--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be too conscious is an illness. A real…" description: "\"To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going illness.\" — Fyodor Dostoevsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png" --- # To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going… ![“To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going illness.” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png) > “To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going illness.” [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive self‑awareness can become a debilitating condition, trapping one in endless analysis. **In simple terms:** Being overly self‑conscious harms you. Key Takeaway Limit self‑analysis, act. Themes self‑awareness mental health paralysis Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal growth - creative work - social interaction Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑consciousness affect your decisions? - Can you balance reflection with action? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can lead to indecision and anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [I tell you solemnly, that I have many times tried to become an insect. But I was not equal even to that. I swear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-tell-you-solemnly-that-i-have-many-times-tried-to-become-an-insect/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I swear, gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness - a real thorough-going illness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-swear-gentlemen-that-to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Mental illness is real, and I got them. I don't know if it's the multiple concussions or the lifestyle choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hall/mental-illness-is-real-and-i-got-them-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-the/) [Scott Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hall/) > [Health is not simply the absence of illness. Real health is the will to overcome every form of adversity and use even the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/health-is-not-simply-the-absence-of-illness-real-health-is-the-will/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [As a child or young adult going through an illness, it can be stressful at times and boring and extremely alienating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-bayer/as-a-child-or-young-adult-going-through-an-illness-it-can-be/) [Vanessa Bayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-bayer/) > [“I swear, gentlemen, that to be too conscious is an illness — a real thorough-going illness. For man’s everyday needs, it would have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-swear-gentlemen-that-to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real-2/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Mental illness is a real thing. It has real material consequences for people who suffer from it and at the time even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-michel-metzl/mental-illness-is-a-real-thing-it-has-real-material-consequences-for/) [Jonathan Michel Metzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-michel-metzl/) > [The war on drugs is very, very real, and the war on helping people with mental illness is very, very real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/the-war-on-drugs-is-very-very-real-and-the-war-on-helping-people-with/) [Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/) > [I think that mental illness is something that is so real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/i-think-that-mental-illness-is-something-that-is-so-real/) [Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/) > [I swear to you gentlemen, that to be overly conscious is a sickness, a real, thorough sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-swear-to-you-gentlemen-that-to-be-overly-conscious-is-a-sickness-a/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If our education had included training to bear unpleasantness and to let the first shock pass until we could think more calmly, many an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-weekes/if-our-education-had-included-training-to-bear-unpleasantness-and-to/) [Claire Weekes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-weekes/) > [The perpetration of a crime is accompanied by illness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-perpetration-of-a-crime-is-accompanied-by-illness/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If you could distill this down to a single principle its that the best marketers in the world know MARKETS first and foremost, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-marshall/if-you-could-distill-this-down-to-a-single-principle-its-that-the/) [Perry Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-marshall/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoevsky > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [... you are a man still young, so to say, in your first youth and so put intellect above everything ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-are-a-man-still-young-so-to-say-in-your-first-youth-and-so-put/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-is-only-one-salvation-for-you-take-yourself-up-and-make/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“It is true I am a complete stranger to these people, but they are not strangers to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/it-is-true-i-am-a-complete-stranger-to-these-people-but-they-are-not/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Everything seems stupid when it fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/everything-seems-stupid-when-it-fails/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-to-throw-yourself-on-the-earth-and-kiss-it-kiss-the-earth-and/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [They have this social justification for every nasty thing they do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-have-this-social-justification-for-every-nasty-thing-they-do/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Be the sun and all will see you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/be-the-sun-and-all-will-see-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-you-are-penitent-you-love-and-if-you-love-you-are-of-god-all/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“To kill for murder is a punishment incomparably worse than the crime itself. Murder by legal sentence is immeasurably more terrible than murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-kill-for-murder-is-a-punishment-incomparably-worse-than-the-crime/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“You magnify your failure to a crime, Vasya.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/you-magnify-your-failure-to-a-crime-vasya/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [In a way there's only a fine shade of difference between the healthy and the deranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/in-a-way-there-s-only-a-fine-shade-of-difference-between-the-healthy/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“Now answer me, sincerely, honestly, who lives past forty? I'll tell you who does: fools and scoundrels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/now-answer-me-sincerely-honestly-who-lives-past-forty-i-ll-tell-you/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“There are crimes that are truly uncomely. With crimes, whatever they may be, the more blood, the more horror there is, the more imposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/there-are-crimes-that-are-truly-uncomely-with-crimes-whatever-they/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) [Explore all 642 Fyodor Dostoevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) ## More Conscious quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [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/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/repugnant-is-a-creature-who-would-squander-the-ability-to-lift-an-eye/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [I know one thing: that you can do a lot of things but if you don't educate people into conscious anarchism it gets frittered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-know-one-thing-that-you-can-do-a-lot-of-things-but-if-you-don-t/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/) [Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-think-my-paintings-are-self-conscious-but-you-feel-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) Browse all 3,716 Conscious quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going illness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fyodor Dostoevsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real-thorough-going-illness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real-thorough-going-illness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/fyodor-dostoevsky-342_conscious_to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real_2926821.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be too conscious is an illness. A real thorough going illness.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky", "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": "Fyodor Dostoevsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be too conscious is an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real-thorough-going-illness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-be-too-conscious-is-an-illness-a-real-thorough-going-illness/#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 } } ] } ```