---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thought must have its own center of…"
description: "\"The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot just be either here or there. We must find this center of gravity. It is the same for the b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png"
---

#  The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot…

![“The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot just be either here or there. We must find this center of gravity. It is the same for the body; if it is not centered, no movement will be possible. It is the same for the feeling. These Movements are designed to enable us to pass from one…” quote by Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png)

> “The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot just be either here or there. We must find this center of gravity. It is the same for the body; if it is not centered, no movement will be possible. It is the same for the feeling. These Movements are designed to enable us to pass from one center of gravity to another; it is the shift that creates the state. The gesture, the movement, is what is important, not the attitudes.”

[Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A thought must be grounded in a clear focus; without a central point, mental and emotional movement stalls. Shifting that focus creates new states, and the action itself matters more than static attitudes.

**In simple terms:** Thoughts need a clear focus to move.

Key Takeaway

Find your mental center and shift it purposefully.

Themes

focus movement consciousness psychology growth

Mood

reflective inquisitive motivational

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- meditation practice
- creative problem solving
- emotional regulation
- personal development
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

center of gravity state change gesture mind-body integration

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you identify your current mental center?
- What actions help you shift that center?

A Different Perspective

Finding a center may be difficult amid distraction; shifting focus can feel unstable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-centered-808343/) [Center Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-gravity-367919/) [Center of gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-gravity/) [Centered Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centered-movement-808341/) [Feeling Movements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-movements-808342/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Gestures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gestures/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Movement Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement-important-803845/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/)

## Related quotes

> [Everybody has some one thing they do not want to lose," began the man. "You included. And we are professionals at finding out that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/everybody-has-some-one-thing-they-do-not-want-to-lose-began-the-man/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [When you're wearing jeans, there's a shift in your center of gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/when-you-re-wearing-jeans-there-s-a-shift-in-your-center-of-gravity/)

[Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/)

> [I'm not worried. Good luck, ... the center of gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/i-m-not-worried-good-luck-the-center-of-gravity/)

[Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/)

> [My strength comes from my abdomen. It's the center of gravity and the source of real power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/my-strength-comes-from-my-abdomen-it-s-the-center-of-gravity-and-the/)

[Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/)

> [When you're wearing jeans there's a shift in your center of gravity. A costume like this and a character like this, there's no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/when-you-re-wearing-jeans-there-s-a-shift-in-your-center-of-gravity-a/)

[Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/)

> [Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a new way to stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/challenges-are-gifts-that-force-us-to-search-for-a-new-center-of/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [It is the moment when what was chaos is now seen as having a center of gravity. There is a shape where a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-elbow/it-is-the-moment-when-what-was-chaos-is-now-seen-as-having-a-center/)

[Peter Elbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-elbow/)

> [Africa is our center of gravity, our cultural and spiritual mother and father, our beating heart, no matter where we live on the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/africa-is-our-center-of-gravity-our-cultural-and-spiritual-mother-and/)

[John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/)

> [If a house has a center of gravity, first of all there is stability. From stability there is serenity. I think this leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junzo-yoshimura/if-a-house-has-a-center-of-gravity-first-of-all-there-is-stability/)

[Junzo Yoshimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junzo-yoshimura/)

> [Meditation is a great way to keep my body well-centered while juggling shooting schedules and recording sessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/meditation-is-a-great-way-to-keep-my-body-well-centered-while/)

[Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/)

> [So May 4th in the labor movement has always been an important date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kunstler/so-may-4th-in-the-labor-movement-has-always-been-an-important-date/)

[William Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kunstler/)

> [As a league we know what we stand for, and what we stand by, and the Black Lives Matter movement is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breanna-stewart/as-a-league-we-know-what-we-stand-for-and-what-we-stand-by-and-the/)

[Breanna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breanna-stewart/)

> [The #MeToo movement is a very important movement. It's messy. And it's complicated. And there are places where it's going to overreach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/the-metoo-movement-is-a-very-important-movement-it-s-messy-and-it-s/)

[Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/)

> [The feminist movement has been important to me because it's made me feel less odd and also because it has made me understand some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-feminist-movement-has-been-important-to-me-because-it-s-made-me/)

[Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/)

> [It won't ruin our movement if someone gets killed in an animal rights action. It's going to happen sooner or later. The Animal Liberation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-vlasak/it-won-t-ruin-our-movement-if-someone-gets-killed-in-an-animal-rights/)

[Jerry Vlasak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-vlasak/)

## More by Jeanne de Salzmann

> [What is difficult to understand is that without conscious effort, nothing is possible. Conscious effort is related to higher nature. My lower nature alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/what-is-difficult-to-understand-is-that-without-conscious-effort/)

[Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

> [There are three forces--of the body, mind and feeling. Unless these are together, equally developed and harmonized, a steady connection cannot be made with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/there-are-three-forces-of-the-body-mind-and-feeling-unless-these-are/)

[Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

> [The earth needs our work… now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/the-earth-needs-our-work-now/)

[Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

> [Behind the visible movement there is another movement, one which cannot be seen, which is very strong, on which the outer movement depends. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/behind-the-visible-movement-there-is-another-movement-one-which/)

[Jeanne de Salzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

[Explore all 5 Jeanne de Salzmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/)

## More Attitude quotes

> [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/)

[MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [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/)

> [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/)

[Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/)

> [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/)

[Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/)

[Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/)

[Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/)

> [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/)

[Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

[Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot just be either here or there.  We must find this center of gravity. It is the same for the body; if it is not centered, no movement will be possible. It is the same for the feeling.  These Movements are designed to enable us to pass from one center of gravity to another; it is the shift that creates the state. The gesture, the movement, is what is important, not the attitudes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeanne de Salzmann"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of-gravity-it-cannot-just-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attitude"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of-gravity-it-cannot-just-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ce/jeanne-de-salzmann-62467_attitude_the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of_1665915.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The thought must have its own center of gravity; it cannot just be either here or there. We must find this…” — Jeanne de Salzmann",
                "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": "Jeanne de Salzmann",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-de-salzmann/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The thought must have its own...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of-gravity-it-cannot-just-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-de-salzmann/the-thought-must-have-its-own-center-of-gravity-it-cannot-just-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
