--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think of the soul as the computer system…" description: "\"Think of the soul as the computer system that runs the whole thing. And then the spirit is the executive center. It's the faculty of choice. And then y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/dallas-willard-819_choices_think-of-the-soul-as-the-computer-system_1763947.jpg" --- # Think of the soul as the computer system that runs the… ![“Think of the soul as the computer system that runs the whole thing. And then the spirit is the executive center. It's the faculty of choice. And then you want that faculty governed by the truth of God and the Spirit of God.” quote by Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/dallas-willard-819_choices_think-of-the-soul-as-the-computer-system_1763947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/dallas-willard-819_choices_think-of-the-soul-as-the-computer-system_1763947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9c/dallas-willard-819_choices_think-of-the-soul-as-the-computer-system_1763947.jpg) > “Think of the soul as the computer system that runs the whole thing. And then the spirit is the executive center. It's the faculty of choice. And then you want that faculty governed by the truth of God and the Spirit of God.” [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The soul is likened to a computer system, while the spirit functions as the decision‑making executive, which should be guided by divine truth. **In simple terms:** Soul is the system, spirit is the decision maker, guided by God. Key Takeaway Align choices with higher truth. Themes spirituality philosophy ethics Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal decision making - leadership - moral dilemmas Key Concepts free will divine guidance mind‑body dualism Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine truth? - What practices keep your spirit aligned? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints of reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-systems/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirit of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-of-god/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [I would say the soul would be more than the engine. The soul would be like the computer system that coordinates everything, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/i-would-say-the-soul-would-be-more-than-the-engine-the-soul-would-be/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [ In the judgment of design engineers, the ordinary means of communicating with a computer are entirely inadequate. \[...\] Graphical communication in some form or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkes/in-the-judgment-of-design-engineers-the-ordinary-means-of/) [Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkes/) > [The only truly secure system is one that is powered off, cast in a block of concrete and sealed in a lead-lined room with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/the-only-truly-secure-system-is-one-that-is-powered-off-cast-in-a/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [Today, no one would dispute that information technology has become the backbone of commerce. It underpins the operations of individual companies, ties together far-flung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-g-carr/today-no-one-would-dispute-that-information-technology-has-become-the/) [Nicholas G. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-g-carr/) > [Taxpayers have spent more than $200 billion in the last decade on computer systems that are antiquated, incompatible, and not doing the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cohen/taxpayers-have-spent-more-than-200-billion-in-the-last-decade-on/) [William Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cohen/) > [ The best way to prepare \[to be a programmer\] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. 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One cannot build a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-jay-sussman/in-engineering-as-in-other-creative-arts-we-must-learn-to-do-analysis/) [Gerald Jay Sussman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-jay-sussman/) > [When I was in prison, a Colombian drug lord, offered me $5 million in cash to manipulate a computer system so that he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/when-i-was-in-prison-a-colombian-drug-lord-offered-me-5-million-in/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [Computer system analysis is like child-rearing; you can do grievous damage, but you cannot ensure success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/computer-system-analysis-is-like-child-rearing-you-can-do-grievous/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [Now scarcely a week goes by without a news story about the cops swooping down on some adolescent prowler who is as skilled at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/now-scarcely-a-week-goes-by-without-a-news-story-about-the-cops/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [When I use a direct manipulation system whether for text editing, drawing pictures, or creating and playing games I do think of myself not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-norman/when-i-use-a-direct-manipulation-system-whether-for-text-editing/) [Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-a-norman/) > [The inside of a computer is as dumb as hell but it goes like mad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-inside-of-a-computer-is-as-dumb-as-hell-but-it-goes-like-mad/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The computer systems that we have on our cars when we go test just blow my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/the-computer-systems-that-we-have-on-our-cars-when-we-go-test-just/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) ## More by Dallas Willard > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Sabbath is a way of life (Heb 4:3; 9-11). 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It is as we thus behold the “glory of the Lord”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-spirit-makes-christ-present-to-us-and-draws-us-toward-his/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God's great universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-are-unceasing-spiritual-beings-with-an-eternal-destiny-in-god-s/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We know we can't be spiritually transformed by just focusing on the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-know-we-can-t-be-spiritually-transformed-by-just-focusing-on-the/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/to-allow-lust-or-strong-desires-to-govern-our-life-is-to-exalt-our/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-central-claim-is-that-we-become-like-christ-by-doing-one-thing-by/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own-unassisted-strength-is-still/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) [Explore all 357 Dallas Willard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think of the soul as the computer system that runs the whole thing. 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