--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We assume that we have free will and that…" description: "\"We assume that we have free will and that we make decisions, but we don't. Neurons do. We decide that this sum total driving us is a decision we have m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/rodolfo-llinas-42129_assuming_we-assume-that-we-have-free-will-and-tha_1267714.jpg" --- # We assume that we have free will and that we make… ![“We assume that we have free will and that we make decisions, but we don't. Neurons do. We decide that this sum total driving us is a decision we have made for ourselves. But it is not.” quote by Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/rodolfo-llinas-42129_assuming_we-assume-that-we-have-free-will-and-tha_1267714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/rodolfo-llinas-42129_assuming_we-assume-that-we-have-free-will-and-tha_1267714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0c/rodolfo-llinas-42129_assuming_we-assume-that-we-have-free-will-and-tha_1267714.jpg) > “We assume that we have free will and that we make decisions, but we don't. Neurons do. We decide that this sum total driving us is a decision we have made for ourselves. But it is not.” [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free will is an illusion; decisions are driven by neural processes beyond conscious control. **In simple terms:** Neurons, not consciousness, dictate choices. Key Takeaway Recognize the brain’s role in decision‑making. Themes determinism neuroscience free will Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - psychology - philosophy - neuroscience Key Concepts brain activity subjective experience Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel responsible for your actions? - How does this view affect moral accountability? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex human agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-don-830972/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions/) [Neurons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurons/) [Neurons Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurons-decide-4052716/) ## Related quotes > [In my book (he has), but guess what? My book don't mean much, ... I don't know. 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It’s harder, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-vivian/you-see-the-best-thing-about-wrong-decisions-is-that-they-don-t/) [Siobhan Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-vivian/) > [“But in life you have to take lots of decisions and if you don't take decisions you would never do anything because you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/but-in-life-you-have-to-take-lots-of-decisions-and-if-you-don-t-take/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [“tell me. I cannot make the right decisions if I don’t know all the facts,” Jack said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-me-i-cannot-make-the-right-decisions-if-i-don-t-know-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Decisions are made by those who show up. Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/decisions-are-made-by-those-who-show-up-don-t-ever-forget-that-you-re/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [I've got to that stage in my life where, difficult decisions I don't have to make, I push them into the future until such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/i-ve-got-to-that-stage-in-my-life-where-difficult-decisions-i-don-t/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [Most decisions don't require extensive research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/most-decisions-don-t-require-extensive-research/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Be smart ,to not make the wrong decisions and don't be stupid, not to not make the right decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolann-centeno/be-smart-to-not-make-the-wrong-decisions-and-don-t-be-stupid-not-to/) [Carolann Centeno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolann-centeno/) > [“A blanket could be used as an example for how you should make important decisions. Don’t give me a yes or a no now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-as-an-example-for-how-you-should-make/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Good decisions don't make life easy, but they do make it easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/good-decisions-don-t-make-life-easy-but-they-do-make-it-easier/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [One of my Secrets of Adulthood is: Most decisions don't require extensive research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-my-secrets-of-adulthood-is-most-decisions-don-t-require/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Everybody acts as if they have free will. They act as if they can make these decisions; do they know they don't? I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/everybody-acts-as-if-they-have-free-will-they-act-as-if-they-can-make/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I believe in free will. I think we make our own decisions and carry out or own actions. And our actions have consequences. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/i-believe-in-free-will-i-think-we-make-our-own-decisions-and-carry/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [No. I believe in free will. I think we make our own decisions and carry out our own actions. And our actions have consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/no-i-believe-in-free-will-i-think-we-make-our-own-decisions-and-carry/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) ## More by Rodolfo Llinas > [The Neurosciences do not exist exclusively to understand man's nature. They also serve a social function, such as in the treatment of the cerebral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/the-neurosciences-do-not-exist-exclusively-to-understand-man-s-nature/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [The future of human relationships will be directly related to the cerebral functions. For this reason it is already a fundamental thing. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/the-future-of-human-relationships-will-be-directly-related-to-the/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [Some people prefer to see the game in the television than to go to the stadium. With virtual reality this will go to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/some-people-prefer-to-see-the-game-in-the-television-than-to-go-to/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [Language changes only those aspects of our consciousness which are based on information, but not the feelings themselves. The words are as stones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/language-changes-only-those-aspects-of-our-consciousness-which-are/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [Basically there are two types of animals: animals, and animals that have no brains; they are called plants. 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The role of the memory is very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/we-no-longer-see-the-evolution-of-the-nervous-system-but-that-of-a/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [ We \[human beings\] are two-legged omnivorous animals, and this means that we have many ecological niches, regarding the possible places where we can live.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/we-human-beings-are-two-legged-omnivorous-animals-and-this-means-that/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) > [Structurally we should understand that one cannot think that the human brain is different from the brain of the other vertebrates. It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-llinas/structurally-we-should-understand-that-one-cannot-think-that-the/) [Rodolfo Llinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) [Explore all 10 Rodolfo Llinas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-llinas/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We assume that we have free will and that we make decisions, but we don't. Neurons do. We decide that this sum total driving us is a decision we have made for ourselves. 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