--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The human mind is stimulated by change…" description: "\"“The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by meeting the challenge of novelty or threat or pleasure, rewarded with the sensations of being ins..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg" --- # The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by… ![“The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by meeting the challenge of novelty or threat or pleasure, rewarded with the sensations of being instrumental in altering environments, and will persevere in this as long as there is some degree of perceivable progress. People turn to knitting baby…” quote by Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg) > ““The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by meeting the challenge of novelty or threat or pleasure, rewarded with the sensations of being instrumental in altering environments, and will persevere in this as long as there is some degree of perceivable progress. People turn to knitting baby booties, doing crossword puzzles, collecting rare coins; they may even make an effort to understand E=mc2 or to study the genetic adaptations of cacti, but in all cases, they need to see some fruit of their labors.”” [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans are driven by novelty and measurable progress; they seek activities that show tangible results, whether simple crafts or complex science. **In simple terms:** Progress fuels motivation. Key Takeaway Show results to sustain engagement. Themes Motivation Novelty Progress Human behavior Reward Mood Curiosity Determination Satisfaction Type Observational Motivational When to use this quote - Learning a new skill - Hobby projects - Scientific research - Creative problem solving Key Concepts Psychology of achievement Goal orientation Intrinsic vs extrinsic reward Practical Applications - Designing gamified learning platforms - Creating habit‑forming productivity tools Questions to Reflect On - What small milestones can you set to maintain momentum? - How does visible progress affect long‑term commitment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [It's sometimes a painful process. It's a change that has to be motivated by a higher purpose, by the willingness to subordinate what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-sometimes-a-painful-process-it-s-a-change-that-has-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Perhaps he had seen her as a challenge. Or a novelty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-hogan/perhaps-he-had-seen-her-as-a-challenge-or-a-novelty/) [Ruth Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-hogan/) > [I like my mind being stimulated. I like discovering new concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/i-like-my-mind-being-stimulated-i-like-discovering-new-concepts/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I like when my mind is being stimulated and challenged, and I'm forced to be creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/i-like-when-my-mind-is-being-stimulated-and-challenged-and-i-m-forced/) [Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/) > [“Whether you feel that your soul is pleased by the conception or contemplation of harmonies, or that your mind is stimulated by the aspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosettabooks/whether-you-feel-that-your-soul-is-pleased-by-the-conception-or/) RosettaBooks > [“artificial intelligence is forcing human endeavor away from simple, algorithmic and repetitive tasks towards solving problems and incubating new ideas. It is the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyan-nagpal/artificial-intelligence-is-forcing-human-endeavor-away-from-simple/) [Gyan Nagpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyan-nagpal/) > [Charity is the filthiest invention of the human mind: first you steal what belongs to everyone; then you use the law and various other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/charity-is-the-filthiest-invention-of-the-human-mind-first-you-steal/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [Freedom is the very essence of our economy and society. Without freedom the human mind is prevented from unleashing its creative force. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/freedom-is-the-very-essence-of-our-economy-and-society-without/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [ It is certain that every class is interested in \[educational\] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-interested-in-educational/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Whatever the Party holds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/but-i-tell-you-winston-that-reality-is-not-external-reality-exists-in/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/) Alexander Stewart > [Dogma is a powerful way of closing human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marley/dogma-is-a-powerful-way-of-closing-human-mind/) [Peter Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marley/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) ## More by Michael D. O'Brien > [“Words are gold, split and shared as coinage, small pebbles, emblems offered back and forth-given, received; given, received-expanding the vocabulary of the soul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/words-are-gold-split-and-shared-as-coinage-small-pebbles-emblems/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“You can't just sit there hating the wound, Tan, or indulging in bitterness. Whatever you become in life, always ask yourself, am I making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/you-can-t-just-sit-there-hating-the-wound-tan-or-indulging-in/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“We are resisting the technological corruption of our humanity with technology. We’re also resisting with our thinking, our perseverance, our friendships…In the end, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/we-are-resisting-the-technological-corruption-of-our-humanity-with/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“We must all make the mental leap from the pious histories we have read in the martyrologies to the reality of living flesh and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/we-must-all-make-the-mental-leap-from-the-pious-histories-we-have/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“Was there a missing component in all human beings? The rural masses seeking the metropolis; the urban young fleeing to the woods. Women pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/was-there-a-missing-component-in-all-human-beings-the-rural-masses/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [ “\[About the main character approaching death in old age, observed by her husband . . .\] He saw that she had already laid down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/about-the-main-character-approaching-death-in-old-age-observed-by-her/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“For those who suffer disposal, the cost is their very lives. For those of us who survive, there is a creeping indifference to anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/for-those-who-suffer-disposal-the-cost-is-their-very-lives-for-those/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“We came to know that love is the soul of the world, though its body bleeds, and we must learn to bleed with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/we-came-to-know-that-love-is-the-soul-of-the-world-though-its-body/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“Each tool reshapes the one who is apparently the master of the tool. I ask myself this: At what point does the tool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/each-tool-reshapes-the-one-who-is-apparently-the-master-of-the-tool-i/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“Tell me, Anna, if man is capable of projecting his belief onto the cosmos, isn't it possible by the same token, that he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/tell-me-anna-if-man-is-capable-of-projecting-his-belief-onto-the/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“They’re convinced that the more conservative you are the more orthodox you are. They’re more Catholic than the Pope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/they-re-convinced-that-the-more-conservative-you-are-the-more/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“Man projects his wounds upon the world, my friend. He judges everything, and in the judging he reveals himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/man-projects-his-wounds-upon-the-world-my-friend-he-judges-everything/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“If you are a true logos and I am a true logos, then there is the possibility of the dia-logos—a true dialogue...What is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/if-you-are-a-true-logos-and-i-am-a-true-logos-then-there-is-the/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“In this world are many people who do not master their bodies. Such people say that no one can tell them what to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/in-this-world-are-many-people-who-do-not-master-their-bodies-such/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) > [“All grief would slip away and all questions would be remembered as the uncomprehending wails of a newborn who did not grasp the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/all-grief-would-slip-away-and-all-questions-would-be-remembered-as/) [Michael D. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) [Explore all 33 Michael D. O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by meeting the challenge of novelty or threat or pleasure, rewarded with the sensations of being instrumental in altering environments, and will persevere in this as long as there is some degree of perceivable progress. People turn to knitting baby booties, doing crossword puzzles, collecting rare coins; they may even make an effort to understand E=mc2 or to study the genetic adaptations of cacti, but in all cases, they need to see some fruit of their labors.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael D. O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-motivated-by-meeting-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-motivated-by-meeting-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/michael-d-o-brien-17161_change_the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-m_70826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The human mind is stimulated by change, motivated by meeting the challenge of novelty or threat or pleasure…” — Michael D. O'Brien", "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": "Michael D. O'Brien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-o-brien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The human mind is stimulated by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-motivated-by-meeting-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/the-human-mind-is-stimulated-by-change-motivated-by-meeting-the/#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 } } ] } ```