--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For many thousands of years people had…" description: "\"“For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive heads of hair and thought of how much food and warmth they represented, so obviously it was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/doris-lessing-501_thought-use_for-many-thousands-of-years-people-had-l_915376.png" --- # For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive… ![“For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive heads of hair and thought of how much food and warmth they represented, so obviously it was a thought of no use at all, so why bother to have it? But thoughts of this sort did go ticking on, useless or not.” quote by Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/doris-lessing-501_thought-use_for-many-thousands-of-years-people-had-l_915376.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/doris-lessing-501_thought-use_for-many-thousands-of-years-people-had-l_915376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/doris-lessing-501_thought-use_for-many-thousands-of-years-people-had-l_915376.png) > ““For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive heads of hair and thought of how much food and warmth they represented, so obviously it was a thought of no use at all, so why bother to have it? But thoughts of this sort did go ticking on, useless or not.”” [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often dismiss ideas as useless without recognizing their indirect value, leading to missed opportunities for insight. **In simple terms:** Ideas may seem useless but can be valuable. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about usefulness. Themes perception value ideas Mood curious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative brainstorming - strategic planning - personal reflection Key Concepts Philosophy psychology economics Questions to Reflect On - What seemingly useless idea could be valuable? - How do you assess hidden value? A Different Perspective Ideas can have hidden benefits that require effort to uncover. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bother Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother-thoughts-1373256/) [Hair Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair-thought-1206062/) [Heads Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heads-hair-1373255/) [Thought Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-food-485941/) [Thought Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-use-477602/) ## Related quotes > [This is exactly what I thought - that I didn't have enough hair. Peter Jennings. Tom Brokaw. Dan Rather. Beautiful locks, beautiful heads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/this-is-exactly-what-i-thought-that-i-didn-t-have-enough-hair-peter/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [This is sad. I just think it’s a little ridiculous we are still only looking at the surface of one another. Red hair? Blue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/this-is-sad-i-just-think-it-s-a-little-ridiculous-we-are-still-only/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [“Nothing seems worthwhile. My very thoughts are old. I've thought them all before. What is the use of living after all, Anne?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/nothing-seems-worthwhile-my-very-thoughts-are-old-i-ve-thought-them/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [I think it is the duty of all human beings, as intelligent and communicative beings, to learn all the ideas thought up before ours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-is-the-duty-of-all-human-beings-as-intelligent-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there's an original thought out there, I could use one right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-there-s-an-original-thought-out-there-i-could-use-one-right-now/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Never allow the thought, 'I am of no use where I am.' You are certainly of no use where you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/never-allow-the-thought-i-am-of-no-use-where-i-am-you-are-certainly/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Do not use thought to ground a political practice in Truth; nor political action to discredit, as mere speculation, a line of thought. Use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/do-not-use-thought-to-ground-a-political-practice-in-truth-nor/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [God is with us to be utilised. His Power, His Love, His Thought, His Presence, must be at our disposal, like other great forces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-king/god-is-with-us-to-be-utilised-his-power-his-love-his-thought-his/) [Basil King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-king/) > [Most of us do not use speech to express thought. We use it to express feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-stone/most-of-us-do-not-use-speech-to-express-thought-we-use-it-to-express/) [Jennifer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-stone/) > [The beauty industry is not up to speed yet really on how to nourish Black hair, and so I thought if I just do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/the-beauty-industry-is-not-up-to-speed-yet-really-on-how-to-nourish/) [Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/) > [I didn't realize that everyone was so attracted to my hair. I thought, well what about my music?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-didn-t-realize-that-everyone-was-so-attracted-to-my-hair-i-thought/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [I've waited my whole life to be able to have body hair - but I never thought I'd have back hair. But what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-waited-my-whole-life-to-be-able-to-have-body-hair-but-i-never/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I thought Roseanne Roseannadanna and I had the same haircut...kind of pyramid-shaped. There was just something about her, and she had my hair! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rudolph/i-thought-roseanne-roseannadanna-and-i-had-the-same-haircut-kind-of/) [Maya Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rudolph/) > [My spiked hair goes back about 15 years ago. I had long, curly rocker hair then. The woman who cuts my hair thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/my-spiked-hair-goes-back-about-15-years-ago-i-had-long-curly-rocker/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [I wanted to be like my friends. I hung out with girls who had blue eyes and blond hair and I thought, 'I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-wanted-to-be-like-my-friends-i-hung-out-with-girls-who-had-blue/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) ## More by Doris Lessing > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“In the morning, when she wishes me to wake, she crouches on my chest, and pats my face with her paw. Or, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/in-the-morning-when-she-wishes-me-to-wake-she-crouches-on-my-chest/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [You know, whenever women make imaginary female kingdoms in literature, they are always very permissive, to use the jargon word, and easy and generous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-know-whenever-women-make-imaginary-female-kingdoms-in-literature/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/there-is-only-one-real-sin-and-that-is-to-persuade-oneself-that-the/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“She was using the water as she had used the fruit earlier—to calm herself, to assure herself of the possibility of normality. Yet all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/she-was-using-the-water-as-she-had-used-the-fruit-earlier-to-calm/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I remember World War II when there were very few books, very little paper available. For me to walk into a shop or look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-remember-world-war-ii-when-there-were-very-few-books-very-little/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [They can't give a Nobel to someone who's dead so I think they were probably thinking they had better give it to me now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/they-can-t-give-a-nobel-to-someone-who-s-dead-so-i-think-they-were/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“While she strode rapidly through the ward to the door at the other end, she was able to see that every bed or cot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/while-she-strode-rapidly-through-the-ward-to-the-door-at-the-other/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-do-not-think-that-marriage-is-one-of-my-talents-i-ve-been-much/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I haven't got the energy to write now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-haven-t-got-the-energy-to-write-now/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What really fascinates me is this need that is so strong now that if you read a work of the imagination you instantly have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-really-fascinates-me-is-this-need-that-is-so-strong-now-that-if/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“The charge that the United Nations are using bacteriological warfare in Korea cannot be dismissed merely because it would be insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-charge-that-the-united-nations-are-using-bacteriological-warfare/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [What I did have, which others perhaps didn't, was a capacity for sticking at it, which really is the point, not the talent at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/what-i-did-have-which-others-perhaps-didn-t-was-a-capacity-for/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [The human community is evolving... . We can survive anything you care to mention. We are supremely equipped to survive, to adapt and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-human-community-is-evolving-we-can-survive-anything-you-care-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [So love is rest? The cosy corner? The little nook? Sometimes it ought to be. Sometimes it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/so-love-is-rest-the-cosy-corner-the-little-nook-sometimes-it-ought-to/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) [Explore all 508 Doris Lessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## More Thought Use quotes > [“Nothing seems worthwhile. My very thoughts are old. I've thought them all before. What is the use of living after all, Anne?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/nothing-seems-worthwhile-my-very-thoughts-are-old-i-ve-thought-them/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Most of us do not use speech to express thought. We use it to express feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-stone/most-of-us-do-not-use-speech-to-express-thought-we-use-it-to-express/) [Jennifer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-stone/) > [God is with us to be utilised. His Power, His Love, His Thought, His Presence, must be at our disposal, like other great forces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-king/god-is-with-us-to-be-utilised-his-power-his-love-his-thought-his/) [Basil King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-king/) > [Do not use thought to ground a political practice in Truth; nor political action to discredit, as mere speculation, a line of thought. Use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/do-not-use-thought-to-ground-a-political-practice-in-truth-nor/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [If there's an original thought out there, I could use one right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-there-s-an-original-thought-out-there-i-could-use-one-right-now/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I think it is the duty of all human beings, as intelligent and communicative beings, to learn all the ideas thought up before ours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-is-the-duty-of-all-human-beings-as-intelligent-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never allow the thought, 'I am of no use where I am.' You are certainly of no use where you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/never-allow-the-thought-i-am-of-no-use-where-i-am-you-are-certainly/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Browse all 8 Thought Use quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-use-477602/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For many thousands of years people had looked at expensive heads of hair and thought of how much food and warmth they represented, so obviously it was a thought of no use at all, so why bother to have it? 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