--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is the mind incapable of deciding its…" description: "\"Why is the mind incapable of deciding its own subject matter? Why when we desperately want to think of one thing to we invariably think of another?\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/jeanette-winterson-166_incapable_why-is-the-mind-incapable-of-deciding-it_208843.jpg" --- # Why is the mind incapable of deciding its own subject… ![“Why is the mind incapable of deciding its own subject matter? Why when we desperately want to think of one thing to we invariably think of another?” quote by Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/jeanette-winterson-166_incapable_why-is-the-mind-incapable-of-deciding-it_208843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/jeanette-winterson-166_incapable_why-is-the-mind-incapable-of-deciding-it_208843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/jeanette-winterson-166_incapable_why-is-the-mind-incapable-of-deciding-it_208843.jpg) > “Why is the mind incapable of deciding its own subject matter? Why when we desperately want to think of one thing to we invariably think of another?” [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind’s wandering nature makes focused intention difficult, often leading to unexpected thoughts. **In simple terms:** Mind drifts from focus. Key Takeaway Practice mindful attention. Themes focus mind thoughts Mood contemplative curious Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - studying - creative writing - meditation Key Concepts cognitive science philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you redirect wandering thoughts? - Can wandering aid problem solving? A Different Perspective Some distraction can foster creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deciding Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deciding-subject-2160563/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Incapable Deciding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable-deciding-2160562/) [Invariably Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invariably-think-2160564/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-incapable-2160561/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Subject matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-matter/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing more pitiful than a ready and willing mind but an incapable body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/there-is-nothing-more-pitiful-than-a-ready-and-willing-mind-but-an/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [My mind is incapable of conceiving such a thing as a soul. 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Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“...I'm not crazy about the implication that pregnant women are incapable of deciding for themselves- that you have to manipulate our belief so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/i-m-not-crazy-about-the-implication-that-pregnant-women-are-incapable/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [To put it mildly, I'm not crazy about the implication that pregnant women are incapable of deciding for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/to-put-it-mildly-i-m-not-crazy-about-the-implication-that-pregnant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [The word 'innocence' means a mind that is incapable of being hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-innocence-means-a-mind-that-is-incapable-of-being-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I join you therefore in branding as cowardly the idea that the human mind is incapable of further advances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-join-you-therefore-in-branding-as-cowardly-the-idea-that-the-human/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In Maycomb, if one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one's mind incapable of definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/in-maycomb-if-one-went-for-a-walk-with-no-definite-purpose-in-mind-it/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Even when the writing seems very frivolous, I'm puritanical. 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What would it have meant if things had been bright, clear, good between us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/what-would-it-have-meant-to-be-happy-what-would-it-have-meant-if/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“Mrs Ratlow was a widow, and she was head of English, but she still did all the cooking and cleaning for her two sons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/mrs-ratlow-was-a-widow-and-she-was-head-of-english-but-she-still-did/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“I shall have nowt to talk to now the baby is boiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-shall-have-nowt-to-talk-to-now-the-baby-is-boiled/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“What art does is to coax us away from the mechanical and towards the miraculous. 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