--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't afford the luxury of a negative…" description: "\"You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought\" — Peter McWilliams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png" --- # You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought ![“You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought” quote by Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png) > “You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought” [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Negative thoughts are a luxury you cannot afford; they drain resources. **In simple terms:** Avoid negative thoughts; they cost you. Key Takeaway Cultivate positive thinking. Themes mindset mental health productivity resilience Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - stress management - goal setting - daily journaling Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑talk emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What thought patterns hold you back? - How can you balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective Positive thinking alone may ignore real problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Negative thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-thoughts/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [Every time you think a negative thought, it's one step in the wrong direction, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/every-time-you-think-a-negative-thought-it-s-one-step-in-the-wrong/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [“By means of personal experimentation and observation, we can discover certain simple and universal truths. The mind moves the body, and the body follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-means-of-personal-experimentation-and-observation-we-can-discover/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The replacement of negative thought with positive thought brings about a spiritual and physical change that can heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-shine/the-replacement-of-negative-thought-with-positive-thought-brings/) Betty Shine > [“When would you feel more pride, when you purchase a product at a reduced price or at the listed price? We can afford luxury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-hoffmann/when-would-you-feel-more-pride-when-you-purchase-a-product-at-a/) Jonas Hoffmann > [Worry and reasoning are two of Satan's most successful tools. He'll get us started with one negative thought and then sit back and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/worry-and-reasoning-are-two-of-satan-s-most-successful-tools-he-ll/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-can-lift-ourselves-and-others-as-well-when-we-refuse-to-remain-in/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The way to get rid of darkness is with light; the way to overcome cold is with heat; the way to overcome the negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/the-way-to-get-rid-of-darkness-is-with-light-the-way-to-overcome-cold-2/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [If you want to dismiss a negative thought, the only way to do so is to think of something positive and constructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/if-you-want-to-dismiss-a-negative-thought-the-only-way-to-do-so-is-to/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [If you have a negative thought about a world situation, dwell upon the best that could happen in that situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-have-a-negative-thought-about-a-world-situation-dwell-upon-the/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I say 'Out' to every negative thought that comes to my mind. No person, place, or thing has any power over me, for I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/i-say-out-to-every-negative-thought-that-comes-to-my-mind-no-person/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal power comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/whenever-a-negative-thought-concerning-your-personal-power-comes-to-2/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. They can be a powerful influence for good when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realized-how-powerful-your-thoughts-are-you-would-never-think-3/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a defeatist or negative thought. Since we create through thought, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realized-how-powerful-your-thoughts-are-you-would-never-think/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“Whenever you have a negative thought or a complaint or feeling, all you have to do is just notice it. Don’t say, “I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-perelmuter/whenever-you-have-a-negative-thought-or-a-complaint-or-feeling-all/) [Todd Perelmuter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-perelmuter/) > [Learn to manage your mind. Do not let a situation lure you into thinking negatively. Sometimes you will fail but you'll learn for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/learn-to-manage-your-mind-do-not-let-a-situation-lure-you-into/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Peter McWilliams > [Heroes became heroes flaws and all gives us hope. "You mean I don't have to be perfect to fulfill my Dream, to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/heroes-became-heroes-flaws-and-all-gives-us-hope-you-mean-i-don-t/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Choosing what you want to do, and when to do it, is an act of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/choosing-what-you-want-to-do-and-when-to-do-it-is-an-act-of-creation/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [there is nothing to be done. only accept it... and hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/there-is-nothing-to-be-done-only-accept-it-and-hurt/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Nothing adventured, nothing attained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/nothing-adventured-nothing-attained/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [If you want peace with others, don't fight them. Go your own way. Live your own life. If some walk with you, fine. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/if-you-want-peace-with-others-don-t-fight-them-go-your-own-way-live/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Pettiness seems to go hand in hand with vindictiveness. The smaller the person, the larger the need for revenge. This may account for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/pettiness-seems-to-go-hand-in-hand-with-vindictiveness-the-smaller/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Prison is a crash course in the darker side of life. Few survive it without becoming a different person: more cynical, jaded, fearful, angry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/prison-is-a-crash-course-in-the-darker-side-of-life-few-survive-it/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [One of the great joys of life is creativity. Information goes in, gets shuffled about, and comes out in new and interesting ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/one-of-the-great-joys-of-life-is-creativity-information-goes-in-gets/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Nausea is an unsolved problem of medicine and marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/nausea-is-an-unsolved-problem-of-medicine-and-marijuana-is-the-finest/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Worrying is the interest paid on a debt you may not owe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/worrying-is-the-interest-paid-on-a-debt-you-may-not-owe/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Be easier on yourself, on everyone, on everything. Suspend your judgments on the way things should be, must be, and ought to be. 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Fear must be faced and gone through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/running-from-fear-only-strengthens-fear-you-are-demonstrating-that/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Positive thoughts: joy, happiness, fulfillment, achievement, worthiness, have positive results: enthusiasm, calm, well-being, ease, energy, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/positive-thoughts-joy-happiness-fulfillment-achievement-worthiness/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Some people think that meditation takes time away from physical accomplishment. Taken to extremes, of course, that's true. Most people, however, find that meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/some-people-think-that-meditation-takes-time-away-from-physical/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) [Explore all 177 Peter McWilliams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) ## More Luxury quotes > [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [“I've always been after the trappings of great luxury. But all I've got hold of are the trappings of great poverty. I've got hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-ve-always-been-after-the-trappings-of-great-luxury-but-all-i-ve-got/) [Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/) > [For me, the melancholy of the late XXth Century is walking late at night by the Mont Blanc pen store and seeing these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/for-me-the-melancholy-of-the-late-xxth-century-is-walking-late-at/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) T.I > [From my experience, I don't have the luxury to trust anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirivi/from-my-experience-i-don-t-have-the-luxury-to-trust-anyone/) Sirivi > [Just as Wall Street needs to break the hold of the bonus culture, which drives risk-taking that is rational for individuals but damaging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-schekman/just-as-wall-street-needs-to-break-the-hold-of-the-bonus-culture/) [Randy Schekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-schekman/) > [It is, of course, a luxury to create art and, on top of this, to insist on expressing one's own artistic opinion. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beckmann/it-is-of-course-a-luxury-to-create-art-and-on-top-of-this-to-insist/) [Max Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beckmann/) > [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“There is an inverse relationship between the time spent purchasing luxury items such as cars and clothes and the time spent planning one’s financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/there-is-an-inverse-relationship-between-the-time-spent-purchasing/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [“Looking out the rain-fogged window at the gray November day, Mary felt almost grateful for the snug warmth of her well-heated chamber. Escape, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george/looking-out-the-rain-fogged-window-at-the-gray-november-day-mary-felt/) [Margaret George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [In a world where lifelong employment in the same job is a thing of the past, creativity is not a luxury. It is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/in-a-world-where-lifelong-employment-in-the-same-job-is-a-thing-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) [Browse all 1,926 Luxury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter McWilliams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negative-thought/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Luxury" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negative-thought/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/peter-mcwilliams-2236_luxury_you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negativ_2143365.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't afford the luxury of a negative thought” — Peter McWilliams", "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": "Peter McWilliams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't afford the luxury of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negative-thought/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/you-can-t-afford-the-luxury-of-a-negative-thought/#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 } } ] } ```