---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Worry lives a long way from rational…"
description: "\"Worry lives a long way from rational thought.\"---Self\" — Mary Roach"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png"
---

#  Worry lives a long way from rational thought."---Self

![“Worry lives a long way from rational thought.&quot;---Self” quote by Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png)

> “Worry lives a long way from rational thought."---Self”

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

## About This Quote

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

Worry often exists far from logical reasoning, driven by irrational fears.

**In simple terms:** Worry is irrational and distant from logic.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and separate irrational worries from rational thought.

Themes

anxiety logic irrationality

Mood

anxious thoughtful

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- everyday stress
- decision making
- health concerns

Key Concepts

cognitive bias emotional regulation

Questions to Reflect On

- What worries are truly logical?
- How can you reframe irrational fears?

A Different Perspective

Worry can be useful for alertness, not paralysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Rational thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-thought/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [Let others worry about their own lives, and let the rest of us live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/let-others-worry-about-their-own-lives-and-let-the-rest-of-us-live/)

[Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/)

> [I worry that our lives are like soap operas. We can go for months and not tune in to them, then six months later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/i-worry-that-our-lives-are-like-soap-operas-we-can-go-for-months-and/)

[Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/)

> [I no longer idolize reason. I have come to accept that ninety percent of what we do is irrational and that we spend what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/i-no-longer-idolize-reason-i-have-come-to-accept-that-ninety-percent/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [Whereas story is processed in the mind in a straightforward manner, poetry bypasses rational thought and goes straight to the limbic system and lights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/whereas-story-is-processed-in-the-mind-in-a-straightforward-manner/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

> [“Through rational thought I can recognize that a man is a living being just like me, but for my true, involuntary self he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/through-rational-thought-i-can-recognize-that-a-man-is-a-living-being/)

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

> [I am more human than rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-essex/i-am-more-human-than-rational/)

[Karen Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-essex/)

> [Big ideas come from the unconscious. This is true in art, in science, and in advertising. But your unconscious has to be well informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/big-ideas-come-from-the-unconscious-this-is-true-in-art-in-science/)

[David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/)

> [-But rational thoughts lead only to rational thoughts, whereas irrational thoughts lead to new experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/but-rational-thoughts-lead-only-to-rational-thoughts-whereas/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [The entire history of humanity is marked by a single inexorable movement - from animal instinct toward rational thought, from inborn behavior toward acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/the-entire-history-of-humanity-is-marked-by-a-single-inexorable/)

[Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/)

> [Our exclusive dependence on rational thought and language has obscured our natural ability to sense the flow of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/our-exclusive-dependence-on-rational-thought-and-language-has/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [Rational thoughts never drive people's creativity the way emotions do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/rational-thoughts-never-drive-people-s-creativity-the-way-emotions-do/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Manic depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/manic-depression-distorts-moods-and-thoughts-incites-dreadful/)

[Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/)

> [I'm terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-m-terrified-beyond-the-capacity-for-rational-thought/)

[Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/)

> [Catching myself in the moment. Then I remember facts are just facts, circumstances are merely circumstances. Whenever I can catch myself having a negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-shiels/catching-myself-in-the-moment-then-i-remember-facts-are-just-facts/)

[Graham Shiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-shiels/)

> [“‎But he still thought it self-evident that one had to do what was right; he had never learned how people could want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/but-he-still-thought-it-self-evident-that-one-had-to-do-what-was/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

## More by Mary Roach

> [“Rawson points out that although snakes can’t taste, they have a primitive sense of smell. They’ll extend their tongue to gather volatile molecules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/rawson-points-out-that-although-snakes-can-t-taste-they-have-a/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“As the number of Inuit who hunt has dwindled, so has the consumption of organs (and other anatomy not available for purchase at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/as-the-number-of-inuit-who-hunt-has-dwindled-so-has-the-consumption/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [To me, death is dark, pain, grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/to-me-death-is-dark-pain-grief/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“If you look at survivable crashes, it’s rare that even half the emergency exits open,” says Shanahan. “Plus, there’s a lot of panic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/if-you-look-at-survivable-crashes-it-s-rare-that-even-half-the/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“…he was doing a breath hydrogen test. If you know the amount of hydrogen someone is exhaling orally, it's a simple matter to extrapolate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/he-was-doing-a-breath-hydrogen-test-if-you-know-the-amount-of/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“Viagra isn't the only drug being prescribed off-label for women with arousal problems. Los Angeles urologist Jennifer Berman told me some doctors are prescribing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/viagra-isn-t-the-only-drug-being-prescribed-off-label-for-women-with/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [Sharing a room with a cadaver is only mildly different from being in a room alone. They are the same sort of company as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/sharing-a-room-with-a-cadaver-is-only-mildly-different-from-being-in/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [Every now and then, someone will tell me that one of my books has made them laugh out loud. I never believe them because:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/every-now-and-then-someone-will-tell-me-that-one-of-my-books-has-made/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“panel applicants at the initial screening were asked not only to describe the cat foods but also to rate them according to how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/panel-applicants-at-the-initial-screening-were-asked-not-only-to/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“\* Kissing is a less aggressive form of bacterial transplant. Studies of three different gingivitis-causing bacteria have documented migration from spouse to spouse. Periodontically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/kissing-is-a-less-aggressive-form-of-bacterial-transplant-studies-of/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“Nirlungayuk reached a similar conclusion. I tracked him down, seventeen years later, and asked him what the outcome of his country-foods campaign had been.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/nirlungayuk-reached-a-similar-conclusion-i-tracked-him-down-seventeen/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [Astronauts are like these mythic legends, but really, they are just regular people, people who wear chinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/astronauts-are-like-these-mythic-legends-but-really-they-are-just/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“Olive trees grow in the same climate and soil conditions as grapes. The olive oil people have been up in Napa Valley all along,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/olive-trees-grow-in-the-same-climate-and-soil-conditions-as-grapes/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

> [“A patient on the way to surgery travels at twice the speed of a patient on the way to the morgue. Gurneys that ferry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/a-patient-on-the-way-to-surgery-travels-at-twice-the-speed-of-a/)

[Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

[Explore all 435 Mary Roach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

Nagisa Tatsumi

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

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

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

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

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Worry lives a long way from rational thought.\"---Self",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mary Roach"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-thought-self/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-thought-self/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a8/mary-roach-635_anxiety_worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-tho_1827099.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Worry lives a long way from rational thought.\"---Self” — Mary Roach",
                "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": "Mary Roach",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Worry lives a long way from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-thought-self/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/worry-lives-a-long-way-from-rational-thought-self/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
