---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mind is still haunted with its old…"
description: "\"The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways; it broods on lost authorities; and the yearning, the deep and hollowing yearning for divine vo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg"
---

#  The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways…

![“The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways; it broods on lost authorities; and the yearning, the deep and hollowing yearning for divine volition and service is with us still.” quote by Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg)

> “The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways; it broods on lost authorities; and the yearning, the deep and hollowing yearning for divine volition and service is with us still.”

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

## About This Quote

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

Human consciousness is haunted by outdated unconscious patterns, yearning for divine purpose and service.

**In simple terms:** Old mental habits linger, seeking higher purpose.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and transform lingering unconscious drives.

Themes

consciousness history spiritual yearning

Mood

introspective philosophical

Type

psychological spiritual

When to use this quote

- psychotherapy
- spiritual practice
- creative work

Key Concepts

bicameral mind divine volition

Questions to Reflect On

- What unconscious patterns still influence you?
- Do you seek purpose beyond self?

A Different Perspective

Divine purpose may be a cultural construct, not universal.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Hollowing Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollowing-yearning-1923257/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Haunted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-haunted-721267/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious/) [Volition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volition/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) [Yearning Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning-deep-619472/) [Yearning Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning-divine-342701/)

## Related quotes

> [Must be a yearning deep in human heart to stop other people from doing as they please. Rules, laws - always for other fellow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/must-be-a-yearning-deep-in-human-heart-to-stop-other-people-from/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“We’re all the same under our skin, aren’t we? We’re all wanting things we don’t understand. Things we can’t even name. The yearning so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-abbott/we-re-all-the-same-under-our-skin-aren-t-we-we-re-all-wanting-things/)

[Megan Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-abbott/)

> [Must be yearning deep in human heart to stop other people from doing as they please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/must-be-yearning-deep-in-human-heart-to-stop-other-people-from-doing/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [“openness, your yearning for Divine Love, your willingness to search for, embrace and heal any and all soul wounds that stand in its way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/openness-your-yearning-for-divine-love-your-willingness-to-search-for/)

[Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/)

> [“The day comes when love means something beyond a reflection of ourselves, when there is more behind than ahead and the house of mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parke-godwin/the-day-comes-when-love-means-something-beyond-a-reflection-of/)

[Parke Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parke-godwin/)

> [A scene should be selected by the writer for haunted-ness-of-mind interest. If you're not haunted by something, as by a dream, a vision, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/a-scene-should-be-selected-by-the-writer-for-haunted-ness-of-mind/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Her mind is a haunted house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/her-mind-is-a-haunted-house/)

[Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/)

> [I don't putt face-on exclusively, but in the back on my mind I'm haunted by the notion that I'm sure it's the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/i-don-t-putt-face-on-exclusively-but-in-the-back-on-my-mind-i-m/)

[Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/)

> [The pure mystic wishes to approach his God only in the all-embracing love. The yogi, too, walks toward one single aspect of God. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/the-pure-mystic-wishes-to-approach-his-god-only-in-the-all-embracing/)

[Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/)

> [The ruin of the human heart is self-interest, which the American merchant calls self-service. We have become a self-service populace, and all our specious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ruin-of-the-human-heart-is-self-interest-which-the-american/)

[Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/)

> [“‎''I froze. Like an idiot I froze. He was staring right at me. (...) He wore an innocent and mesmerizing smile directed right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kirsten-maravel/i-froze-like-an-idiot-i-froze-he-was-staring-right-at-me-he-wore-an/)

[Shawn Kirsten Maravel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kirsten-maravel/)

> [Faculty Psychology is getting to be respectable again after centuries of hanging around with phrenologists and other dubious types. By faculty psychology I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-fodor/faculty-psychology-is-getting-to-be-respectable-again-after-centuries/)

[Jerry Fodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-fodor/)

> [“...are you a person - with volition and maybe some stubborness and at least the capacity if not the actual determination to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-donaldson/are-you-a-person-with-volition-and-maybe-some-stubborness-and-at/)

[Stephen R. Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-donaldson/)

> [Love itself is not an act of will, but sometimes I need the force of my volition to break with my habitual responses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-itself-is-not-an-act-of-will-but-sometimes-i-need-the-force-of/)

[Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/)

> [The man of wisdom is devoid of ego even though he may appear to use it. His vacant or fasting mind is neither doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-s-balsekar/the-man-of-wisdom-is-devoid-of-ego-even-though-he-may-appear-to-use/)

[Ramesh S Balsekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-s-balsekar/)

## More by Julian Jaynes

> [Every god is a jealous god after the breakdown of the bicameral mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/every-god-is-a-jealous-god-after-the-breakdown-of-the-bicameral-mind/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [“The unlocatable location of things thought about”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-unlocatable-location-of-things-thought-about/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [Indeed, it is sometimes almost as if the problem had to be forgotten to be solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/indeed-it-is-sometimes-almost-as-if-the-problem-had-to-be-forgotten/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [We are greatly in need of specific research in this area of schizophrenic experience to help us understand Mesolithic man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/we-are-greatly-in-need-of-specific-research-in-this-area-of/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [Idolatry is still a socially cohesive force - its original function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/idolatry-is-still-a-socially-cohesive-force-its-original-function/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [We know to much to command ourselves very far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/we-know-to-much-to-command-ourselves-very-far/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [Conscious mind is a spatial analog of the world and mental acts are analogs of bodily acts. Consciousness operates only on objectively observable things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/conscious-mind-is-a-spatial-analog-of-the-world-and-mental-acts-are/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [Our search for certainty rests in our attempts at understanding the history of all individual selves and all civilizations. Beyond that, there is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/our-search-for-certainty-rests-in-our-attempts-at-understanding-the/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [Civilization is the art of living in towns of such size the everyone does not know everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/civilization-is-the-art-of-living-in-towns-of-such-size-the-everyone/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [The legend of the parting of the Red Sea probably refers to tidal changes in the Sea of Reeds related to the Thera eruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-legend-of-the-parting-of-the-red-sea-probably-refers-to-tidal/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [“Logic is the science of the justification of conclusions we have reached by natural reasoning. My point is that, for such natural reasoning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/logic-is-the-science-of-the-justification-of-conclusions-we-have/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [“O, what a world of unseen visions and heard silences, this insubstantial country of the mind! What ineffable essences, these touchless rememberings and unshowable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/o-what-a-world-of-unseen-visions-and-heard-silences-this/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [If we would understand the Scientific Revolution correctly, we should always remember that its most powerful impetus was the unremitting search for hidden divinity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/if-we-would-understand-the-scientific-revolution-correctly-we-should/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [“Memory is the medium of the must-have-been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/memory-is-the-medium-of-the-must-have-been/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

> [This breakdown in the bicameral mind in what is called the Intermediate Period is reminiscent at least of those periodic breakdowns of Mayan civilizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/this-breakdown-in-the-bicameral-mind-in-what-is-called-the/)

[Julian Jaynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

[Explore all 49 Julian Jaynes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/)

## More Authority quotes

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/)

[Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/)

> [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

> [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/)

[Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/)

> [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/)

[Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/)

> [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/)

[Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/)

> [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/)

[Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/)

> [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/)

[Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/)

> [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/)

[Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/)

[Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways; it broods on lost authorities; and the yearning, the deep and hollowing yearning for divine volition and service is with us still.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julian Jaynes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-unconscious-ways-it-broods-on/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Authority"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-unconscious-ways-it-broods-on/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/julian-jaynes-13804_authority_the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-u_1788326.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The mind is still haunted with its old unconscious ways; it broods on lost authorities; and the yearning…” — Julian Jaynes",
                "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": "Julian Jaynes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-jaynes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The mind is still haunted with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-unconscious-ways-it-broods-on/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-jaynes/the-mind-is-still-haunted-with-its-old-unconscious-ways-it-broods-on/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
