--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: individual thought is mostly the result…" description: "\"“individual thought is mostly the result of collective thought and of interaction with other people. The language is entirely collective, and most of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/david-bohm-4805_thought_individual-thought-is-mostly-the-result_2992354.jpg" --- # individual thought is mostly the result of collective… ![“individual thought is mostly the result of collective thought and of interaction with other people. The language is entirely collective, and most of the thoughts in it are. Everybody does his own thing to those thoughts – he makes a contribution. But very few change them very much.” quote by David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/david-bohm-4805_thought_individual-thought-is-mostly-the-result_2992354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/david-bohm-4805_thought_individual-thought-is-mostly-the-result_2992354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/david-bohm-4805_thought_individual-thought-is-mostly-the-result_2992354.jpg) > ““individual thought is mostly the result of collective thought and of interaction with other people. The language is entirely collective, and most of the thoughts in it are. Everybody does his own thing to those thoughts – he makes a contribution. But very few change them very much.”” [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts arise from collective interaction; individual ideas are contributions to a shared linguistic pool, with few truly transformative changes. **In simple terms:** Ideas are mostly shaped by others; true originality is rare. Key Takeaway Value collaborative thinking while seeking genuine insight. Themes collective intelligence individuality creativity knowledge formation Mood reflective inquisitive analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - team projects - education - research collaboration - innovation workshops Key Concepts systems theory cognitive science philosophy of mind Questions to Reflect On - How does collaboration shape personal insight? - What fosters truly novel ideas? A Different Perspective Individual breakthroughs may be overstated, overlooking communal foundations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“No intelligent idea can gain general acceptance unless some stupidity is mixed in with it. Collective thought is stupid because it’s collective. Nothing passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/no-intelligent-idea-can-gain-general-acceptance-unless-some-stupidity/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [The mind is just like a crowd; thoughts are the individuals. And because thoughts are there continuously you think the process is substantial. 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Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-gresham-machen/) ## More by David Bohm > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [ The system \[of thought\] doesn't stay with the difficult problem that produces unpleasant feelings. It's conditioned somehow to move as fast as it can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/the-system-of-thought-doesn-t-stay-with-the-difficult-problem-that/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [Space is not empty. 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