accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-infinity-5361138/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Determined Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-cause-5361139/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-mind/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-absolute-3051964/) [Mind Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-determined-853269/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [In the mind there is no absolute or free will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free-will/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“Baruch Spinoza, who said, “There is no mind absolute or free will, but the mind is determined for willing this or that by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-gazzaniga/baruch-spinoza-who-said-there-is-no-mind-absolute-or-free-will-but/) [Michael S. Gazzaniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-gazzaniga/) > [My state of mind is not determined by yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-lunney/my-state-of-mind-is-not-determined-by-yours/) [Nicole Lunney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-lunney/) > [Mind A determined mind is a powerful mind, because it attracts the things that it wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/mind-a-determined-mind-is-a-powerful-mind-because-it-attracts-the/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Soft Speech clean heart, peaceful eyes, strengthful hands, focussed mind and determined decision with God's Love. Alway Makes you winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/soft-speech-clean-heart-peaceful-eyes-strengthful-hands-focussed-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/to-a-large-degree-the-measure-of-our-peace-of-mind-is-determined-by/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Free will is to mind what chance is to matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/free-will-is-to-mind-what-chance-is-to-matter/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“Dzogchen attempts to discover “pure mind”—the absolute nature of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/dzogchen-attempts-to-discover-pure-mind-the-absolute-nature-of-reality/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [If the Absolute becomes limited by the mind, It is no more Absolute; It has become finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-the-absolute-becomes-limited-by-the-mind-it-is-no-more-absolute-it/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“I had lone, schooled myself to be oblivious to pain. I had neither doubts nor fears. All the content of my mind seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-had-lone-schooled-myself-to-be-oblivious-to-pain-i-had-neither/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [There is no repose for the mind except in the absolute; for feeling, except in the infinite; for the soul, except in the divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-no-repose-for-the-mind-except-in-the-absolute-for-feeling/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“In existence you are body and mind, but in absolute you dissolve. In existence there is sorrow; in absolute there is bliss. In existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-kumar/in-existence-you-are-body-and-mind-but-in-absolute-you-dissolve-in/) [Gian Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-kumar/) > [Don't try and understand this with your mind. There will be no absolute knowing, no certainty in these thoughts and philosophies and ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/don-t-try-and-understand-this-with-your-mind-there-will-be-no/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Among the difficult things to suppress in the mind is the absolute truths of life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahad-basheer/among-the-difficult-things-to-suppress-in-the-mind-is-the-absolute/) [Fahad Basheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahad-basheer/) > [Find your way, free your mind , trace the sky, this is your chance at a new beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/find-your-way-free-your-mind-trace-the-sky-this-is-your-chance-at-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Baruch Spinoza > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [. . . to know the order of nature, and regard the universe as orderly is the highest function of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/to-know-the-order-of-nature-and-regard-the-universe-as-orderly-is-the/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [If anyone conceives that he is loved by another, and believes that he has given no cause for such love, he will love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-anyone-conceives-that-he-is-loved-by-another-and-believes-that-he/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-world-would-be-happier-if-men-had-the-same-capacity-to-be-silent/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“So they will pursue their questions from cause to cause, till at last you take refuge in the will of God—in other words, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/so-they-will-pursue-their-questions-from-cause-to-cause-till-at-last/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [As men's habits of mind differ, so that some more readily embrace one form of faith, some another, for what moves one to pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/as-men-s-habits-of-mind-differ-so-that-some-more-readily-embrace-one/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [If a man had begun to hate an object of his love, so that love is thoroughly destroyed, he will, causes being equal, regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-a-man-had-begun-to-hate-an-object-of-his-love-so-that-love-is/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [I make this chief distinction between religion and superstition, that the latter is founded on ignorance, the former on knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/i-make-this-chief-distinction-between-religion-and-superstition-that/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [One and the same thing can at the same time be good, bad, and indifferent, e.g., music is good to the melancholy, bad to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/one-and-the-same-thing-can-at-the-same-time-be-good-bad-and/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [A good thing which prevents us from enjoying a greater good is in truth an evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/a-good-thing-which-prevents-us-from-enjoying-a-greater-good-is-in/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [But if men would give heed to the nature of substance they would doubt less concerning the Proposition that Existence appertains to the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/but-if-men-would-give-heed-to-the-nature-of-substance-they-would/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [The more intelligible a thing is, the more easily it is retained in the memory, and counterwise, the less intelligible it is, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-more-intelligible-a-thing-is-the-more-easily-it-is-retained-in/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [In the state of nature, wrong-doing is impossible; or, if anyone does wrong, it is to himself, not to another. For no one by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-state-of-nature-wrong-doing-is-impossible-or-if-anyone-does/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character: for obedience is the constant will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/for-peace-is-not-mere-absence-of-war-but-is-a-virtue-that-springs/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/peace-is-not-an-absence-of-war-it-is-a-virtue-a-state-of-mind-a/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) [Explore all 248 Baruch Spinoza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) ## More Causes quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/) [Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/) [Eloise Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloise-greenfield/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) [Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause, which has also been determined by another cause, and this last by another cause, and so on to infinity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Baruch Spinoza" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free-will-but-the-mind-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Causes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free-will-but-the-mind-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/baruch-spinoza-1338_causes_in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free_676578.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the mind there is no absolute or free will; but the mind is determined to wish this or that by a cause…” — Baruch Spinoza", "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": "Baruch Spinoza", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the mind there is no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free-will-but-the-mind-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/in-the-mind-there-is-no-absolute-or-free-will-but-the-mind-is/#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 } } ] } ```