--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most fundamental principle of the…" description: "\"The most fundamental principle of the organized mind, the one most critical to keeping us from forgetting or losing things, is to shift the burden of o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/daniel-levitin-2988_brain_the-most-fundamental-principle-of-the-or_1635867.png" --- # The most fundamental principle of the organized mind, the… ![“The most fundamental principle of the organized mind, the one most critical to keeping us from forgetting or losing things, is to shift the burden of organizing from our brains to the external world.” quote by Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/daniel-levitin-2988_brain_the-most-fundamental-principle-of-the-or_1635867.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/daniel-levitin-2988_brain_the-most-fundamental-principle-of-the-or_1635867.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/daniel-levitin-2988_brain_the-most-fundamental-principle-of-the-or_1635867.png) > “The most fundamental principle of the organized mind, the one most critical to keeping us from forgetting or losing things, is to shift the burden of organizing from our brains to the external world.” [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The key to memory is externalizing organization, reducing mental load. **In simple terms:** Offload organization to external tools. Key Takeaway Use external systems to remember. Themes memory organization productivity cognition externalization Mood practical focused Type advisory educational When to use this quote - note‑taking - digital calendars - to‑do lists - physical filing Key Concepts cognitive science design habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What systems help you remember? - How to maintain them? A Different Perspective External tools can fail or be inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Losing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-things/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Organized mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-mind/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-kathleen-rowling/after-all-to-the-well-organized-mind-death-is-but-the-next-great/) [Joanne Kathleen Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-kathleen-rowling/) > [“A well-organized stocking drawer is the first step toward a well-organized mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryrose-wood/a-well-organized-stocking-drawer-is-the-first-step-toward-a-well/) [Maryrose Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryrose-wood/) > [Daniel Levitin has more insights per page than any other neuroscientist I know. The organized Mind is smart, important, and, as always, exquisitely written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/daniel-levitin-has-more-insights-per-page-than-any-other/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [There is a broad distinction between religion and theology. The one is a natural, human experience common to all well-organized minds. The other is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/there-is-a-broad-distinction-between-religion-and-theology-the-one-is/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I'm a neat freak... It seems to me that an orderly desk is reflective of an orderly and organized mind, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jann-wenner/i-m-a-neat-freak-it-seems-to-me-that-an-orderly-desk-is-reflective-of/) [Jann Wenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jann-wenner/) > [“To the well organized mind, death is just the beginning of the next adventure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/to-the-well-organized-mind-death-is-just-the-beginning-of-the-next/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [The direction for my music is heaven, of course. We gear all things to the realm of heaven - which is the mind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-havens/the-direction-for-my-music-is-heaven-of-course-we-gear-all-things-to/) [Richie Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-havens/) > [“To the highly organized mind, death is just another adventure. ‘That’s from Harry Potter,’ I said. ‘Dumbledore said it in the first book.’ ‘Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/to-the-highly-organized-mind-death-is-just-another-adventure-that-s/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I believe you have to write every day–make the time. It’s about having an organized mind instead of a chaotic and untidy one. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-believe-you-have-to-write-every-day-make-the-time-it-s-about-having/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Part of my job is to help other kids find books, because not everyone has a keenly organized mind. Some kids could wander the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/part-of-my-job-is-to-help-other-kids-find-books-because-not-everyone/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The country is laid out in a haphazard, sloppy fashion, offensive to the tidy, organized mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brien/the-country-is-laid-out-in-a-haphazard-sloppy-fashion-offensive-to/) [Alan Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brien/) > [To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-the-well-organized-mind-death-is-but-the-next-great-adventure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I had what, I wanted, it was with me, in the room, including the room itself. Was it possible that we hear that voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-had-what-i-wanted-it-was-with-me-in-the-room-including-the-room/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [If there's one thing I hate, it's losing. If there's two things I hate, it's losing and getting cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-one-thing-i-hate-it-s-losing-if-there-s-two-things-i-hate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He’d wanted it to be about losing, about the things we’re born into loving and then lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/he-d-wanted-it-to-be-about-losing-about-the-things-we-re-born-into/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) ## More by Daniel Levitin > [What music is better able to do than language is to represent the complexity of human emotional states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/what-music-is-better-able-to-do-than-language-is-to-represent-the/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [In a country that was still racially segregated and prejudiced, music was among the first domains in which African-Americans thrived alongside whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-a-country-that-was-still-racially-segregated-and-prejudiced-music/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because our ancestors lived in social groups that changed slowly, because they encountered the same people throughout their lives, they could keep almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-our-ancestors-lived-in-social-groups-that-changed-slowly/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because you've been exposed to Western tonal music, you know after a certain chord sequence what the next possibilities are. Your brain has compiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-you-ve-been-exposed-to-western-tonal-music-you-know-after-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [People who organize their time in a way that allows them to focus are not only going to get more done, but they'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/people-who-organize-their-time-in-a-way-that-allows-them-to-focus-are/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [I have never seen a proton or electron spinning around it. I have never actually seen a chromosome. I trust that they exist because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/i-have-never-seen-a-proton-or-electron-spinning-around-it-i-have/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [If you're studying from a book and trying to listen in on a conversation at the same time, those are two separate projects, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/if-you-re-studying-from-a-book-and-trying-to-listen-in-on-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [President Trump, when challenged on facts, says that many people feel the way he does. But feelings should not take the place of reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/president-trump-when-challenged-on-facts-says-that-many-people-feel/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Our species uses music and dance to express various feelings: love, joy, comfort, ceremony, knowledge, and friendship. And each one is distinct and widely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/our-species-uses-music-and-dance-to-express-various-feelings-love-joy/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The first forms of writing emerged not for art, literature, or love, not for spiritual or liturgical purposes, but for business--all literature could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-first-forms-of-writing-emerged-not-for-art-literature-or-love-not/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When you're at work, be fully at work. And let your leisure time be what it's meant to be - restorative and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-you-re-at-work-be-fully-at-work-and-let-your-leisure-time-be/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The obvious rule of efficiency is you don't want to spend more time organizing than it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-obvious-rule-of-efficiency-is-you-don-t-want-to-spend-more-time/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When it comes to snowing people, one effective technique is to get a whole bunch of verifiable facts right and then add one or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-it-comes-to-snowing-people-one-effective-technique-is-to-get-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The human brain long ago evolved a mechanism for rewarding us when we encountered new information: a little shot of dopamine in the brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-human-brain-long-ago-evolved-a-mechanism-for-rewarding-us-when-we/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) [Explore all 143 Daniel Levitin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. 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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. 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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. 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