--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet…" description: "\"Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet. Use your mind to work out problems and find answers; file away good ideas in your journal.\" — Jim Rohn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6b/jim-rohn-243_answers_don-t-use-your-mind-for-a-filing-cabinet_361187.jpg" --- # Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet. Use your mind to… ![“Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet. Use your mind to work out problems and find answers; file away good ideas in your journal.” quote by Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6b/jim-rohn-243_answers_don-t-use-your-mind-for-a-filing-cabinet_361187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6b/jim-rohn-243_answers_don-t-use-your-mind-for-a-filing-cabinet_361187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6b/jim-rohn-243_answers_don-t-use-your-mind-for-a-filing-cabinet_361187.jpg) > “Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet. Use your mind to work out problems and find answers; file away good ideas in your journal.” [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## 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 should solve problems and generate ideas, not just store information. **In simple terms:** Think, solve, then store ideas. Key Takeaway Use your mind actively, then record insights. Themes creativity problem solving learning Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - business planning - academic research - personal journaling - creative brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive function knowledge management Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn stored ideas into action? - What habits help you process information before filing? A Different Perspective Storing without processing limits insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Filing cabinet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filing-cabinet/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [Be a collector of good ideas. Keep a journal. If you hear a good idea, capture it, write it down. Don't trust your memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/be-a-collector-of-good-ideas-keep-a-journal-if-you-hear-a-good-idea/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/learning-pondering-searching-and-memorizing-scriptures-is-like/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [So it's like your brain has a large filing cabinet and it's opening up each drawer and it's taking in various images and memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/so-it-s-like-your-brain-has-a-large-filing-cabinet-and-it-s-opening/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [Given my experience, I believe there are three compelling reasons why the death penalty should be replaced. (1) The criminal justice system makes mistakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gascon/given-my-experience-i-believe-there-are-three-compelling-reasons-why/) George Gascon > [The real desk isn't one with four legs and a filing cabinet. It's the space of time that you stake out every day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-ritter/the-real-desk-isn-t-one-with-four-legs-and-a-filing-cabinet-it-s-the/) [Josh Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-ritter/) > [“ Ideas for Journal Entries You may find the following ideas useful in beginning your journal or keeping the entries varied. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/ideas-for-journal-entries-you-may-find-the-following-ideas-useful-in/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [“So I stuck that in the back of my mental filing cabinet too, under the drawer labeled: Unthinkable. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/so-i-stuck-that-in-the-back-of-my-mental-filing-cabinet-too-under-the/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“(Good tip to throw out during presentation) Hide Your Files No room for a filing cabinet? Create secret storage by converting an old footlocker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritter-ames/good-tip-to-throw-out-during-presentation-hide-your-files-no-room-for/) Ritter Ames > [“I couldn't keep my eyes off of her when she was leaning over to open a file drawer. I'd purposely moved all of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-smith/i-couldn-t-keep-my-eyes-off-of-her-when-she-was-leaning-over-to-open/) [Andrea Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-smith/) > [“I keep my socks in a filing cabinet, if that tells you what kind of lover I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-keep-my-socks-in-a-filing-cabinet-if-that-tells-you-what-kind-of/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“My head was once a filing cabinet. Now it’s a flurry of papers, floating on a draft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-finn/my-head-was-once-a-filing-cabinet-now-it-s-a-flurry-of-papers/) [A.J. Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-finn/) > [If your mind is at work, we're in danger of reproducing another cliche. If we can keep our minds out of it and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-falk/if-your-mind-is-at-work-we-re-in-danger-of-reproducing-another-cliche/) [Peter Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-falk/) > [What you picture in your mind, your mind will go to work to accomplish. When you change your pictures you automatically change your performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/what-you-picture-in-your-mind-your-mind-will-go-to-work-to-accomplish/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-learned-that-if-you-want-to-get-somewhere-you-just-make-up-your/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I have a single track mind. I work on an idea for a long time. It's like getting acquainted with a person, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-have-a-single-track-mind-i-work-on-an-idea-for-a-long-time-it-s/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) ## More by Jim Rohn > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When a new idea comes our way, we must put it on our mental scales and weigh it carefully before deciding its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/when-a-new-idea-comes-our-way-we-must-put-it-on-our-mental-scales-and/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The best motivation is self-motivation. The guy says, I wish someone would come by and turn me on. What if they don't show up?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-best-motivation-is-self-motivation-the-guy-says-i-wish-someone/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Faith is the ability to see things that don't yet exist. Faith, though, can turn difficulty into reality, positive reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/faith-is-the-ability-to-see-things-that-don-t-yet-exist-faith-though/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Service to others leads to greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/service-to-others-leads-to-greatness/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Dreams are a projection of the kind of life you want to lead. Dreams can drive you. Dreams can make you skip over obstacles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/dreams-are-a-projection-of-the-kind-of-life-you-want-to-lead-dreams/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/without-a-sense-of-urgency-desire-loses-its-value/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Big achievements come one small advantage at a time, one step at a time, one day at time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/big-achievements-come-one-small-advantage-at-a-time-one-step-at-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/excuses-are-the-nails-used-to-build-a-house-of-failure/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The ultimate reason for setting goals is to entice you to become the person it takes to achieve them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-ultimate-reason-for-setting-goals-is-to-entice-you-to-become-the/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) [Explore all 837 Jim Rohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. 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Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't use your mind for a filing cabinet. 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