--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it…" description: "\"Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it like a problem, you're just going to make a judgment. If you look at like a symptom, you can do something abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/laura-schlessinger-1708_behavior_behavior-is-a-symptom-if-you-look-at-it_1997734.png" --- # Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it like a problem… ![“Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it like a problem, you're just going to make a judgment. If you look at like a symptom, you can do something about it.” quote by Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/laura-schlessinger-1708_behavior_behavior-is-a-symptom-if-you-look-at-it_1997734.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/laura-schlessinger-1708_behavior_behavior-is-a-symptom-if-you-look-at-it_1997734.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/laura-schlessinger-1708_behavior_behavior-is-a-symptom-if-you-look-at-it_1997734.png) > “Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it like a problem, you're just going to make a judgment. If you look at like a symptom, you can do something about it.” [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing behavior as a symptom shifts focus from blame to underlying causes, enabling constructive response. **In simple terms:** Treat actions as signals, not judgments. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just symptoms. Themes psychology judgment problem solving Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice reflective When to use this quote - counseling - education - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts behavioral analysis symptom identification Questions to Reflect On - What underlying issue might the behavior indicate? - How can you investigate before judging? A Different Perspective Symptoms may be ambiguous, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Symptom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-symptom-3497982/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Can do something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do-something/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Like Symptom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-symptom-3497983/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Symptom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symptom/) [Symptom Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symptom-look-3497984/) [Symptoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symptoms/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [Violence is a symptom of impotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/violence-is-a-symptom-of-impotence/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The goal is to reduce the size and scope of government spending, not to focus on the deficit. The deficit is the symptom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/the-goal-is-to-reduce-the-size-and-scope-of-government-spending-not/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Middle age is when anything new in the way you feel is most likely a symptom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/middle-age-is-when-anything-new-in-the-way-you-feel-is-most-likely-a/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Many people nowadays who discover that they have a major symptom, whether psychological or physical, begin to study it. They get drawn very deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/many-people-nowadays-who-discover-that-they-have-a-major-symptom/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [Here's how I see obesity: as a symptom. The larger problem is over-consumption. In a society that identifies consumption with patriotism, valorizes 'growth' above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-levine/here-s-how-i-see-obesity-as-a-symptom-the-larger-problem-is-over/) [Emily Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-levine/) > [I believe that writer's block is a symptom. It's not a disease, it's the symptom of a disease. So what I try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-believe-that-writer-s-block-is-a-symptom-it-s-not-a-disease-it-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A cough is a symptom, not a disease. Take it to your doctor and he can give you something serious to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morley/a-cough-is-a-symptom-not-a-disease-take-it-to-your-doctor-and-he-can/) [Robert Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morley/) > [Emptiness is a symptom that you are not living creatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/emptiness-is-a-symptom-that-you-are-not-living-creatively/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Microsoft is not the problem. Microsoft is the symptom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/microsoft-is-not-the-problem-microsoft-is-the-symptom/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [Emptiness is a symptom that you are not living creatively. You either have not goal that is important enough to you, or you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/emptiness-is-a-symptom-that-you-are-not-living-creatively-you-either/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Amor deliria nervosa: It affects your mind so that you cannot think clearly, or make rational decisions about your own well-being. Symptom number twelve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/amor-deliria-nervosa-it-affects-your-mind-so-that-you-cannot-think/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [The symptom of love is when some of the chemicals inside you go bad. So there must be something in love because your chemicals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/the-symptom-of-love-is-when-some-of-the-chemicals-inside-you-go-bad/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Do not mistake a child for his symptom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-erikson/do-not-mistake-a-child-for-his-symptom/) [Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-erikson/) > [“Wealth is neither an ends nor a means, it is a symptom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dutton/wealth-is-neither-an-ends-nor-a-means-it-is-a-symptom/) [Christopher Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dutton/) > [“Sexuality is more a symptom of your life's condition than a cause, more a consequence than an origin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/sexuality-is-more-a-symptom-of-your-life-s-condition-than-a-cause/) [Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/) ## More by Laura Schlessinger > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [A woman should always be more concerned with standing up for what is right than making sure everyone 'likes' her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/a-woman-should-always-be-more-concerned-with-standing-up-for-what-is/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [There's no point dating a guy who can't support a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/there-s-no-point-dating-a-guy-who-can-t-support-a-family/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [There's no battered woman alive who didn't know in advance that the man was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/there-s-no-battered-woman-alive-who-didn-t-know-in-advance-that-the/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [If there's an award for best mother-in-law in the universe, in the future, when my son gets married, I will win that award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/if-there-s-an-award-for-best-mother-in-law-in-the-universe-in-the/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Your mother doesn't own you. Your father doesn't own you. You own you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/your-mother-doesn-t-own-you-your-father-doesn-t-own-you-you-own-you/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [The path to solid, supportive, healthy relationships, self-respect, and a quality life starts with the usually painful decision to do the Right Thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/the-path-to-solid-supportive-healthy-relationships-self-respect-and-a/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [My sister is not a public person, so I don't think it's right to discuss her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/my-sister-is-not-a-public-person-so-i-don-t-think-it-s-right-to/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [The meaning of your life comes through your obligations to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/the-meaning-of-your-life-comes-through-your-obligations-to-others/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I'm so happy, I can hardly spit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-so-happy-i-can-hardly-spit/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Make believe I'm right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/make-believe-i-m-right/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Everything I say is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/everything-i-say-is-true/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Never sell your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/never-sell-your-soul/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) [Explore all 214 Laura Schlessinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [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 tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Behavior is a symptom. If you look at it like a problem, you're just going to make a judgment. 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