--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in the Age of the Higher Brain…" description: "\"We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral cortex that has grown enormously over the last few millennia, overshadowing the ancient, instincti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/deepak-chopra-63_age_we-live-in-the-age-of-the-higher-brain-t_900974.jpg" --- # We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral… ![“We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral cortex that has grown enormously over the last few millennia, overshadowing the ancient, instinctive lower brain. The cortex is often called the new brain, yet the old brain held sway in humans for millions of years, as it does today in most…” quote by Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/deepak-chopra-63_age_we-live-in-the-age-of-the-higher-brain-t_900974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/deepak-chopra-63_age_we-live-in-the-age-of-the-higher-brain-t_900974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/deepak-chopra-63_age_we-live-in-the-age-of-the-higher-brain-t_900974.jpg) > “We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral cortex that has grown enormously over the last few millennia, overshadowing the ancient, instinctive lower brain. The cortex is often called the new brain, yet the old brain held sway in humans for millions of years, as it does today in most living things. The old brain can't conjure up ideas or read. But it does possess the power to feel and, above all, to be. It was the old brain that caused our forebears to sense the closeness of a mysterious presence everywhere in Nature.” [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The modern cerebral cortex dominates cognition, but the ancient brain still drives feeling, presence, and basic existence. **In simple terms:** The new brain handles thought; the old brain handles feeling and being. Key Takeaway Balance intellect with intuition. Themes cognition emotion human nature brain evolution Mood reflective thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - creative work - mindfulness practice - stress management Key Concepts neuroscience philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor feelings while thinking critically? - When does intuition outweigh analysis? A Different Perspective The old brain can limit rational analysis when over‑relied upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-old-1241632/) [Closeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closeness/) [Cortex Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex-called-1241634/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-brain-1241633/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Old Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-brain-592077/) [Overshadowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overshadowing/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“The lower brain is satisfied when you feel good physically. The limbic system is satisfied when you feel good emotionally. The higher brain is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-lower-brain-is-satisfied-when-you-feel-good-physically-the-limbic/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“The old brain can’t conjure up ideas or read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-old-brain-can-t-conjure-up-ideas-or-read/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I have a 10,000-year-old brain and the boogers of a 7-year-old. That's how I describe myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-have-a-10-000-year-old-brain-and-the-boogers-of-a-7-year-old-that-s/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [I have an old brain but a terrific memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/i-have-an-old-brain-but-a-terrific-memory/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [Even 31 sounds quite old to me, because my brain is probably still in a state of adolescent delinquency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-grant/even-31-sounds-quite-old-to-me-because-my-brain-is-probably-still-in/) [Richard E. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-grant/) > [Do I know my lines? As I'm getting older, they're getting harder to learn. The old brain cells are deteriorating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-quirke/do-i-know-my-lines-as-i-m-getting-older-they-re-getting-harder-to/) [Pauline Quirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-quirke/) > [This is the funny thing about me. People think John just comes up with all the ideas. I'm honored. People think I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/this-is-the-funny-thing-about-me-people-think-john-just-comes-up-with/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [Life is so generous a giver but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-giocondo/life-is-so-generous-a-giver-but-we-judging-its-gifts-by-their/) [Giovanni Giocondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-giocondo/) > [My plan to put Social Security in an ironclad lockbox has gotten a lot of attention recently, and I'm glad about that. But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/my-plan-to-put-social-security-in-an-ironclad-lockbox-has-gotten-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The turn of the century was the age of the banker, so much so that the leading bankers of the day had become legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/the-turn-of-the-century-was-the-age-of-the-banker-so-much-so-that-the/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [The difference between human heroes and sacred characters lies just in this: the man is just a man, but behind the man of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/the-difference-between-human-heroes-and-sacred-characters-lies-just/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [“The Higher Self does not need a walk-in at the Avatar Level or any level because the Higher Self already exists as a consciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bravandt/the-higher-self-does-not-need-a-walk-in-at-the-avatar-level-or-any/) [Deborah Bravandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bravandt/) > [Sexism, like racism, goes with us into the next century. I see class warfare as overshadowing both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/sexism-like-racism-goes-with-us-into-the-next-century-i-see-class/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [“A substantial literature on “verbal overshadowing,” for instance, suggests that consciously reflecting on our perceptions or evaluations of taste, and then being forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-slingerland/a-substantial-literature-on-verbal-overshadowing-for-instance/) [Edward Slingerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-slingerland/) > [Everything we call a trial, a sorrow or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-giocondo/everything-we-call-a-trial-a-sorrow-or-a-duty-believe-me-that-angel-s/) [Giovanni Giocondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-giocondo/) ## More by Deepak Chopra > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Molecules form and dissolve, returning to the primordial soup of atoms. But consciousness survives the death of the molecules on which it rides. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/molecules-form-and-dissolve-returning-to-the-primordial-soup-of-atoms/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Unbounded awareness is the reservoir of possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/unbounded-awareness-is-the-reservoir-of-possibilities/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Spiritual awareness is not only one of the keys to the healing process. Spiritual awareness is the only way that healing can occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/spiritual-awareness-is-not-only-one-of-the-keys-to-the-healing/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [All experiences are either positive for your brain or negative. If you maximize the positive ones, you are shaping the brain you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-experiences-are-either-positive-for-your-brain-or-negative-if-you/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [There are only 2 responses to the world, fear or love. Your life depends on which one you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/there-are-only-2-responses-to-the-world-fear-or-love-your-life/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If you take the the insults of your fellow human beings personally, you will be offended for the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/if-you-take-the-the-insults-of-your-fellow-human-beings-personally/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [A person desperately searching for love," Merlin said, "reminds me of a fish desperately searching for water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/a-person-desperately-searching-for-love-merlin-said-reminds-me-of-a/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Fighting your ego is a melodrama of the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/fighting-your-ego-is-a-melodrama-of-the-ego/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The same faint song is heard in everything: "Behold yourself".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-same-faint-song-is-heard-in-everything-behold-yourself/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“All creativity is based on quantum leaps and uncertainty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/all-creativity-is-based-on-quantum-leaps-and-uncertainty/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The soul knows everything. Be who you are and your life will transform forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-soul-knows-everything-be-who-you-are-and-your-life-will-transform/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The willingness to reach inside every part of yourself opens the door to total understanding. You place your entire identity on the line, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-willingness-to-reach-inside-every-part-of-yourself-opens-the-door/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Be willing to redefine yourself every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/be-willing-to-redefine-yourself-every-day/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [To have weakness is not to be flawed--it's to be complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/to-have-weakness-is-not-to-be-flawed-it-s-to-be-complete/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) [Explore all 1,675 Deepak Chopra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in the Age of the Higher Brain, the cerebral cortex that has grown enormously over the last few millennia, overshadowing the ancient, instinctive lower brain. The cortex is often called the new brain, yet the old brain held sway in humans for millions of years, as it does today in most living things. The old brain can't conjure up ideas or read. But it does possess the power to feel and, above all, to be. 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