--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing…" description: "\"Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.\" — Sloane Crosley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png" --- # Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our… ![“Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.” quote by Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png) > “Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.” [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our minds shape reality, so personal perceptions act like bonsai, pruning and guiding what we accept as true. **In simple terms:** Our thoughts shape our personal reality. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your mental models. Themes self‑awareness perception psychology growth Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts cognitive framing subjective reality mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What “reality” have you constructed? - How can you prune unhelpful beliefs? A Different Perspective Personal bias may limit growth if unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bonsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonsai/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Brains Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-like-2439414/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-private-3771579/) [Like Bonsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-bonsai-3771580/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) [Versions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/versions/) ## Related quotes > [The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naka/the-object-is-not-to-make-the-tree-look-like-a-bonsai-but-to-make-the/) [John Naka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naka/) > [Brains, like cabbages, are beautiful-but in a different way. Cabbage heads are dumb and sterile, whereas brains are personal, intelligent and vibrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-pfeiffer/brains-like-cabbages-are-beautiful-but-in-a-different-way-cabbage/) [Carl Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-pfeiffer/) > [Brains like that, you could be a Death Eater, son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brains-like-that-you-could-be-a-death-eater-son/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I routinely interview college students, mostly from top schools, and I notice that their brains are like old maps, with lots of blank spaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/i-routinely-interview-college-students-mostly-from-top-schools-and-i/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Beauty without brains is like a bulletless gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asly-de-sleek/beauty-without-brains-is-like-a-bulletless-gun/) [Asly De'sleek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asly-de-sleek/) > [Brains are like hearts - they go where they are appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/brains-are-like-hearts-they-go-where-they-are-appreciated/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [Brains are like representative democracies. They are built of multiple, overlapping experts who weigh in and compete over different choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/brains-are-like-representative-democracies-they-are-built-of-multiple/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [My strength is character. I'm pretty good at building walking-talking humans with brains like beehives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/my-strength-is-character-i-m-pretty-good-at-building-walking-talking/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [That gal's all skull and no brains. She's like Joe Frazier with lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/that-gal-s-all-skull-and-no-brains-she-s-like-joe-frazier-with/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [“A day without brains is like a day without sunshine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-day-without-brains-is-like-a-day-without-sunshine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every one of them is different. In fact, brains are like faces in that no two are ever alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-mckee/every-one-of-them-is-different-in-fact-brains-are-like-faces-in-that/) [Ann McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-mckee/) > [Our bodies like rhythm and our brains like melody and harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/our-bodies-like-rhythm-and-our-brains-like-melody-and-harmony/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [“Brains are like sponges...If allowed to become moist too long, they become moldy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-white/brains-are-like-sponges-if-allowed-to-become-moist-too-long-they/) [Angela White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-white/) > [I like my girls skinny with brains/I like my friends imaginary with no names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/i-like-my-girls-skinny-with-brains-i-like-my-friends-imaginary-with/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) > [Sentiment is for those who don't know what to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/sentiment-is-for-those-who-don-t-know-what-to-do-next/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) ## More by Sloane Crosley > [“Names I am most commonly called by telemarketers: Simone, Slain, Siobhan, Flo, Stacey, Susan, Slater, Leanne, and Slow (Yes, my parents named me "Slow".…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/names-i-am-most-commonly-called-by-telemarketers-simone-slain-siobhan/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [As most New Yorkers have done, I have given serious and generous thought to the state of my apartment should I get killed during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-new-yorkers-have-done-i-have-given-serious-and-generous/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“If I could just get my partner to see me how she used to - to fall in love with me all over again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/if-i-could-just-get-my-partner-to-see-me-how-she-used-to-to-fall-in/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I don't really think of my essays as being about myself. I know it sounds insane, but I just don't think of them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-don-t-really-think-of-my-essays-as-being-about-myself-i-know-it/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [It takes a level of creative depression to hear 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' and weep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/it-takes-a-level-of-creative-depression-to-hear-girls-just-wanna-have/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Book tours are such a little tapas meal of where I could live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/book-tours-are-such-a-little-tapas-meal-of-where-i-could-live/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I wouldn't want to live in Berlin. It's bombed out and there's a lot of techno.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-in-berlin-it-s-bombed-out-and-there-s-a-lot/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [The reason that war is such a fascinating subject for writers is because it's a revealer. Put a bunch of people in an adrenaline-fuelled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/the-reason-that-war-is-such-a-fascinating-subject-for-writers-is/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“Shortly after this exchange my roommate suggested we start throwing water balloons at the construction workers. Not really at them because, I know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/shortly-after-this-exchange-my-roommate-suggested-we-start-throwing/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [When it seems impossible that a deep connection with another person could just go away instead of changing form. It seems impossible that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/when-it-seems-impossible-that-a-deep-connection-with-another-person/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Because I am a horrible flincher, contact lenses are not an option. I'm always envious of contact-wearers. There are endless reasons to take off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/because-i-am-a-horrible-flincher-contact-lenses-are-not-an-option-i-m/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“How can we not still be rooting for the younger versions of ourselves as if they actually exist, playing catch-up in time? Who wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/how-can-we-not-still-be-rooting-for-the-younger-versions-of-ourselves/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [There is no such thing as a crazy dog person in New York. Are there people who are completely insane about their dogs? Hordes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-crazy-dog-person-in-new-york-are-there/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [As most doctors will tell you, cleansing is ridiculous. You know what's been around longer than that state-of-the-art juicer? Your kidneys. And your liver.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-doctors-will-tell-you-cleansing-is-ridiculous-you-know-what-s/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) [Explore all 210 Sloane Crosley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) ## More Bonsai quotes > [Sentiment is for those who don't know what to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/sentiment-is-for-those-who-don-t-know-what-to-do-next/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [Bonsai trees symbolize harmony, honor, patience and happiness. They are the perfect addition to a relaxing environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonsai-trees-symbolize-harmony-honor-patience-and-happiness-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“All that I love I fold over once And once again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-l-tiempo/all-that-i-love-i-fold-over-once-and-once-again/) [Edith L. Tiempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-l-tiempo/) > [Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing wrong in their seeds. Simply, society never gave them the base to grow on. All it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/poor-people-are-bonsai-people-there-is-nothing-wrong-in-their-seeds/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [The bonsai is not you working on the tree; you have to have the tree work on you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naka/the-bonsai-is-not-you-working-on-the-tree-you-have-to-have-the-tree/) [John Naka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naka/) > [Bonsai trees represent harmony in nature - contained. It is perfect for anybody who appreciates their understated beauty and unique form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonsai-trees-represent-harmony-in-nature-contained-it-is-perfect-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To scale all love down To a cupped hand’s size”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-l-tiempo/to-scale-all-love-down-to-a-cupped-hand-s-size/) [Edith L. Tiempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-l-tiempo/) > [Bonsai won the Chilean Critics Award for best novel of the year in 2006and it's easy to understand why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-messinger/bonsai-won-the-chilean-critics-award-for-best-novel-of-the-year-in/) [Jonathan Messinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-messinger/) > [According to Japanese tradition, the bonsai represents the three virtues or shin-zen-bi, which translates into truth, goodness and beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/according-to-japanese-tradition-the-bonsai-represents-the-three/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bonsai trees symbolize harmony, honor and patience. Bonsai trees are considered gestures of respect and convey good fortune upon the receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonsai-trees-symbolize-harmony-honor-and-patience-bonsai-trees-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Zen Buddhism is the foundation for much of the meaning in bonsai. In fact, many myths associate the first bonsai trees with monks, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/zen-buddhism-is-the-foundation-for-much-of-the-meaning-in-bonsai-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To me, the poor are like Bonsai trees. When you plant the best seed of the tallest tree in a six-inch deep flower pot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/to-me-the-poor-are-like-bonsai-trees-when-you-plant-the-best-seed-of/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [“There are no borders in bonsai. The dove of peace flies to palace as to humble house, to young as to old, to rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoshio-naka/there-are-no-borders-in-bonsai-the-dove-of-peace-flies-to-palace-as/) [John Yoshio Naka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoshio-naka/) > [The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naka/the-object-is-not-to-make-the-tree-look-like-a-bonsai-but-to-make-the/) [John Naka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naka/) > [“It’s utter sublimation, A feat, this heart’s control Moment to moment To scale all love down To a cupped hand’s size”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-l-tiempo/it-s-utter-sublimation-a-feat-this-heart-s-control-moment-to-moment/) [Edith L. Tiempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-l-tiempo/) [Browse all 24 Bonsai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonsai/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sloane Crosley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing-around-our-private-versions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bonsai" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing-around-our-private-versions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01a/sloane-crosley-1764_bonsai_our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing_1225946.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our brains are like bonsai trees, growing around our private versions of reality.” — Sloane Crosley", "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": "Sloane Crosley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our brains are like bonsai trees,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing-around-our-private-versions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/our-brains-are-like-bonsai-trees-growing-around-our-private-versions/#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 } } ] } ```