---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hold a thought in your head, and that was…"
description: "\"“Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.”\" — Jodi Picoult"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg"
---

#  Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change…

![“Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg)

> ““Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.””

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

## About This Quote

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

A single powerful idea can influence the behavior of anyone who encounters it.

**In simple terms:** Ideas can change actions.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate strong, positive thoughts.

Themes

influence mindset power of thought

Mood

thoughtful empowering

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- leadership
- teaching
- personal growth
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

cognitive psychology behavioral change

Questions to Reflect On

- Which thought has most shaped your actions?
- How can you use ideas to help others?

A Different Perspective

Not all thoughts are equally impactful; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-your-life/) [Crossed Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossed-path-1480880/) [Hold Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-thought-837621/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-head-1434156/)

## Related quotes

> [But as he grew older, he learned that a word was a powerful thing. An insult didn't have to be shouted to bleed; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-as-he-grew-older-he-learned-that-a-word-was-a-powerful-thing-an/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“It was my turn to be silent while a small family of moments crossed my path, single file, from the left, sticking their tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/it-was-my-turn-to-be-silent-while-a-small-family-of-moments-crossed/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [Long since, the desert wind wiped away our footprints in the sand. But at every second of my existence, I remember what happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/long-since-the-desert-wind-wiped-away-our-footprints-in-the-sand-but/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“I’d made a plan: I would follow this road wherever it led me. I’d ignore all the others that crossed its path, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-d-made-a-plan-i-would-follow-this-road-wherever-it-led-me-i-d/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

> [“It is not safe for a woman to be traveling on her own." "I was perfectly safe until you crossed my path." "Well may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/it-is-not-safe-for-a-woman-to-be-traveling-on-her-own-i-was-perfectly/)

[Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/)

> [“If we simply imagined that everyone who crossed our path was living out his or her very last day on Earth, we might treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/if-we-simply-imagined-that-everyone-who-crossed-our-path-was-living/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [Even though you came into my life for awhile and stayed in my dreams after you left... I thank you for having crossed my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-though-you-came-into-my-life-for-awhile-and-stayed-in-my-dreams/)

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

> [“A black cat crossed my path, and I stopped to dance around it widdershins and to sing the rhyme, Ou va-ti mistigri? Passe sans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/a-black-cat-crossed-my-path-and-i-stopped-to-dance-around-it/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [“She had not a thought in her head that was not a slogan, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/she-had-not-a-thought-in-her-head-that-was-not-a-slogan-and/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [Its a thought in my head and I cant shake it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/you-me-at-six/its-a-thought-in-my-head-and-i-cant-shake-it/)

[You Me At Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/you-me-at-six/)

> [I have never taken a photograph without one thought in my head to amuse myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-henri-lartigue/i-have-never-taken-a-photograph-without-one-thought-in-my-head-to/)

[Jacques-Henri Lartigue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-henri-lartigue/)

> [“She could not make up her mind what would be inside his head and what out. She thought of her own head as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/she-could-not-make-up-her-mind-what-would-be-inside-his-head-and-what/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Just when I thought there wasn't room enough for another thought in my head, I had this great idea—](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/just-when-i-thought-there-wasn-t-room-enough-for-another-thought-in/)

[John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/)

> [There isn't a thought in my head I care to be alone with for more than five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/there-isn-t-a-thought-in-my-head-i-care-to-be-alone-with-for-more/)

[Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/)

> [“I’m in trouble with this one, I thought. For the first time in my life, I had the thought that I was in over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/i-m-in-trouble-with-this-one-i-thought-for-the-first-time-in-my-life/)

[R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/)

## More by Jodi Picoult

> [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

[Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

## More Change quotes

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/)

[Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/)

> [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/)

[Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/)

> [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/)

[Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/)

> [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/)

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

> [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/)

[Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/)

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed your path.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jodi Picoult"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was-enough-to-change-the-actions/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Change"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was-enough-to-change-the-actions/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jodi-picoult-45_quote_hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was_1845285.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Hold a thought in your head, and that was enough to change the actions of anyone and anything that crossed…” — Jodi Picoult",
                "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": "Jodi Picoult",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Hold a thought in your head,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was-enough-to-change-the-actions/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/hold-a-thought-in-your-head-and-that-was-enough-to-change-the-actions/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
