--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you do something really cognitively…" description: "\"If you do something really cognitively demanding, like buying furniture, it turns out buying furniture is one of the most difficult things we do. Go in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/david-brooks-644_buying_if-you-do-something-really-cognitively-d_1646918.png" --- # If you do something really cognitively demanding, like… ![“If you do something really cognitively demanding, like buying furniture, it turns out buying furniture is one of the most difficult things we do. Go into a furniture store and look at a sofa.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/david-brooks-644_buying_if-you-do-something-really-cognitively-d_1646918.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/david-brooks-644_buying_if-you-do-something-really-cognitively-d_1646918.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/david-brooks-644_buying_if-you-do-something-really-cognitively-d_1646918.png) > “If you do something really cognitively demanding, like buying furniture, it turns out buying furniture is one of the most difficult things we do. Go into a furniture store and look at a sofa.” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex decisions like buying furniture demand high mental effort, making simple tasks surprisingly hard. **In simple terms:** Buying furniture is mentally taxing. Key Takeaway Simplify choices to reduce cognitive strain. Themes decision making consumer behavior stress Mood analytical practical Type informative reflective When to use this quote - shopping - home furnishing - budget planning Key Concepts cognitive load choice architecture Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you make better purchasing decisions? - How can retailers reduce cognitive load for shoppers? A Different Perspective Too many options can overwhelm and cause decision fatigue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Furniture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/furniture/) [Sofas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sofas/) ## Related quotes > [You know, the husband and I have a mid-century furniture store located in Bushwick, so we believe in understanding the value of what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/you-know-the-husband-and-i-have-a-mid-century-furniture-store-located/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [Having bought furniture for my own house, and bought furniture for our house in Washington, a furniture store seemed like a good idea, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/having-bought-furniture-for-my-own-house-and-bought-furniture-for-our/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [Want to know the key to a long-lasting relationship? Don't go with your loved one to Ikea. One psychologist says the stress of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/want-to-know-the-key-to-a-long-lasting-relationship-don-t-go-with/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [If I can get on to my sofa and occupy myself for four hours, at intervals through the day, scribbling my notes, and able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/if-i-can-get-on-to-my-sofa-and-occupy-myself-for-four-hours-at/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) > [Ready?" Jaime echoed. "Yes, yes, I am ready. I am ready to drink a lot of liquids and lie on the sofa moaning faintly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/ready-jaime-echoed-yes-yes-i-am-ready-i-am-ready-to-drink-a-lot-of/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [People think, 'Oh, I'm loving myself by sitting on this sofa for four hours.' Love yourself enough to get up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sweeney/people-think-oh-i-m-loving-myself-by-sitting-on-this-sofa-for-four/) [Alison Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sweeney/) > [So many programs you watch on the sofa, But the real program sit on top of your shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-be-lo/so-many-programs-you-watch-on-the-sofa-but-the-real-program-sit-on/) [One Be Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-be-lo/) > [I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-would-have-invited-friends-over-to-dinner-even-if-the-carpet-was/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-can-feel-infinitely-alive-curled-up-on-the-sofa-reading-a-book/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [“Maisie was willing to bet there’d be a third living room within. Because what else would they do with all this space but buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-kellison/maisie-was-willing-to-bet-there-d-be-a-third-living-room-within/) [Erin Kellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-kellison/) > [For interiors, if you have a basic sofa, you can add fun throw pillows, and cool lighting to make the space more interesting. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-brent/for-interiors-if-you-have-a-basic-sofa-you-can-add-fun-throw-pillows/) [Jeremiah Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-brent/) > [People have an annoying tendency to compare shoe prices with the cost of other things. They might say, 'Wow - those shoes cost as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-pond/people-have-an-annoying-tendency-to-compare-shoe-prices-with-the-cost/) [Mimi Pond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-pond/) > [What would he imagine next? Little hairy beasties tap-dancing on his sofa, or other fey creatures sneaking up on him in the shower?’ (Syn)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-would-he-imagine-next-little-hairy-beasties-tap-dancing-on-his/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [There are no more white linen sofas in my house. We have a rule here: Anything below 36 inches has to be brown or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-olson/there-are-no-more-white-linen-sofas-in-my-house-we-have-a-rule-here/) [Candice Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-olson/) > [Our bodies penetrate the sofas upon which we sit and the sofas penetrate our bodies. The motorbus rushes into the houses which it passes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-boccioni/our-bodies-penetrate-the-sofas-upon-which-we-sit-and-the-sofas/) [Umberto Boccioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-boccioni/) ## More by David Brooks > [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [We have rapidly increasing technology, which is making life very good for people who are good at using words, and not so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-have-rapidly-increasing-technology-which-is-making-life-very-good/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I think Barack Obama's foreign policy will be regarded more failure than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-barack-obama-s-foreign-policy-will-be-regarded-more-failure/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If you know that most processing is below the level of awareness, you learn the value of sleep. You're brain is working on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-know-that-most-processing-is-below-the-level-of-awareness-you/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/trade-has-suddenly-become-massively-unpopular-i-think-that-s/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Pain now is better than pain deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/pain-now-is-better-than-pain-deferred/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [It’s worth noting that you can devote your life to community service and be a total schmuck. You can spend your life on Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-worth-noting-that-you-can-devote-your-life-to-community-service/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If it feels all right for you, it's probably OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-it-feels-all-right-for-you-it-s-probably-ok/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I do think Donald Trump is a fundamentally unstabilizing force and that the people who swore to uphold the Constitution are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-donald-trump-is-a-fundamentally-unstabilizing-force-and/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Women, in general, are less visually aroused than men, a trait that has nearly cut the market for pornography in half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/women-in-general-are-less-visually-aroused-than-men-a-trait-that-has/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-wasn-t-born-with-a-tie-or-with-mark-shields-stapled-to-my-left-hip/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) [Explore all 431 David Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## More Buying quotes > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) Will Advise > [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) [Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you do something really cognitively demanding, like buying furniture, it turns out buying furniture is one of the most difficult things we do. 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