--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have a brain, you are obliged to…" description: "\"If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it.\" — Meryl Streep" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg" --- # If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it. ![“If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg) > “If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it.” [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence obliges us to think and act wisely. **In simple terms:** Use your mind responsibly. Key Takeaway Exercise your intellect. Themes responsibility intellect ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - problem solving - decision making - leadership Key Concepts critical thinking moral duty Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure thoughtful use of your brain? - When might restraint outweigh intellect? A Different Perspective Intellect alone doesn’t guarantee good choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ## Related quotes > [Your brain is much better than you think; just use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/your-brain-is-much-better-than-you-think-just-use-it/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Insofar as she recognized at all that she was dreaming, she realized that she must be exploring her subconscious mind. She had heard it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/insofar-as-she-recognized-at-all-that-she-was-dreaming-she-realized/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [If you do not use a muscle or any part of the body, it tends to become atrophic. 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Reasons are in books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/there-are-no-reasons-she-is-obliged-to-be-as-she-is-we-all-are/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Im obliged for the post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/social/im-obliged-for-the-post/) Social > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) ## More by Meryl Streep > [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/) > [I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-do-honestly-think-that-if-women-were-running-the-world-there-would/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-feeling-about-fears-is-if-you-voice-your-fears-they-may-come-true/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [This act of empathy, that women go through from the time we're little girls - we read all of literature, all of history, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/this-act-of-empathy-that-women-go-through-from-the-time-we-re-little/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Some men can maintain cragginess and weary masculinity. Women just get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/some-men-can-maintain-cragginess-and-weary-masculinity-women-just-get/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Well, I got better after this, and my entire family really did appreciate it. Usually, they're resentful of movies that I go off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/well-i-got-better-after-this-and-my-entire-family-really-did/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-is-not-about-being-someone-different-it-s-finding-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. 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But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/leave-me-to-the-thing-i-love-i-love-acting-but-being-called-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-go-to-a-lot-of-movies-where-people-are-all-around-me-laughing-and-i/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-say-when-you-have-children-everything-changes-but-maybe-things/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [You have to embrace getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-have-to-embrace-getting-older/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) [Explore all 296 Meryl Streep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. 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. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meryl Streep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-use-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-use-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/meryl-streep-1078_brain_if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-u_592426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you have a brain, you are obliged to use it.” — Meryl Streep", "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": "Meryl Streep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you have a brain, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-use-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/if-you-have-a-brain-you-are-obliged-to-use-it/#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 } } ] } ```