---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The operations of the human mind are also…"
description: "\"The operations of the human mind are also controlled by words of power, formulas that become a focus of mental activity.\" — Northrop Frye"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png"
---

#  The operations of the human mind are also controlled by…

![“The operations of the human mind are also controlled by words of power, formulas that become a focus of mental activity.” quote by Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png)

> “The operations of the human mind are also controlled by words of power, formulas that become a focus of mental activity.”

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Words act as mental catalysts, shaping thoughts and directing focus.

**In simple terms:** Words shape thoughts and focus.

Key Takeaway

Choose empowering language.

Themes

language mind power focus

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical insightful

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- writing
- therapy
- education

Key Concepts

cognitive linguistics mental framing

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you notice language influencing your thoughts?
- What words empower you?

A Different Perspective

Words alone cannot change deep-seated beliefs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Controlled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled/) [Controlled Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled-words-461868/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mental Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-activity-1275758/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Controlled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-controlled-968046/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Words Of Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-power/) [Words Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-power/)

## Related quotes

> [No man, no power, can bind the action of wizardry or still the words of power. For they are the very words of Making,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/no-man-no-power-can-bind-the-action-of-wizardry-or-still-the-words-of/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [Every life is controlled by words..good or bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markson-bero/every-life-is-controlled-by-words-good-or-bad/)

[Markson Bero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markson-bero/)

> [“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch/o-god-you-are-my-god-earnestly-i-seek-you-my-soul-thirsts-for-you-my/)

[Edward T. Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch/)

> [“The only effect of the words of powerless people on the Internet was to inflict misery on other powerless people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarett-kobek/the-only-effect-of-the-words-of-powerless-people-on-the-internet-was/)

[Jarett Kobek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarett-kobek/)

> [“So-called Islamic 'fundamentalism' does not spring, in Pakistan, from the people. It is imposed on them from above. Autocratic regimes find it useful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/so-called-islamic-fundamentalism-does-not-spring-in-pakistan-from-the/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“William Shakespeare: 'Close up this din of hateful decay, decomposition of your witches' plot! You thieve my brains, consider me your toy, my doting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-roberts/william-shakespeare-close-up-this-din-of-hateful-decay-decomposition/)

[Gareth Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-roberts/)

> [“This is how religions shore up dictators; by encircling them with words of power, words which the people are reluctant to see discredited, disenfranchised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/this-is-how-religions-shore-up-dictators-by-encircling-them-with/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [And for adults, the world of fantasy books returns to us the great words of power which, in order to be tamed, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/and-for-adults-the-world-of-fantasy-books-returns-to-us-the-great/)

[Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/)

> [“Atavistic resurgence, a primal urge towards union with the Divine by returning to the common source of all, is indicated by the backward symbolism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grant/atavistic-resurgence-a-primal-urge-towards-union-with-the-divine-by/)

[Kenneth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grant/)

> [Yantras are specific designs that have a great deal of power in them, as do mantras, which are words of power. Yantras are designs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/yantras-are-specific-designs-that-have-a-great-deal-of-power-in-them/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“The rule is that when one’s mind can be controlled in a specific subject; he can make the other person take control of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-rule-is-that-when-one-s-mind-can-be-controlled-in-a-specific/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“when the mind is controlled and spirit aligned with purpose, the body is capable of so much more than we realize.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-roll/when-the-mind-is-controlled-and-spirit-aligned-with-purpose-the-body/)

[Rich Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-roll/)

> [“The mind, even although not controlled and directed by the Will, has a wonderful range, but, nevertheless, Man finds himself traveling around and around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-ramacharaka/the-mind-even-although-not-controlled-and-directed-by-the-will-has-a/)

[Yogi Ramacharaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-ramacharaka/)

> [“The mind controlled by lust has an infinite capacity for rationalization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-mind-controlled-by-lust-has-an-infinite-capacity-for/)

[R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/)

> [Westley closed his eyes. There was pain coming and he had to be ready for it. He had to prepare his brain, he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/westley-closed-his-eyes-there-was-pain-coming-and-he-had-to-be-ready/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

## More by Northrop Frye

> [I soon realized that a student of English literature who does not know the Bible does not understand a good deal of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/i-soon-realized-that-a-student-of-english-literature-who-does-not/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [“The only thing that words can do with any real precision or accuracy is hang together. Accuracy of description in language is not possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-only-thing-that-words-can-do-with-any-real-precision-or-accuracy/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [The bedrock of doubt is the total nothingness of death. Death is a leveler, not because everybody dies, but because nobody understands what death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-bedrock-of-doubt-is-the-total-nothingness-of-death-death-is-a/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Even the human heart is slightly left of centre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/even-the-human-heart-is-slightly-left-of-centre/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Physics is an organized body of knowledge about nature, and a student of it says that he is learning physics, not nature. Art, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/physics-is-an-organized-body-of-knowledge-about-nature-and-a-student/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Literature as a whole is not an aggregate of exhibits with red and blue ribbons attached to them, like a cat-show, but the range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/literature-as-a-whole-is-not-an-aggregate-of-exhibits-with-red-and/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [One doesn't bother to believe the credible: the credible is believed already, by definition. There's no adventure of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/one-doesn-t-bother-to-believe-the-credible-the-credible-is-believed/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Culture's essential service to a religion is to destroy intellectual idolatry, the recurrent tendency in religion to replace the object of its worship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/culture-s-essential-service-to-a-religion-is-to-destroy-intellectual/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [“Tendintele autoritate ale conservatorismului trebuie corectate prin mituri ale libertatii, in vreme ce un simt conservator al ordinii trebuie sa tempereze tendintele liberalismului spre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/tendintele-autoritate-ale-conservatorismului-trebuie-corectate-prin/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Literature is a human apocalypse, man's revelation to man, and criticism is not a body of adjudications, but the awareness of that revelation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/literature-is-a-human-apocalypse-man-s-revelation-to-man-and/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [“The particular myth that's been organizing this talk, and in a way the whole series, is the story of the Tower of Babel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-particular-myth-that-s-been-organizing-this-talk-and-in-a-way-the/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Every human society possesses a mythology which is inherited, transmitted and diversified by literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/every-human-society-possesses-a-mythology-which-is-inherited/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [Science begins with the world we have to live in, accepting its data and trying to explain its laws. From there, it moves toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/science-begins-with-the-world-we-have-to-live-in-accepting-its-data/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [In the world of the imagination, anything goes that's imaginatively possible, but nothing really happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/in-the-world-of-the-imagination-anything-goes-that-s-imaginatively/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

[Explore all 129 Northrop Frye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

## More Activity quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/)

[Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/)

> [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/)

[Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/)

> [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/)

[Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/)

> [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/)

[Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/)

> [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/)

[Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/)

> [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/)

[Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/)

> [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/)

[Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/)

> [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/)

[Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/)

> [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The operations of the human mind are also controlled by words of power, formulas that become a focus of mental activity.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Northrop Frye"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-also-controlled-by-words-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Activity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-also-controlled-by-words-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/northrop-frye-3483_activity_the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-als_1211581.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The operations of the human mind are also controlled by words of power, formulas that become a focus of…” — Northrop Frye",
                "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": "Northrop Frye",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The operations of the human mind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-also-controlled-by-words-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/the-operations-of-the-human-mind-are-also-controlled-by-words-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
