--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are not theirs thoughts, they…" description: "\"People are not theirs thoughts, they think they are, and it brings them all kinds of sadness.\" — Nick Nolte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/nick-nolte-4449_all-kinds_people-are-not-theirs-thoughts-they-thin_3036831.png" --- # People are not theirs thoughts, they think they are, and… ![“People are not theirs thoughts, they think they are, and it brings them all kinds of sadness.” quote by Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/nick-nolte-4449_all-kinds_people-are-not-theirs-thoughts-they-thin_3036831.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/nick-nolte-4449_all-kinds_people-are-not-theirs-thoughts-they-thin_3036831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/314/nick-nolte-4449_all-kinds_people-are-not-theirs-thoughts-they-thin_3036831.png) > “People are not theirs thoughts, they think they are, and it brings them all kinds of sadness.” [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People mistakenly identify themselves with their thoughts, leading to unnecessary sadness. **In simple terms:** Identifying with thoughts causes sadness. Key Takeaway Separate self from thoughts to reduce suffering. Themes psychology identity mindfulness emotional health self‑concept Mood thoughtful educational Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - self‑help - mental wellness Key Concepts cognitive distancing awareness self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - How does thought identification affect mood? - What techniques help separate self from thoughts? A Different Perspective Thoughts are sometimes useful guides, not just sources of pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peaceful warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful-warrior/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Don't respect people who make a promise. Respect people who keep theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/don-t-respect-people-who-make-a-promise-respect-people-who-keep-theirs/) Pacifiersucker > [May not the complaint, that common people are above their station, often take its rise in the fact of uncommon people being below theirs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/may-not-the-complaint-that-common-people-are-above-their-station/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“When you have a wit of your own, it's a pleasure to credit other people for theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/when-you-have-a-wit-of-your-own-it-s-a-pleasure-to-credit-other/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Everything has a purpose, even this, and it's up to you to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/everything-has-a-purpose-even-this-and-it-s-up-to-you-to-find-it/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [Death isn't sad. The sad thing is: most people don't live at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/death-isn-t-sad-the-sad-thing-is-most-people-don-t-live-at-all/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [There's no greater purpose than service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/there-s-no-greater-purpose-than-service-to-others/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [This is a service station, we offer service. There is no higher purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/this-is-a-service-station-we-offer-service-there-is-no-higher-purpose/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He's about absolute vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/a-warrior-is-not-about-perfection-or-victory-or-invulnerability-he-s/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [You don't get what you want. 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He's about absolute vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/a-warrior-is-not-about-perfection-or-victory-or-invulnerability-he-s/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [I never felt comfortable in real life very well. It's always been an awkward kind of thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-never-felt-comfortable-in-real-life-very-well-it-s-always-been-an/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [The only people who ever called me a rebel were people who wanted me to do what they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/the-only-people-who-ever-called-me-a-rebel-were-people-who-wanted-me/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [I am a good sewer. 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The best writers write children's books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/there-are-all-kinds-of-writers-the-best-writers-write-children-s-books/) [Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [The single greatest pleasure that I have in doing ('Bizarre Foods') is when I meet families with 6, 7, 8-year-olds, or teenagers, who say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/the-single-greatest-pleasure-that-i-have-in-doing-bizarre-foods-is/) [Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. 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