--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have a brake in your brain that stops…" description: "\"You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid things. The older you are, the earlier that brake comes on. When you're 20 you stop at nothi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/niki-lauda-9419_brain_you-have-a-brake-in-your-brain-that-stop_1229370.jpg" --- # You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid… ![“You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid things. The older you are, the earlier that brake comes on. When you're 20 you stop at nothing; when you're older you're cleverer than when you're 20, so your brain brake operates more often!” quote by Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/niki-lauda-9419_brain_you-have-a-brake-in-your-brain-that-stop_1229370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/niki-lauda-9419_brain_you-have-a-brake-in-your-brain-that-stop_1229370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58e/niki-lauda-9419_brain_you-have-a-brake-in-your-brain-that-stop_1229370.jpg) > “You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid things. The older you are, the earlier that brake comes on. When you're 20 you stop at nothing; when you're older you're cleverer than when you're 20, so your brain brake operates more often!” [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens experience to a mental brake that increasingly prevents reckless actions as one ages. **In simple terms:** Experience adds a mental safety brake. Key Takeaway Use experience to make wiser choices. Themes growth experience self‑control Mood cautious insightful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - driving - business decisions - personal safety Key Concepts risk assessment maturity Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to act despite caution? - When does caution become a barrier? A Different Perspective The “brake” may also cause over‑caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Brake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-brake-3796149/) [Brain Stops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-stops-1140155/) [Brake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brake/) [Brake Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brake-brain-3796150/) [Earlier Brake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier-brake-3796152/) [Stop Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-older-3796151/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-things/) ## Related quotes > [You can never stop and as older people, we have to learn how to take leadership from the youth and I guess I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/you-can-never-stop-and-as-older-people-we-have-to-learn-how-to-take/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [The joy of reading with our children doesn't stop as they, and we, get older; it simply changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kropp/the-joy-of-reading-with-our-children-doesn-t-stop-as-they-and-we-get/) [Paul Kropp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kropp/) > [The discovery of the habit loop is important because it reveals a basic truth: When a habit emerges, the brain stops fully participating in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-discovery-of-the-habit-loop-is-important-because-it-reveals-a/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“We say that a man's dead when his heart stops and not before. It seems a bit arbitrary. After all, parts of your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-say-that-a-man-s-dead-when-his-heart-stops-and-not-before-it-seems/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Consciousness is the product of electrochemical signalling in the neurons of your brain. So when the brain stops functioning fully, your consciousness, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/consciousness-is-the-product-of-electrochemical-signalling-in-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I heard that your brain stops growing when you start doing drugs. Let's see, I guess that makes me 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-heard-that-your-brain-stops-growing-when-you-start-doing-drugs-let/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [My thinking brain never stops my creative brain never stops so they wrestle a lot and get in fights sometimes they fight in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/my-thinking-brain-never-stops-my-creative-brain-never-stops-so-they/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [“Your brain never stops developing and changing. It's been doing it from the time you were an embryo, and will keep doing it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/your-brain-never-stops-developing-and-changing-it-s-been-doing-it/) [James Trefil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-trefil/) > [“What did he say? He is in love? My brain stops, my heart stops, my blood ceases to flow. My appendages go weak and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sarff/what-did-he-say-he-is-in-love-my-brain-stops-my-heart-stops-my-blood/) [Julie Sarff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sarff/) > [At a certain point your brain stops to rationalize things. At a certain point it gives up, shuts off, shuts down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-a-certain-point-your-brain-stops-to-rationalize-things-at-a/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When I cook, my brain stops completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-de-laurentiis/when-i-cook-my-brain-stops-completely/) [Dino De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-de-laurentiis/) > [Perhaps a man really dies when his brain stops, when he loses the power to take in a new idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/perhaps-a-man-really-dies-when-his-brain-stops-when-he-loses-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“For a writer, a break from working is nonexistent; while you fingers may stop typing, your brain never stops writing, developing, changing, and perfecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gulla/for-a-writer-a-break-from-working-is-nonexistent-while-you-fingers/) [Nicole Gulla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gulla/) > [I'd like to dispel the myth that when you put a wedding ring on a woman, her brain stops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-quayle/i-d-like-to-dispel-the-myth-that-when-you-put-a-wedding-ring-on-a/) [Marilyn Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-quayle/) > [“You’re just dead, your brain stops working, and then you’re not around to ask annoying questions anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/you-re-just-dead-your-brain-stops-working-and-then-you-re-not-around/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) ## More by Niki Lauda > [This aircraft tops everything. All the others look old as compared to this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/this-aircraft-tops-everything-all-the-others-look-old-as-compared-to/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [A race isn't won until it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/a-race-isn-t-won-until-it-s-over/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Jean Todt's system will never succeed, not even with Michael Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/jean-todt-s-system-will-never-succeed-not-even-with-michael-schumacher/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Running an airline is a normal job. Racing is more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/running-an-airline-is-a-normal-job-racing-is-more/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [You appreciate that it is very easy to die and you have to arrange your life to cope with that reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/you-appreciate-that-it-is-very-easy-to-die-and-you-have-to-arrange/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [When I was in motor racing, I had taken the decision to risk my life. But when you run an airline, and more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/when-i-was-in-motor-racing-i-had-taken-the-decision-to-risk-my-life/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [The idea that people would work on themselves, who hadn't had an accident - I can't stand plastic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/the-idea-that-people-would-work-on-themselves-who-hadn-t-had-an/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Taking your first title is much more complicated and more difficult; it takes years of work - from go-kart to Formula One. The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/taking-your-first-title-is-much-more-complicated-and-more-difficult/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Running an airline is the most difficult job in the world. Racing was more dangerous for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/running-an-airline-is-the-most-difficult-job-in-the-world-racing-was/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I always want to know whether the customers are satisfied; customer satisfaction is, after all, my ultimate goal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-always-want-to-know-whether-the-customers-are-satisfied-customer/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I see myself as the mind of the business which takes care of every last detail; if you do not do this you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-see-myself-as-the-mind-of-the-business-which-takes-care-of-every/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Business is much less transparent than a win in a Grand Prix; in a race you drive over the finishing line first and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/business-is-much-less-transparent-than-a-win-in-a-grand-prix-in-a/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [You must always aim for further growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/you-must-always-aim-for-further-growth/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I always go extreme ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/i-always-go-extreme-ways/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [Happiness is an enemy. It weakens you. Suddenly, you have something to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/happiness-is-an-enemy-it-weakens-you-suddenly-you-have-something-to/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) [Explore all 73 Niki Lauda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) ## 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": "You have a brake in your brain that stops you doing stupid things. The older you are, the earlier that brake comes on. 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