--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are the producers of our own thinking…" description: "\"We are the producers of our own thinking. Thought is not something that happens to us, but something that we do to ourselves.\" — John Spence" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/john-spence-21666_happens_we-are-the-producers-of-our-own-thinking_897998.png" --- # We are the producers of our own thinking. Thought is not… ![“We are the producers of our own thinking. Thought is not something that happens to us, but something that we do to ourselves.” quote by John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/john-spence-21666_happens_we-are-the-producers-of-our-own-thinking_897998.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/john-spence-21666_happens_we-are-the-producers-of-our-own-thinking_897998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/john-spence-21666_happens_we-are-the-producers-of-our-own-thinking_897998.png) > “We are the producers of our own thinking. Thought is not something that happens to us, but something that we do to ourselves.” [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We create our thoughts; thinking is an active, self‑directed process. **In simple terms:** Thoughts are self‑generated actions. Key Takeaway Take control of your thinking. Themes mindfulness self‑direction thought Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - meditation practice - creative brainstorming - decision making Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts do you produce? - How can you shape your mental habits? A Different Perspective Hard to change ingrained habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [I've never killed anybody... but I've definitely thought about it. But that's how we are. 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A single bad act can have all sorts of repercussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-katzenbach/psychoanalysis-teaches-one-thing-he-thought-nothing-ever-happens-in-a/) [John Katzenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-katzenbach/) > [...thinking as he had thought before and would think again and as every other man has thought: how false the most profound book turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/thinking-as-he-had-thought-before-and-would-think-again-and-as-every/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: What the hell good would that do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-going-to-buy-a-copy-of-the-power-of-positive-thinking-and-then-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And I'm thinking a thought that is something like, "Be thankful for what's left of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pink/and-i-m-thinking-a-thought-that-is-something-like-be-thankful-for/) [Sam Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pink/) > [“Thinking over this thought, this whole thinking makes no sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janosch/thinking-over-this-thought-this-whole-thinking-makes-no-sense/) Janosch > [“I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought, ‘What the hell good would that do?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/i-was-going-to-buy-a-copy-of-the-power-of-positive-thinking-and-then-2/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [I was going to buy a copy of "The Power of Positive Thinking", and then I thought: What good would that do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-shakes/i-was-going-to-buy-a-copy-of-the-power-of-positive-thinking-and-then/) [Ronnie Shakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-shakes/) > [How could a person possibly become what he is not thinking? Nor is any thought, when persistently entertained, too small to have its effect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/how-could-a-person-possibly-become-what-he-is-not-thinking-nor-is-any/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Negative thinking is a first thought in human mind, when we see somethings is wrong. Let's not judged other,we never know what's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-faitz/negative-thinking-is-a-first-thought-in-human-mind-when-we-see/) [Evelyn Faitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-faitz/) > [“Much of the time he lay part-dressed on his bed, sipping gin, and thinking, and thinking, - though what it was, of which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/much-of-the-time-he-lay-part-dressed-on-his-bed-sipping-gin-and/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## More by John Spence > [When someone tells you, "You've changed," it might simply be because you've stopped living your life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/when-someone-tells-you-you-ve-changed-it-might-simply-be-because-you/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [People do what seems easy and convenient, not what is best for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/people-do-what-seems-easy-and-convenient-not-what-is-best-for-them/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Remember: everyone you meet is fighting a mighty battle. Be kind. Be understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/remember-everyone-you-meet-is-fighting-a-mighty-battle-be-kind-be/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Saying someone is ugly doesn't make you any prettier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/saying-someone-is-ugly-doesn-t-make-you-any-prettier/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Whatever you fill your brain with and whoever you spend your time with... will determine your life a decade from now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/whatever-you-fill-your-brain-with-and-whoever-you-spend-your-time/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Your Day Is Your Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/your-day-is-your-life/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [In life, if you don't risk anything, you risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/in-life-if-you-don-t-risk-anything-you-risk-everything/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [If you tell the truth, it becomes a part of your past. If you lie, it becomes a part of your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/if-you-tell-the-truth-it-becomes-a-part-of-your-past-if-you-lie-it/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [You become what you focus on and like the people you spend time with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/you-become-what-you-focus-on-and-like-the-people-you-spend-time-with/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [All that you achieve and all that you fail to achieve are the direct results of your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/all-that-you-achieve-and-all-that-you-fail-to-achieve-are-the-direct/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [We often talk to ourselves in ways that we would never let a stranger or even a friend talk to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/we-often-talk-to-ourselves-in-ways-that-we-would-never-let-a-stranger/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [Build your house on the rock of learning; no one can take your education away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/build-your-house-on-the-rock-of-learning-no-one-can-take-your/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [What you do today determines who you will be tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/what-you-do-today-determines-who-you-will-be-tomorrow/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [My definition of success: When your core values and self-concept are in harmony with your daily actions and behaviors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/my-definition-of-success-when-your-core-values-and-self-concept-are/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren't busy denying them. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/you-can-learn-great-things-from-your-mistakes-when-you-aren-t-busy/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) [Explore all 28 John Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) ## More Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. 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I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. 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