--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mind, of course, is just what the…" description: "\"The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a living.\" — Sharon Begley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png" --- # The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a… ![“The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a living.” quote by Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png) > “The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a living.” [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind is described as the brain's activity, emphasizing a materialist view of cognition. **In simple terms:** Mind equals brain activity. Key Takeaway Understand cognition as brain function. Themes cognition neuroscience materialism Mood inquisitive scientific Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - mental health - AI research Key Concepts brain function consciousness psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does brain activity produce consciousness? - What limits does materialism place on mind? A Different Perspective May neglect subjective experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“Just because it's your brain does not mean it's on your side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/just-because-it-s-your-brain-does-not-mean-it-s-on-your-side/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [“Danger for the mind, of course, but not for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/danger-for-the-mind-of-course-but-not-for-you/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [What the brain does by itself is infinitely more fascinating and complex than any response it can make to chemical stimulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/what-the-brain-does-by-itself-is-infinitely-more-fascinating-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [We have to study with our warm heart, not just with our brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/we-have-to-study-with-our-warm-heart-not-just-with-our-brain/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Just because you have a brain doesn't mean you are conscious; just because you are alive doesn't mean you have a brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-lawsin/just-because-you-have-a-brain-doesn-t-mean-you-are-conscious-just/) [Joey Lawsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-lawsin/) > [Once I learned how to talk, personally, by myself to any number of people, which means do radio without talking to anyone in particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/once-i-learned-how-to-talk-personally-by-myself-to-any-number-of/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [Just give the brain the information and it will figure it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/just-give-the-brain-the-information-and-it-will-figure-it-out/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [Its okay to follow your heart just take your brain with you!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-okay-to-follow-your-heart-just-take-your-brain-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simon LeVay, “The mind is just the brain doing its job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/simon-levay-the-mind-is-just-the-brain-doing-its-job/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [If I became just a brain in a jar - as long as I can communicate back and forth with people, that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/if-i-became-just-a-brain-in-a-jar-as-long-as-i-can-communicate-back/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [“That’s just how my brain works: words of wisdom are produced at random intervals, and always in times of great despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-den-dekker/that-s-just-how-my-brain-works-words-of-wisdom-are-produced-at-random/) Annabel den Dekker > [“When a particular function of the mind does not work well, it shows how effective the brain is when it does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-levinson/when-a-particular-function-of-the-mind-does-not-work-well-it-shows/) Joel Levinson > [I recently read that it's the left brain that does all that calculating, and the right brain that does the poetry. Somehow I've veered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-recently-read-that-it-s-the-left-brain-that-does-all-that/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The heart does not have a brain, but thank God the brain does not have a heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuragh/the-heart-does-not-have-a-brain-but-thank-god-the-brain-does-not-have/) AnuragH > [God knows what I thought! Your brain does amazing acrobatics when it doesn't want to believe something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/god-knows-what-i-thought-your-brain-does-amazing-acrobatics-when-it/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) ## More by Sharon Begley > [We look harder for flaws in a study when we don't agree with its conclusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/we-look-harder-for-flaws-in-a-study-when-we-don-t-agree-with-its/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [Arguing, after all, is less about seeking truth than about overcoming opposing views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/arguing-after-all-is-less-about-seeking-truth-than-about-overcoming/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [The mind's cross indexing puts the best librarian to shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-s-cross-indexing-puts-the-best-librarian-to-shame/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [The mind can store an estimated ioo trillion bits of information compared with which a computer's mere billions are virtually amnesiac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-can-store-an-estimated-ioo-trillion-bits-of-information/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [Weather Panic! This is the New Normal (and We're Hopelessly Unprepared)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/weather-panic-this-is-the-new-normal-and-we-re-hopelessly-unprepared/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [With modern parts atop old ones, the brain is like an iPod built around an eight-track cassette player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/with-modern-parts-atop-old-ones-the-brain-is-like-an-ipod-built/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [The conscious act of thinking about one's thoughts in a different way changes the very brain circuits that do that thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-conscious-act-of-thinking-about-one-s-thoughts-in-a-different-way/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [Like sand on the beach, the brain bears the footprints of the decisions we have made, the skills we have learned, the actions we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/like-sand-on-the-beach-the-brain-bears-the-footprints-of-the/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) > [A single decision by the chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell has a greater impact on the health of the planet than all the coffee-ground-composting, organic-cotton-wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/a-single-decision-by-the-chairman-of-royal-dutch-shell-has-a-greater/) [Sharon Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) [Explore all 10 Sharon Begley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/) ## 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": "The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Begley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brain-does-for-a-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brain-does-for-a-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/sharon-begley-41064_brain_the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brai_2477720.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mind, of course, is just what the brain does for a living.” — Sharon Begley", "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": "Sharon Begley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-begley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mind, of course, is just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brain-does-for-a-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-begley/the-mind-of-course-is-just-what-the-brain-does-for-a-living/#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 } } ] } ```