--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing you set your mind on is the…" description: "\"The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become.\" — Nathaniel Hawthorne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg" --- # The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately… ![“The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become.” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg) > “The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become.” [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your focused mindset shapes your identity and destiny. **In simple terms:** What you focus on becomes who you are. Key Takeaway Align thoughts with desired self. Themes mindset identity determination Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - habit formation - goal setting - self‑improvement Key Concepts self‑concept personal development Questions to Reflect On - What habits reinforce your current mindset? - How can you reshape your self‑image? A Different Perspective Changing mindset is harder than simply deciding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Law of attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-of-attraction/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-thing-604106/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Set Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-mind/) [Thing Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-ultimately-3713686/) [Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing that ultimately matters is to eat an ice-cream cone, play a slide trombone, plant a small tree, good God, now you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-manzarek/the-only-thing-that-ultimately-matters-is-to-eat-an-ice-cream-cone/) [Ray Manzarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-manzarek/) > [Who knows whether it is not true that phosphorus and mind are not the same thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/who-knows-whether-it-is-not-true-that-phosphorus-and-mind-are-not-the/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The whole object of education is...to develop the mind. The mind should be a thing that works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/the-whole-object-of-education-is-to-develop-the-mind-the-mind-should/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [When you take the fact that you're loved for granted, it frees your mind to go after every other thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/when-you-take-the-fact-that-you-re-loved-for-granted-it-frees-your/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When the heart takes over,the mind can't do a thing!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-heart-takes-over-the-mind-can-t-do-a-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A very important thing is not to make up your mind that you are any one thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/a-very-important-thing-is-not-to-make-up-your-mind-that-you-are-any/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“To go mad, to lose your mind, which is the only thing that’s really yours because it’s really you … That would be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-carey/to-go-mad-to-lose-your-mind-which-is-the-only-thing-that-s-really/) [M.R. Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-r-carey/) > [You do miracles if you concentrate your mind on one thing and one thing only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/you-do-miracles-if-you-concentrate-your-mind-on-one-thing-and-one/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [There is a day when you realize that your mind is the only thing standing between you and happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-day-when-you-realize-that-your-mind-is-the-only-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love isn’t the last thing on my mind. The last thing on my mind is my skull.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-isn-t-the-last-thing-on-my-mind-the-last-thing-on-my-mind-is-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I think is all I have left. My mind is the only thing that makes me different from a fancy toaster. What we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/what-i-think-is-all-i-have-left-my-mind-is-the-only-thing-that-makes/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [I can't remember really what it's like to do it within Pink Floyd. In my mind, that's a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-can-t-remember-really-what-it-s-like-to-do-it-within-pink-floyd-in/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [“Information is the only thing that can be lost in an imperishable universe. Mind is the only thing that truly dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/information-is-the-only-thing-that-can-be-lost-in-an-imperishable/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Leave your mind alone, that is all. Do not go along with it. After all, there is no such thing as mind apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/leave-your-mind-alone-that-is-all-do-not-go-along-with-it-after-all/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“The mind is the only thing about human beings that’s worth anything. Why does it have to be tied to a bag of skin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-mind-is-the-only-thing-about-human-beings-that-s-worth-anything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by Nathaniel Hawthorne > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The trees reflected in the river - they are unconscious of a spiritual world so near to them. So are we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-trees-reflected-in-the-river-they-are-unconscious-of-a-spiritual/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The dismaying thing about the classic totalitarian mind is that any given gear, though mutilated, will have at its circumference unbroken sequences of teeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-dismaying-thing-about-the-classic-totalitarian-mind-is-that-any/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire, I longed to kindle one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/my-heart-was-a-habitation-large-enough-for-many-guests-but-lonely-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Wherever there is a heart and an intellect, the diseases of the physical frame are tinged with the peculiarities of these.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/wherever-there-is-a-heart-and-an-intellect-the-diseases-of-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-founders-of-a-new-colony-whatever-utopia-of-human-virtue-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Generosity is the flower of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/generosity-is-the-flower-of-justice/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“he seemed to be in quest for mental food, not heart sustenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/he-seemed-to-be-in-quest-for-mental-food-not-heart-sustenance/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Unfathomable to mere mortals is the lore of fiends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/unfathomable-to-mere-mortals-is-the-lore-of-fiends/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Possibly, he was in a state of second growth and recovery, and was constantly assimilating nutriment for his spirit and intellect from sights, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/possibly-he-was-in-a-state-of-second-growth-and-recovery-and-was/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“What wonder, then, should we be frightened by the aspect of a monster, which, after all,—though we can point to every feature of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-wonder-then-should-we-be-frightened-by-the-aspect-of-a-monster/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [As the architecture of a country always follows the earliest structures, American architecture should be a refinement of the log-house. The Egyptian is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/as-the-architecture-of-a-country-always-follows-the-earliest/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [What we call real estate - the solid ground to build a house on - is the broad foundation on which nearly all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-we-call-real-estate-the-solid-ground-to-build-a-house-on-is-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The bookworm of great libraries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-bookworm-of-great-libraries/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-are-many-things-in-this-world-that-a-child-must-not-ask-about/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) [Explore all 526 Nathaniel Hawthorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## More Attraction quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you want to find greater happiness and fulfillment in your life, you must begin to understand and live in harmony with the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/if-you-want-to-find-greater-happiness-and-fulfillment-in-your-life/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [War is thus divine in itself, since it is a law of the world. War is divine through its consequences of a supernatural nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-de-maistre/war-is-thus-divine-in-itself-since-it-is-a-law-of-the-world-war-is/) [Joseph de Maistre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-de-maistre/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) [Browse all 2,005 Attraction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathaniel Hawthorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-thing-you-ultimately-become/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attraction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-thing-you-ultimately-become/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_attraction_the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-th_2049466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne", "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": "Nathaniel Hawthorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing you set your mind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-thing-you-ultimately-become/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-thing-you-set-your-mind-on-is-the-thing-you-ultimately-become/#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 } } ] } ```