Action Quote by David Eagleman
““We are made up of an entire parliament of pieces and parts and subsystems. Beyond a collection of local expert systems, we are collections of overlapping, ceaselessly reinvented mechanism, a group of competing factions. The conscious mind fabricates stories to explain the sometimes inexplicable dynamics of the subsystem inside brain. It can be disquieting to consider the extent to which all of our actions are driven by hardwired systems doing what they do best while we overlay stories about choices.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Incidental: Why We’re So Unaware of How Our Brains Work, David Eagleman, 2011
Human behavior emerges from many interacting neural subsystems, with consciousness creating narratives that mask underlying mechanisms.
In simple terms: Our mind tells stories to hide the brain’s automatic processes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that many choices are driven by unconscious systems.
Themes
neuroscience
identity
self
awareness
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- mental health therapy
- education about cognition
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
subsystems
narratives
hardwired mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice the gap between your story and your brain’s automatic responses?
- Can you accept that some choices are not fully conscious?
A Different Perspective
Stories may oversimplify complex brain dynamics, leading to misattribution of agency.
![“People envision [looking inside the brain] as being very difficult. You had to take a spaceship, shrink it down, inject it into the bloodstream.” quote by Christopher deCharms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b9d/christopher-decharms-64848_brain_people-envision-looking-inside-the-brain_1983594.jpg)
