--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As you think, so you become…Our busy…" description: "\"As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg" --- # As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever… ![“As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg) > “As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts shape identity; our minds create false narratives, leading to misguided conclusions. **In simple terms:** Mindsets determine who you become; avoid false narratives. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindful, critical thinking. Themes philosophy self‑awareness mental habits Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - personal development - stress management - learning new skills Key Concepts stoicism cognitive bias perception Questions to Reflect On - What mental shortcuts do you rely on? - How can you test the reality of your conclusions? A Different Perspective Hard to change ingrained thought patterns without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Busy Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-mind/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Jumping to conclusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jumping-to-conclusions/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Life becomes much easier when you stop jumping to conclusions and stop making assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-becomes-much-easier-when-you-stop-jumping-to-conclusions-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jumping to conclusions is like playing with damp gunpowder: both likely to go off in wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-to-conclusions-is-like-playing-with-damp-gunpowder-both/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Leaders should be careful of jumping to conclusions or taking sides. It rarely ends well...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leaders-should-be-careful-of-jumping-to-conclusions-or-taking-sides/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jumping to conclusions is efficient if the conclusions are likely to be correct and the costs of an occasional mistake acceptable. Jumping to conclusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/jumping-to-conclusions-is-efficient-if-the-conclusions-are-likely-to/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Ways of Life : Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/ways-of-life-jumping-to-conclusions-can-be-bad-exercise/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“We pay more attention to the content of messages than to information about their reliabillity, and as a result end up with a view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/we-pay-more-attention-to-the-content-of-messages-than-to-information/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Stop jumping to conclusions, that's not what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-jumping-to-conclusions-that-s-not-what-happened/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Exercise is not: Jumping to conclusions, running off at the mouth, stretching the truth, bending over backwards or side stepping responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/exercise-is-not-jumping-to-conclusions-running-off-at-the-mouth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ill admit, I have a terrible habit of assuming, jumping to conclusions as well as the worst case scenario.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ill-admit-i-have-a-terrible-habit-of-assuming-jumping-to-conclusions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Based on this one experience I had, jumping to conclusions is always really stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-benzine/based-on-this-one-experience-i-had-jumping-to-conclusions-is-always/) [Craig Benzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-benzine/) > [“the brain is a machine for jumping to conclusions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-brain-is-a-machine-for-jumping-to-conclusions/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“Although 'jumping to conclusions' is an expression, rather than an activity, it is as dangerous as jumping off a cliff, jumping in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/although-jumping-to-conclusions-is-an-expression-rather-than-an/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [It often happens that things are other than what they seem, and you can get yourself into trouble by jumping to conclusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/it-often-happens-that-things-are-other-than-what-they-seem-and-you/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [To stop jumping to conclusions is like any life skill. It takes practice. And practice makes perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-stop-jumping-to-conclusions-is-like-any-life-skill-it-takes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith is not jumping to conclusions. It is concluding to jump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-t-purkiser/faith-is-not-jumping-to-conclusions-it-is-concluding-to-jump/) [W. T. Purkiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-t-purkiser/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and interpreting signs that aren't there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-minds-are-forever-jumping-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-minds-are-forever-jumping-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1d/epictetus-413_busy_as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-mind_764142.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As you think, so you become…Our busy minds are forever jumping to conclusions, manufacturing and…” — Epictetus", "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": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As you think, so you become…Our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-minds-are-forever-jumping-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-you-think-so-you-become-our-busy-minds-are-forever-jumping-to/#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 } } ] } ```