--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unconsciousness of self is not so much…" description: "\"Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one's self - exactly as one turns out the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png" --- # Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it… ![“Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one's self - exactly as one turns out the light.” quote by Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png) > “Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one's self - exactly as one turns out the light.” [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that ignoring oneself is less about altruism and more about the mental skill to erase self‑thought, like turning off a light. **In simple terms:** Self‑negation is a mental ability to stop thinking about oneself. Key Takeaway Recognize when you’re suppressing self‑awareness. Themes self‑awareness mental discipline identity philosophy Mood reflective neutral Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - creative work - stress management Key Concepts psychology mindfulness existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Do you use self‑negation constructively? - When does it become harmful? A Different Perspective It may lead to unhealthy self‑neglect if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Mental Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-ability/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Unconsciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconsciousness/) [Unselfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfishness/) ## Related quotes > [“Most of the so-called bad things that happen in people’s lives are due to unconsciousness. They are self-created, or rather ego-created.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-of-the-so-called-bad-things-that-happen-in-people-s-lives-are/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“‎But he still thought it self-evident that one had to do what was right; he had never learned how people could want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/but-he-still-thought-it-self-evident-that-one-had-to-do-what-was/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“In what act or thought of his has there ever been self? What was his aim in life? 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The cosmic psyche whispers to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-self-is-not-in-the-realm-of-thought-the-self-is-in-the-gap/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“He was a man. He should have acted more like one - thought about how all that self-indulgence might affect his daughter, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lael-miller/he-was-a-man-he-should-have-acted-more-like-one-thought-about-how-all/) [Linda Lael Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lael-miller/) > [The essence of true nobility is neglect of self. Let the thought of self pass in, and the beauty of a great action is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/the-essence-of-true-nobility-is-neglect-of-self-let-the-thought-of/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [“He's paying the price and wondering for what sin and telling himself that he's been too selfish. In what act or thought of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/he-s-paying-the-price-and-wondering-for-what-sin-and-telling-himself/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [In conclusion we may say, in view of the confirmation that our study has given of the parallelism between individual and racial thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-conclusion-we-may-say-in-view-of-the-confirmation-that-our-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our best work is done, our greatest influence is exerted, when we are without thought of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/our-best-work-is-done-our-greatest-influence-is-exerted-when-we-are/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I just thought to my self, all of a sudden, that we had something in common. A natural chemistry, if you will. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-just-thought-to-my-self-all-of-a-sudden-that-we-had-something-in/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Catching myself in the moment. Then I remember facts are just facts, circumstances are merely circumstances. Whenever I can catch myself having a negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-shiels/catching-myself-in-the-moment-then-i-remember-facts-are-just-facts/) [Graham Shiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-shiels/) > [When I look back what he use to say to me. I thought to my self that I will never love again since he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/when-i-look-back-what-he-use-to-say-to-me-i-thought-to-my-self-that-i/) Author Name > [“What capacity could have renovated your brain, endowing you with new, specialised skills as well as inducing specific codnitive deficits? This exotic mental ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-henrich/what-capacity-could-have-renovated-your-brain-endowing-you-with-new/) Joseph Henrich ## More by Emily Post > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others-if-you/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [An overdose of praise is like 10 lumps of sugar in coffee; only a very few people can swallow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/an-overdose-of-praise-is-like-10-lumps-of-sugar-in-coffee-only-a-very/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [“Persons under the shock of genuine affliction are not only upset mentally but are all unbalanced physically. No matter how calm and controlled they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/persons-under-the-shock-of-genuine-affliction-are-not-only-upset/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [A little praise is not only merest justice but is beyond the purse of no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/a-little-praise-is-not-only-merest-justice-but-is-beyond-the-purse-of/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [To make a pleasant and friendly impression is not only good manners, but equally good business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/to-make-a-pleasant-and-friendly-impression-is-not-only-good-manners/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Manners are made up of trivialities of deportment which can be easily learned if one does not happen to know them; manner is personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-made-up-of-trivialities-of-deportment-which-can-be-easily/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Training a child is exactly like training a puppy; a little heedless inattention and it is out of hand immediately; the great thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/training-a-child-is-exactly-like-training-a-puppy-a-little-heedless/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [One very great annoyance in open air gatherings is cigar smoke when blown directly in one's face or worse yet the smoke from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/one-very-great-annoyance-in-open-air-gatherings-is-cigar-smoke-when/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Excepting a religious ceremonial, there is no occasion where greater dignity of manner is required of ladies and gentlemen both, than in occupying a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/excepting-a-religious-ceremonial-there-is-no-occasion-where-greater/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [“The most advertised commodity is not always intrinsically the best; but is sometimes merely the product of a company, with plenty of money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/the-most-advertised-commodity-is-not-always-intrinsically-the-best/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [She must not swing her arms as though they were dangling ropes; she must not switch herself this way and that; she must not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/she-must-not-swing-her-arms-as-though-they-were-dangling-ropes-she/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [To be a good sportsman, one must be a stoic and never show rancor in defeat, or triumph in victory, or irritation, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/to-be-a-good-sportsman-one-must-be-a-stoic-and-never-show-rancor-in/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Houses without personality are a series of walled enclosures with furniture standing around in them. Other houses are filled with things of little intrinsic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/houses-without-personality-are-a-series-of-walled-enclosures-with/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [Manners are made up of trivialities of deportment which can be easily learned if one does not happen to know them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-made-up-of-trivialities-of-deportment-which-can-be-easily-2/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) [Explore all 71 Emily Post quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one's self - exactly as one turns out the light.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Post" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-unselfishness-as-it-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-unselfishness-as-it-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb8/emily-post-9638_ability_unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-u_1278909.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought…” — Emily Post", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emily Post", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Unconsciousness of self is not so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-unselfishness-as-it-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/unconsciousness-of-self-is-not-so-much-unselfishness-as-it-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```