---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That sort of overintellectualization…"
description: "\"“That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns of the Wild Woman and the instinctual nature of women.”\" — Clarissa Pinkola Estés"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png"
---

#  That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns…

![“That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns of the Wild Woman and the instinctual nature of women.” quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png)

> ““That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns of the Wild Woman and the instinctual nature of women.””

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

## About This Quote

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

Over‑intellectualizing hides women’s instinctual nature and wild patterns.

**In simple terms:** Too much analysis masks instinct.

Key Takeaway

Honor instinctual nature.

Themes

womanhood instinct culture

Mood

reflective empowering

Type

mythic psychological

When to use this quote

- creative work
- personal healing
- counseling

Key Concepts

feminist theory mythology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance analysis and instinct?
- What wild patterns reside within you?

A Different Perspective

Intellectualism can suppress emotion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Wild woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-woman/)

## Related quotes

> [To adjoin the instinctual nature does not mean to come undone, change everything from left to right, from black to white, to move the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/to-adjoin-the-instinctual-nature-does-not-mean-to-come-undone-change/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“As the instinctual nature of the bird dictates the building of a nest, so the instinctual nature of the in-love experience pushes us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/as-the-instinctual-nature-of-the-bird-dictates-the-building-of-a-nest/)

[Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/)

> [“The only trust required is to know that when there is one ending there will be another beginning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/the-only-trust-required-is-to-know-that-when-there-is-one-ending/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“There is no one a wildish woman loves better than a mate who can be her equal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/there-is-no-one-a-wildish-woman-loves-better-than-a-mate-who-can-be/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“So what compromises the Wild Woman? From the viewpoint of archetypal psychology as well as in ancient traditions, she is the female soul. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/so-what-compromises-the-wild-woman-from-the-viewpoint-of-archetypal/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Sometimes there are no words to help one's courage. Sometimes you just have to jump.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/sometimes-there-are-no-words-to-help-one-s-courage-sometimes-you-just/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Women's curiosity was given a negative connotation, whereas men were called investigative. Women were called nosy, whereas men were called inquiring. In reality, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/women-s-curiosity-was-given-a-negative-connotation-whereas-men-were/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“While I do not in any way mean to say that a woman should throw herself into a torturous or abusive situation, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/while-i-do-not-in-any-way-mean-to-say-that-a-woman-should-throw/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“So, the word wild here is not used in its modern pejorative sense, meaning out of control, but in its original sense, which means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/so-the-word-wild-here-is-not-used-in-its-modern-pejorative-sense/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“What does this wildish intuition do for women? Like the wolf, intuition has claws that pry things open and pin things down, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/what-does-this-wildish-intuition-do-for-women-like-the-wolf-intuition/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“How does Wild Woman affect women? With her as ally, as leader, model, teacher, we see, not through two eyes, but through the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/how-does-wild-woman-affect-women-with-her-as-ally-as-leader-model/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Wild Woman teaches women when not to act "nice" about protecting their soulful lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/wild-woman-teaches-women-when-not-to-act-nice-about-protecting-their/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“All creatures must learn that there exist predators. Without this knowing, a woman will be unable to negotiate safely within her own forest without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/all-creatures-must-learn-that-there-exist-predators-without-this/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Fortunately, no matter how many times she is pushed down, she bounds up again. No matter how many times she is forbidden, quelled, cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/fortunately-no-matter-how-many-times-she-is-pushed-down-she-bounds-up/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Whether you are possessed of a simple heart or the ambitions of an Amazon, whether you are trying to make it to the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/whether-you-are-possessed-of-a-simple-heart-or-the-ambitions-of-an/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

## More by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

> [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Whether you are possessed of a simple heart or the ambitions of an Amazon, whether you are trying to make it to the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/whether-you-are-possessed-of-a-simple-heart-or-the-ambitions-of-an/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/the-doors-to-the-world-of-the-wild-self-are-few-but-precious-if-you/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Friends who love you and have warmth for your creative life are the very best suns in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/friends-who-love-you-and-have-warmth-for-your-creative-life-are-the/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Creativity is not a solitary movement. That is its power. Whatever is touched by it, whoever hears it, sees it, senses it, knows it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/creativity-is-not-a-solitary-movement-that-is-its-power-whatever-is/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [A healthy woman is much like a wolf: robust, chock-full, strong life force, life-giving, territorially aware, inventive, loyal, roving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/a-healthy-woman-is-much-like-a-wolf-robust-chock-full-strong-life/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Dogs are the magicians of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/dogs-are-the-magicians-of-the-universe/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/ours-is-not-the-task-of-fixing-the-entire-world-all-at-once-but-of/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Being real doesn't mean being reckless, it means allowing La Voz Mitologica, The Mythological Voice, to speak. One does that by shutting off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/being-real-doesn-t-mean-being-reckless-it-means-allowing-la-voz/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Without art we live under the illusion that there is only time, and not eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/without-art-we-live-under-the-illusion-that-there-is-only-time-and/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“Some psychological thinkers, including Freud and Bettelheim, have interpreted episodes such as those found in the Bluebeard tale as psychological punishments for women’s sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/some-psychological-thinkers-including-freud-and-bettelheim-have/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman… have faith. There is yet time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/if-you-have-never-been-called-a-defiant-incorrigible-impossible-woman/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [we all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/we-all-begin-the-process-before-we-are-ready-before-we-are-strong/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [“To love a woman, the mate must also love her wildish nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/to-love-a-woman-the-mate-must-also-love-her-wildish-nature/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

[Explore all 223 Clarissa Pinkola Estés quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

## More Feminism quotes

> [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/)

[Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/)

> [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/)

[Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/)

> [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/)

Joseph Joffre

> [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/)

[Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/)

> [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/)

[Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/)

> [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/)

[Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/)

> [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/)

[Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

[Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns of the Wild Woman and the instinctual nature of women.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clarissa Pinkola Estés"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obscures-the-patterns-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Feminism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obscures-the-patterns-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c58/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_feminism_that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obs_2383526.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That sort of overintellectualization obscures the patterns of the Wild Woman and the instinctual nature of…” — Clarissa Pinkola Estés",
                "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": "Clarissa Pinkola Estés",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“That sort of overintellectualization obscures the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obscures-the-patterns-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/that-sort-of-overintellectualization-obscures-the-patterns-of-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```