--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I say that consciousness is an…" description: "\"“When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean that consciousness does not exist. I mean that consciousness is not what it appears to be. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/susan-blackmore-24318_consciousness_when-i-say-that-consciousness-is-an-illu_3025032.jpg" --- # When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean… ![“When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean that consciousness does not exist. I mean that consciousness is not what it appears to be. If it seems to be a continuous stream of rich and detailed experiences, happening one after the other to a conscious person, this is the illusion.” quote by Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/susan-blackmore-24318_consciousness_when-i-say-that-consciousness-is-an-illu_3025032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/susan-blackmore-24318_consciousness_when-i-say-that-consciousness-is-an-illu_3025032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/susan-blackmore-24318_consciousness_when-i-say-that-consciousness-is-an-illu_3025032.jpg) > ““When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean that consciousness does not exist. I mean that consciousness is not what it appears to be. If it seems to be a continuous stream of rich and detailed experiences, happening one after the other to a conscious person, this is the illusion.”” [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consciousness feels continuous but is actually a series of discrete moments, creating an illusion of flow. **In simple terms:** Mind feels like a stream but is made of separate snapshots. Key Takeaway Recognize mental moments as distinct. Themes mind perception illusion Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - meditation - mindfulness practice - psychotherapy - creative work Key Concepts neuroscience philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing consciousness as discrete change your view? - What practices reveal these moments? A Different Perspective The illusion can hinder understanding of mental processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Appears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-appears-711673/) [Consciousness Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-does-1438676/) [Consciousness Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-illusion-2111453/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Say Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-consciousness-2935709/) ## Related quotes > [The world is real. Consciousness is the illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bruce/the-world-is-real-consciousness-is-the-illusion/) [Craig Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bruce/) > [Free will and consciousness is an illusion, and the self is a complex of memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/free-will-and-consciousness-is-an-illusion-and-the-self-is-a-complex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Consciousness is an illusion constructed by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/consciousness-is-an-illusion-constructed-by-the-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Consciousness is never experienced in the plural, only in the singular. Not only has none of us ever experienced more than one consciousness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-schrodinger/consciousness-is-never-experienced-in-the-plural-only-in-the-singular/) [Erwin Schrodinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-schrodinger/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. Only consciousness can know itself—and directly, through first-person experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/but-the-reality-of-consciousness-appears-irreducible-only/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Consciousness does matter. Matter is secondary. Consciousness is primary. Brain does not do consciousness, consciousness does the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-goswami/consciousness-does-matter-matter-is-secondary-consciousness-is/) [Amit Goswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-goswami/) > [“The intention to do one thing and not another does not originate in consciousness—rather, it appears in consciousness, as does any thought or impulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-intention-to-do-one-thing-and-not-another-does-not-originate-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you continuously know and sense yourself as the space of consciousness rather than what appears in consciousness - sense perceptions, thoughts, emotions -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-continuously-know-and-sense-yourself-as-the-space-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“I remember the words of the great physicist Albert Einstein: A human being is part of the whole we call the universe, a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-l-weiss/i-remember-the-words-of-the-great-physicist-albert-einstein-a-human/) [Brian L. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-l-weiss/) > [“Life as we know, and partially understand it, is a classical example of what can occur when a sufficient level of complexity is attained.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/life-as-we-know-and-partially-understand-it-is-a-classical-example-of/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [That which we do not bring to consciousness appears in our lives as fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-we-do-not-bring-to-consciousness-appears-in-our-lives-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you are to suppose that natural reasons are the cause of everything, then it can only lead to the conclusion that consciousness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-n-roe/if-you-are-to-suppose-that-natural-reasons-are-the-cause-of/) [Lewis N. Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-n-roe/) > [This is what consciousness does: it sets the goals, and the rest of the system learns how to meet them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/this-is-what-consciousness-does-it-sets-the-goals-and-the-rest-of-the/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [“Self-consciousness, however, does hinder the experience of the present. It is the one instrument that unplugs all the rest. So long as I lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/self-consciousness-however-does-hinder-the-experience-of-the-present/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Consciousness... does not appear to itself chopped up in bits. Such words as 'chain' or 'train' do not describe it fitly as it presents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/consciousness-does-not-appear-to-itself-chopped-up-in-bits-such-words/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More by Susan Blackmore > [For the planet's sake, I hope we have bird flu or some other thing that will reduce the population, because otherwise we're doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/for-the-planet-s-sake-i-hope-we-have-bird-flu-or-some-other-thing/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Just as the design of our bodies can be understood only in terms of natural selection, so the design of our minds can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/just-as-the-design-of-our-bodies-can-be-understood-only-in-terms-of/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they think about memes is they try to extend on the analogy with genes. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-that-people-make-when-they-think-about/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [You start by copying other people's paintings or music or whatever. You get all of those skills before you branch out. Really creative people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/you-start-by-copying-other-people-s-paintings-or-music-or-whatever/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Take male strategies for success in the world. If you've got all the advantages, if you're attractive and clever and all of that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/take-male-strategies-for-success-in-the-world-if-you-ve-got-all-the/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [The sale of sex in modern societies is not about spreading genes. Sex has been taken over by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/the-sale-of-sex-in-modern-societies-is-not-about-spreading-genes-sex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [In proportion to our body mass, our brain is three times as large as that of our nearest relatives. This huge organ is dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/in-proportion-to-our-body-mass-our-brain-is-three-times-as-large-as/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Free will and consciousness is an illusion, and the self is a complex of memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/free-will-and-consciousness-is-an-illusion-and-the-self-is-a-complex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [If everyone understood evolution, then the tyranny of religious memes would be weakened, and we little humans might find a better way to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/if-everyone-understood-evolution-then-the-tyranny-of-religious-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Finally, we might decide that civilisation itself is worth preserving. In that case we have to work out what to save and which people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/finally-we-might-decide-that-civilisation-itself-is-worth-preserving/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Imagine a world full of brains, and far more memes than can possibly find homes. Which memes are more likely to find a safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/imagine-a-world-full-of-brains-and-far-more-memes-than-can-possibly/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [All other species on this planet are gene machines only. They don't imitate at all well; we alone are gene machines and meme machines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/all-other-species-on-this-planet-are-gene-machines-only-they-don-t/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [“What happens when an animal or person dies? Something seems to have departed--something like a vital spark that makes the difference between life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/what-happens-when-an-animal-or-person-dies-something-seems-to-have/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [I have not come up with anything original. It needs a better brain than mine! I have done what I can do in taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/i-have-not-come-up-with-anything-original-it-needs-a-better-brain/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Consciousness is an illusion constructed by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/consciousness-is-an-illusion-constructed-by-the-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) [Explore all 24 Susan Blackmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) ## More Consciousness quotes > [“You're never alone if you're with your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-armond-powell/you-re-never-alone-if-you-re-with-your-soul/) [Gerard Armond Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-armond-powell/) > [“I now argue that entry into Upper Palaeolithic caves was probably seen as virtually indistinguishable from entry into the mental vortex that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-david-lewis-williams/i-now-argue-that-entry-into-upper-palaeolithic-caves-was-probably/) [James David Lewis-Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-david-lewis-williams/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [“People and situations always show us what we need to see and learn about ourselves, and when we take responsibility for our own feelings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-mada-dalian/people-and-situations-always-show-us-what-we-need-to-see-and-learn/) [Eliza Mada Dalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-mada-dalian/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. 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Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [So many people are passive participants in their very short time of having a consciousness, and those who aren't inspire me. 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Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 6,062 Consciousness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean that consciousness does not exist. I mean that consciousness is not what it appears to be. 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