--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My thought has been shaped by books; my…" description: "\"My thought has been shaped by books; my desires by pictures.\" — Mason Cooley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/mason-cooley-92_book_my-thought-has-been-shaped-by-books-my-d_2396942.png" --- # My thought has been shaped by books; my desires by pictures. ![“My thought has been shaped by books; my desires by pictures.” quote by Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/mason-cooley-92_book_my-thought-has-been-shaped-by-books-my-d_2396942.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/mason-cooley-92_book_my-thought-has-been-shaped-by-books-my-d_2396942.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/mason-cooley-92_book_my-thought-has-been-shaped-by-books-my-d_2396942.png) > “My thought has been shaped by books; my desires by pictures.” [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that reading shapes thoughts while visual art shapes desires. **In simple terms:** Books influence mind; images influence wants. Key Takeaway Balance reading and visual inspiration. Themes literature visual art mind desire creativity Mood contemplative curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - art appreciation - design work - marketing campaigns - personal growth Key Concepts psychology aesthetics intellectual development Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate both influences? - What desires have you discovered through art? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one can limit perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [It was also a room full of books and made of books. There was no actual furniture; this is to say, the desk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-also-a-room-full-of-books-and-made-of-books-there-was-no/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“One of the difficulties of thinking clearly about anything is that it is almost impossible not to form our ideas in words which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/one-of-the-difficulties-of-thinking-clearly-about-anything-is-that-it/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [“The modern Westerner, persuaded that he has a right to "think for himself" and imagining that he exercises this right, is unwilling to acknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gai-eaton/the-modern-westerner-persuaded-that-he-has-a-right-to-think-for/) Gai Eaton > [Our minds are shaped by the books we read. Our characters, by the people we meet. Our spirits by the love we give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-minds-are-shaped-by-the-books-we-read-our-characters-by-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Altruism is for those who cannot endure their desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/altruism-is-for-those-who-cannot-endure-their-desires/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [My intentions go one way, my desires another. Thus I feel both self-indulgent and deprived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/my-intentions-go-one-way-my-desires-another-thus-i-feel-both-self/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“The world is dictated by our desires rather than our thoughts. The prior puts the latter in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-noffke/the-world-is-dictated-by-our-desires-rather-than-our-thoughts-the/) [Sarah Noffke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-noffke/) > [Fears and lies intensify consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/fears-and-lies-intensify-consciousness/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Desires and wishes don’t lead to success. Plans and efforts do. Create a vision, chalk out an action plan, put in your best efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/desires-and-wishes-don-t-lead-to-success-plans-and-efforts-do-create/) Roopleen > [“The Heart Desires to Be Free”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-belmer/the-heart-desires-to-be-free/) [Cynthia Belmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-belmer/) > [Our desires have a way of getting bigger with our incomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/our-desires-have-a-way-of-getting-bigger-with-our-incomes/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [“My third maxim was to endeavour always to conquer myself rather than fortune, and change my desires rather than the order of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/my-third-maxim-was-to-endeavour-always-to-conquer-myself-rather-than/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“The best way to achieve a wonderful life is to have wonderful desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-wonderful-life-is-to-have-wonderful-desires/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [A lot of times, my work is looked at very much on the surface. It's very easy to just want to put something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/a-lot-of-times-my-work-is-looked-at-very-much-on-the-surface-it-s/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) ## More by Mason Cooley > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Even the most abject have a sense of superiority based on powerful though undefined merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-abject-have-a-sense-of-superiority-based-on-powerful/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Money comes to life as it is spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/money-comes-to-life-as-it-is-spent/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Rage is exciting, but leaves me confused and exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/rage-is-exciting-but-leaves-me-confused-and-exhausted/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Literary tradition is full of lies about poverty-the jolly beggar, the poor but happy milkmaid, the wholesome diet of porridge, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/literary-tradition-is-full-of-lies-about-poverty-the-jolly-beggar-the/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Experience teaches us, but we scarcely know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/experience-teaches-us-but-we-scarcely-know-what/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The body has a mind of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-body-has-a-mind-of-its-own/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [In retirement, I look for days off from my days off. Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/in-retirement-i-look-for-days-off-from-my-days-off-mason-cooley/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [My intentions go one way, my desires another. Thus I feel both self-indulgent and deprived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/my-intentions-go-one-way-my-desires-another-thus-i-feel-both-self/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The Puritan sours his pleasures by disguising them as duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-puritan-sours-his-pleasures-by-disguising-them-as-duties/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Unlike the actual, the fictional explains itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/unlike-the-actual-the-fictional-explains-itself/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Vacations prove that a life of pleasure is overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/vacations-prove-that-a-life-of-pleasure-is-overrated/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Outside literature, high-flown sentiments are merely exasperating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/outside-literature-high-flown-sentiments-are-merely-exasperating/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) [Explore all 1,401 Mason Cooley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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