--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Determine to do some thinking for…" description: "\"Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.\" — James Cash Penney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/james-cash-penney-9836_determine_determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourse_7356.jpg" --- # Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live… ![“Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.” quote by James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/james-cash-penney-9836_determine_determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourse_7356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/james-cash-penney-9836_determine_determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourse_7356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/james-cash-penney-9836_determine_determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourse_7356.jpg) > “Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.” [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages independent thought and personal agency, warning against passive acceptance of external ideas. **In simple terms:** Promotes self-reliance in thinking. Key Takeaway Think for yourself. Themes individualism critical thinking autonomy self-awareness mental freedom Mood empowered reflective determined Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - making career choices - evaluating news - creative problem solving - personal relationships - educational settings Key Concepts independent cognition social influence personal agency Practical Applications - self-directed learning - decision-making frameworks Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate your own ideas from those you inherit? - What habits help you avoid mental autopilot? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking For Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-for-yourself/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [I think of the past and the future as well as the present to determine where I am, and I move on while thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadao-ando/i-think-of-the-past-and-the-future-as-well-as-the-present-to/) [Tadao Ando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadao-ando/) > [“Thoughts are only thoughts.They are not you, you belong to yourself even when your thoughts don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/thoughts-are-only-thoughts-they-are-not-you-you-belong-to-yourself/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [At some point, your thoughts don't make you. Your experiences do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-some-point-your-thoughts-don-t-make-you-your-experiences-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Thoughts don't become things; thoughts ARE things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-micha-el-leventhal/thoughts-don-t-become-things-thoughts-are-things/) [Eric Micha'el Leventhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-micha-el-leventhal/) > [Thinkers perish, thoughts don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/thinkers-perish-thoughts-don-t/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“Once created, thoughts don’t just vanish into thin air. They can’t. They need a place to go. And so, those thoughts come here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto-yambao/once-created-thoughts-don-t-just-vanish-into-thin-air-they-can-t-they/) [Samantha Sotto Yambao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto-yambao/) > [“Have any thoughts to others but don't be jealous to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manroop-suthar/have-any-thoughts-to-others-but-don-t-be-jealous-to-them/) [Manroop suthar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manroop-suthar/) > [“But you don't know what I want, do you. You formed an idea of who I am and What I do, and you've woven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-delinsky/but-you-don-t-know-what-i-want-do-you-you-formed-an-idea-of-who-i-am/) [Barbara Delinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-delinsky/) > [Sometimes we find that we like our thoughts so much that we don't want to let them go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/sometimes-we-find-that-we-like-our-thoughts-so-much-that-we-don-t/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [When I'm on stage I don't say anything. The last thing I want to do is share my thoughts. I don't know if that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bejar/when-i-m-on-stage-i-don-t-say-anything-the-last-thing-i-want-to-do-is/) [Dan Bejar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bejar/) > [“You do belong to yourself, even when your thoughts don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-do-belong-to-yourself-even-when-your-thoughts-don-t/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Thoughts don't belong to anybody. When you have fully digested my thought, it becomes as much yours as it's mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/thoughts-don-t-belong-to-anybody-when-you-have-fully-digested-my/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Observe your thoughts, don't believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/observe-your-thoughts-don-t-believe-them/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Your thoughts don't make you who you are, your actions do. Be better than your thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bucky-buckbinder/your-thoughts-don-t-make-you-who-you-are-your-actions-do-be-better/) Bucky Buckbinder > [“Unexpressed thoughts don't mean squat!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/unexpressed-thoughts-don-t-mean-squat/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) ## More by James Cash Penney > [I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-was-long-brought-up-to-think-that-it-was-nothing-short-of-a-crime/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [No man can climb the ladder of success without first placing his foot on the bottom rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/no-man-can-climb-the-ladder-of-success-without-first-placing-his-foot/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Do not primarily train men to work. Train them to serve willingly and intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/do-not-primarily-train-men-to-work-train-them-to-serve-willingly-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Men are not great or small because of their material possessions. They are great or small because of what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/men-are-not-great-or-small-because-of-their-material-possessions-they/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Selling is our No. 1 job. Never get away from selling a lot of merchandise personally. The more you sell the more you learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/selling-is-our-no-1-job-never-get-away-from-selling-a-lot-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [I learned that all things come to those who wait-provided they hustle while they wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/i-learned-that-all-things-come-to-those-who-wait-provided-they-hustle/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [We can serve our customers well only if our buying jobs are right. You cannot sell if you haven't ordered wanted goods into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/we-can-serve-our-customers-well-only-if-our-buying-jobs-are-right-you/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [In every man s life there lies latent energy. There is, however, a spark that, if kindled, will set the whole being afire, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/in-every-man-s-life-there-lies-latent-energy-there-is-however-a-spark/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/how-can-we-expect-our-children-to-know-and-experience-the-joy-of/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Exchange ideas frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/exchange-ideas-frequently/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The friendly smile, the word of greeting, are certainly something fleeting and seemingly insubstantial. You can’t take them with you. But they work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-friendly-smile-the-word-of-greeting-are-certainly-something/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-five-separate-fingers-are-five-independent-units-close-them-and/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [The problem with the bronco is to get on and stay on. This is the problem with the Golden Rule-to understand and apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/the-problem-with-the-bronco-is-to-get-on-and-stay-on-this-is-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/a-merchant-who-approaches-business-with-the-idea-of-serving-the/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/theory-is-splendid-but-until-put-into-practice-it-is-valueless/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) [Explore all 70 James Cash Penney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) ## More Determine quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [Thought determines action. Do not let your whole life be a reaction to the things that happen around you each day. Let your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/thought-determines-action-do-not-let-your-whole-life-be-a-reaction-to/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [Choices determine character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/choices-determine-character/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/all-writers-are-forced-to-live-within-deadlines-and-deadlines/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [The enmity of such a party towards Socialism does not mean that the members are only prejudiced against it because they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-radek/the-enmity-of-such-a-party-towards-socialism-does-not-mean-that-the/) [Karl Radek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-radek/) > [It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/it-is-not-the-consciousness-of-men-that-determines-their-being-but-on/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Running gives freedom. When you run you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course and think whatever you want. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-kuscsik/running-gives-freedom-when-you-run-you-can-determine-your-own-tempo/) [Nina Kuscsik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-kuscsik/) > [I've ultimately decided that I will not play this NBA season. I'm going to take the remainder of this season, as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-ve-ultimately-decided-that-i-will-not-play-this-nba-season-i-m/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) Browse all 2,194 Determine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. 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