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Thought Quote by David Bohm

“We were saying that thought is not merely the intellectual activity; rather it is one connected process which includes feeling and the body, and so on. Also, it passes between people—it's all one process all over the world. I suggested that we call that process a 'system'—a whole system in which…” quote by David Bohm
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““We were saying that thought is not merely the intellectual activity; rather it is one connected process which includes feeling and the body, and so on. Also, it passes between people—it's all one process all over the world. I suggested that we call that process a 'system'—a whole system in which every part is dependent on every other part. I also suggested that there is a kind of systemic flaw which is pervasive. So when we see something wrong with a part of this system, we bring another part to bear to try to correct it; but doing so will just add more, very similar troubles. We went on to say that it's not possible to solve our problems that way—rather, they may get worse instead of better—and that these troubles throughout the world have been going on for thousands of years. Also, we said that when you try to look at what's going on inside you when all this is happening you may get unpleasant feelings such as pain or fear; and that instinct, as well as the whole culture, leads you to move away from looking at it. But it is necessary to stay with it somehow, in spite of the difficulty of doing so. That was what we were discussing at the end—that it is really worth doing because in this way we may learn something about how it all goes. Now, I thought that people might have a few points to raise about what we've been talking about before we go on.””

David Bohm

About This Quote

Source Interview: The Essential David Bohm, 1990

Human thought is an interconnected system of mind, feeling, and body that influences and is influenced by others, creating systemic flaws that persist when we try to fix parts in isolation.

In simple terms: Thought links mind, feeling, body, and others, forming a system that resists simple fixes.

Key Takeaway

Address problems holistically, not by isolated fixes.

Themes

interconnectedness systemic thinking holistic problem solving psychology philosophy

Mood

reflective challenging inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal growth
  • conflict resolution
  • organizational change
  • mental health
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

Systems theory feedback loops emotional avoidance collective consciousness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you confront internal discomfort without avoidance?
  • What systemic patterns repeat in your life?
A Different Perspective

Isolating symptoms often creates new issues; systemic change requires confronting discomfort.

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