--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always tried to be open-minded, but not…" description: "\"I always tried to be open-minded, but not so open-minded that my brains would fall out. As G. K. Chesterton says, \"The purpose of opening the mind, as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/josh-mcdowell-4194_brain_i-always-tried-to-be-open-minded-but-not_2326624.png" --- # I always tried to be open-minded, but not so open-minded… ![“I always tried to be open-minded, but not so open-minded that my brains would fall out. As G. K. Chesterton says, "The purpose of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to close it again on something solid." I opened my mind, and I finally closed it on the most solid reality I had ever…” quote by Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/josh-mcdowell-4194_brain_i-always-tried-to-be-open-minded-but-not_2326624.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/josh-mcdowell-4194_brain_i-always-tried-to-be-open-minded-but-not_2326624.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/josh-mcdowell-4194_brain_i-always-tried-to-be-open-minded-but-not_2326624.png) > “I always tried to be open-minded, but not so open-minded that my brains would fall out. As G. K. Chesterton says, "The purpose of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to close it again on something solid." I opened my mind, and I finally closed it on the most solid reality I had ever experienced. On December 19, 1959, at 8:30PM, during my second year at the university, I became a Christian.” [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a personal conversion experience, emphasizing open-mindedness balanced with firm belief, leading to his Christian faith. **In simple terms:** Open mind leads to firm belief through personal experience. Key Takeaway Stay curious, then commit to what feels true. Themes faith open-mindedness conversion personal growth belief Mood thoughtful introspective Type religious personal When to use this quote - college life - spiritual discussions - personal testimony Key Concepts spiritual transformation critical thinking identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance openness with conviction? - What role does experience play in belief formation? A Different Perspective The account is subjective and may not generalize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [December](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/december/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-opening/) [Minded Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minded-open-255820/) [Miscellaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscellaneous/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Open minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-minded/) [Opened Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opened-mind-295635/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [Opening Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-mind-778942/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Reform has to be based on opening your mind and opening the mind does not come from decrees or laws. It comes from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/reform-has-to-be-based-on-opening-your-mind-and-opening-the-mind-does/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/merely-having-an-open-mind-is-nothing-the-object-of-opening-the-mind/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-object-of-opening-the-mind-as-of-opening-the-mouth-is-to-shut-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/be-open-minded-but-not-so-open-minded-that-your-brains-fall-out/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [People should be free to be open-minded or not open-minded. If they don't want to be open-minded, that is their freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-should-be-free-to-be-open-minded-or-not-open-minded-if-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I want to be present and really in my body, grounded and open minded and open hearted, no matter what the conflict or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seane-corn/i-want-to-be-present-and-really-in-my-body-grounded-and-open-minded/) [Seane Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seane-corn/) > [If you want to be happy, become Open minded, open hearted, and open handed. Nothing more is needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-you-want-to-be-happy-become-open-minded-open-hearted-and-open/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [For me it's a dedication to your real interests. It's an ability to be open-minded. Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/for-me-it-s-a-dedication-to-your-real-interests-it-s-an-ability-to-be/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [Science is a method, not a religion, yet it can be just as close-minded. Open minds here Claire. Always open minds. Question everything, accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/science-is-a-method-not-a-religion-yet-it-can-be-just-as-close-minded/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out. -this quote is actually found in Carl Sagan's book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/by-all-means-let-s-be-open-minded-but-not-so-open-minded-that-our-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I always set out to be open-minded and open-hearted in everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/i-always-set-out-to-be-open-minded-and-open-hearted-in-everything-i-do/) [Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/) > [By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/by-all-means-let-s-be-open-minded-but-not-so-open-minded-that-our/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [There are too many GREAT people in the world to be narrow minded and not open yourself up to the opportunity of meeting ALL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-too-many-great-people-in-the-world-to-be-narrow-minded-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wanted to make sure the last chapters of my life were full, and painting, it turns out, has helped occupy not only space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-wanted-to-make-sure-the-last-chapters-of-my-life-were-full-and/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [She runs up into the light surprised Her arms are opened Her mind's eye is Seeing things from a better side than most can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/she-runs-up-into-the-light-surprised-her-arms-are-opened-her-mind-s/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) ## More by Josh McDowell > [“People naturally have questions. They always have and always will. One of the key functions of apologetics, then, is to respond to questions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/people-naturally-have-questions-they-always-have-and-always-will-one/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Why don't the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people? The reason is that these others didn't claim to be God, but Jesus did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/why-don-t-the-names-of-buddha-mohammed-confucius-offend-people-the/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [I've never had anyone define purity. You probably can't define purity. 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That option isn't open to us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/one-who-claimed-what-jesus-claimed-about-himself-couldn-t-be-a-good/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [“God placed humans on a plateau above the rest of creation when he fashioned them in his relational image and likeness. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/god-placed-humans-on-a-plateau-above-the-rest-of-creation-when-he/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/after-more-than-700-hours-of-studying-this-subject-and-thoroughly/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Where I once constantly lost my temper, I found myself arriving at a crisis and experiencing peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/where-i-once-constantly-lost-my-temper-i-found-myself-arriving-at-a/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [We no longer live in a post-Christian society, we live in an anti-Christian society, one in which the Christian faith is dismissed or ridiculed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/we-no-longer-live-in-a-post-christian-society-we-live-in-an-anti/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [True love is spelled G-I-V-E. 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Carter coined the phrase 'the culture of disbelief' to describe the prevailing hostility in Western culture toward public expressions of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/stephen-l-carter-coined-the-phrase-the-culture-of-disbelief-to/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [On that Sunday morning the first thing that impressed the people who approached the tomb was the unusual position of the one and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/on-that-sunday-morning-the-first-thing-that-impressed-the-people-who/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/what-you-are-as-a-single-person-you-will-be-as-a-married-person-only/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Whenever you do judge, the only basis of judgment is not your own perspective or anything else, it's the very character and nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/whenever-you-do-judge-the-only-basis-of-judgment-is-not-your-own/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) [Explore all 113 Josh McDowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. 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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/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. 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