--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person's got to think, otherwise that…" description: "\"A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better than a trained seal balancing a ball on his nose. If only that seal could think, he'd know h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/bette-greene-18491_balls_a-person-s-got-to-think-otherwise-that-p_634634.png" --- # A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better… ![“A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better than a trained seal balancing a ball on his nose. If only that seal could think, he'd know he was making a thousand children laugh.” quote by Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/bette-greene-18491_balls_a-person-s-got-to-think-otherwise-that-p_634634.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/bette-greene-18491_balls_a-person-s-got-to-think-otherwise-that-p_634634.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/bette-greene-18491_balls_a-person-s-got-to-think-otherwise-that-p_634634.png) > “A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better than a trained seal balancing a ball on his nose. If only that seal could think, he'd know he was making a thousand children laugh.” [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests that without thought, a person is as meaningless as a trained seal performing a trick, implying thought is essential for value. **In simple terms:** Thinking gives meaning; without it, actions are empty. Key Takeaway Value thinking over mindless performance. Themes philosophy humor self-awareness Mood thoughtful playful Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - education - creative work - personal development Key Concepts existentialism consciousness performance art Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to "think" in everyday life? - Can mindless tasks ever be valuable? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify complex cognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Seals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seals/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't do anything on stage that allows me to become a trained seal, where you're just doing the same thing over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/i-don-t-do-anything-on-stage-that-allows-me-to-become-a-trained-seal/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > ['' Missing someone is when you think to yourself if that person is thinking about you or remembers you even though its been years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy/missing-someone-is-when-you-think-to-yourself-if-that-person-is/) [Amy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy/) > [How can I be happy with you when you always think that person from me and keep repeating his name by me. DO u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinimoyi-konimoto/how-can-i-be-happy-with-you-when-you-always-think-that-person-from-me/) Shinimoyi Konimoto > [You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/you-must-begin-to-think-of-yourself-as-becoming-the-person-you-want/) [David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/) > [“I am not a morning person, I am not an afternoon person, I am not a late-night person…In fact, I don't think I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachna-singh/i-am-not-a-morning-person-i-am-not-an-afternoon-person-i-am-not-a/) [Rachna Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachna-singh/) > [When you find yourself asking 'Who am I?' Just think of the person you want to be the most and it will become you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawan-eldadah/when-you-find-yourself-asking-who-am-i-just-think-of-the-person-you/) Rawan Eldadah > [Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person's feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/take-the-trouble-to-stop-and-think-of-the-other-person-s-feelings-his/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Im pretty shy when I go home because I was pretty shy growing up, and I think I go back to that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-condon/im-pretty-shy-when-i-go-home-because-i-was-pretty-shy-growing-up-and/) [Kerry Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-condon/) > [People like to blame others. 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Can I fix this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-lowe/i-used-to-panic-about-everything-family-friends-i-d-think-is-that/) [Daisy Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-lowe/) > [“Just like an old couple…I don’t see his dashing smile and green eyes anymore, I only see his fears, his rudeness, I see everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaia-b-amman/just-like-an-old-couple-i-don-t-see-his-dashing-smile-and-green-eyes/) [Gaia B. Amman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaia-b-amman/) > [I think a person that experiences a lot of hurt, will become more mature faster than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rehn-williams/i-think-a-person-that-experiences-a-lot-of-hurt-will-become-more/) [Rehn Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rehn-williams/) > [“I don't think it's any help that it's your habit. What would you think of a person who went about sticking pins and needles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-don-t-think-it-s-any-help-that-it-s-your-habit-what-would-you-think/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) ## More by Bette Greene > [It seems to me that a man who is incapable of humor is capable of cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/it-seems-to-me-that-a-man-who-is-incapable-of-humor-is-capable-of/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [“The secret is in absolutely refusing to let the river beat you down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/the-secret-is-in-absolutely-refusing-to-let-the-river-beat-you-down/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [“But will somebody please tell me what's a person to do when they're too afraid of life to live and too afraid of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/but-will-somebody-please-tell-me-what-s-a-person-to-do-when-they-re/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [What do you know about sooner or later? Is a moment only a moment when you're in pain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/what-do-you-know-about-sooner-or-later-is-a-moment-only-a-moment-when/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [The world is not a rational place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/the-world-is-not-a-rational-place/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [And marking off time struck me as something like counting empty spaces—spaces you know can't ever be filled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/and-marking-off-time-struck-me-as-something-like-counting-empty/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [“Sometimes when a person be thinking about one thing it don't mean they is mad about another thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/sometimes-when-a-person-be-thinking-about-one-thing-it-don-t-mean/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [“That's when I saw—cleary saw—that there was more than one mountain in my life. Some could be seen and some couldn't be, but just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/that-s-when-i-saw-cleary-saw-that-there-was-more-than-one-mountain-in/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [“My deception was believed because it was built on a foundation of truth … Hitler's first layer is an undeniable truth, such as: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/my-deception-was-believed-because-it-was-built-on-a-foundation-of/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [I love Arkansas but I think Arkansas has its share of unlit minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/i-love-arkansas-but-i-think-arkansas-has-its-share-of-unlit-minds/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Experiencing life through a book can help you learn without all the pain of going through the experiences first hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/experiencing-life-through-a-book-can-help-you-learn-without-all-the/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Look inside yourself and you'll find a world of things (a world of your own experiences)worth writing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/look-inside-yourself-and-you-ll-find-a-world-of-things-a-world-of/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Longevity can't be the only test of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/longevity-can-t-be-the-only-test-of-love/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Why is it I'm always so quick to believe that people are thinking...believing the worst about me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/why-is-it-i-m-always-so-quick-to-believe-that-people-are-thinking/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) > [Keep in mind that life produces no maestros, only students of varying shades of ineptitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-greene/keep-in-mind-that-life-produces-no-maestros-only-students-of-varying/) [Bette Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) [Explore all 34 Bette Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-greene/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better than a trained seal balancing a ball on his nose. 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