--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mind in its foolishness thinks that…" description: "\"The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of nerves, and put the Ego only in one body, if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg" --- # The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in… ![“The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of nerves, and put the Ego only in one body, if the mind is omnipresent? There is no reason why I should.[Source] The root of that degeneration is egotism - to think that one is just as great as…” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg) > “The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of nerves, and put the Ego only in one body, if the mind is omnipresent? There is no reason why I should.\[Source\] The root of that degeneration is egotism - to think that one is just as great as any other, indeed!” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## 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 not confined to one body; ego limits us, and egotism leads to degeneration. **In simple terms:** Mind transcends the body; ego is a barrier. Key Takeaway Recognize the mind’s boundless nature beyond physical limits. Themes spirituality ego mind-body consciousness Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - self‑inquiry - creative expression Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you experience mind’s expansiveness while living in a body? - What practices help soften ego without losing self? A Different Perspective Ego can be useful for identity formation, making its complete dissolution challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-mind-273649/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Degeneration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degeneration/) [Degeneration Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degeneration-egotism-3163221/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Ego Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-body-2454375/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [Egotism Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism-think-3163219/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Nerves Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves-ego-3163220/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-i/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“We are not our bodies, we are not our minds, we are not our thoughts, we are not our ego. We have a body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-deluca/we-are-not-our-bodies-we-are-not-our-minds-we-are-not-our-thoughts-we/) [Dave DeLuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-deluca/) > [This faith in themselves was in the hearts of our ancestors, this faith in themselves was the motive power that pushed them forward and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-faith-in-themselves-was-in-the-hearts-of-our-ancestors-this/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Man is a degeneration of what he was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/man-is-a-degeneration-of-what-he-was/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“To the man who has begun to hate himself the gate to degeneration has already opened; and the same is true of a nation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-the-man-who-has-begun-to-hate-himself-the-gate-to-degeneration-has/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“And if one loves me for my judgement, memory, he does not love me , for I can lose these qualities without losing myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/and-if-one-loves-me-for-my-judgement-memory-he-does-not-love-me-for-i/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The stomach is the seat of all feeling. The heart is the seat of the conscience. The mind is the seat of the ego.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-stomach-is-the-seat-of-all-feeling-the-heart-is-the-seat-of-the/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Without a body and without time, I wasn't disturbed by my ego or by the function or dysfunction of my brain and memory. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-van-lommel/without-a-body-and-without-time-i-wasn-t-disturbed-by-my-ego-or-by/) [Pim van Lommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-van-lommel/) > [“Never again, would I allow him to massage his ego along my body. She wasn't a lubricant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-simon-gunn/never-again-would-i-allow-him-to-massage-his-ego-along-my-body-she/) [Jacqueline Simon Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-simon-gunn/) > [The ego exists as a powerful force in Western man that cannot be dismissed or denied. The therapeutic goal is to integrate the ego…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/the-ego-exists-as-a-powerful-force-in-western-man-that-cannot-be/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [Think day and night, I am of the essence of that Supreme Existence, Knowledge, Bliss-what fear and anxiety have I? This body, mind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/think-day-and-night-i-am-of-the-essence-of-that-supreme-existence/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If there is no strength in body and mind, the Atman cannot be realized. First you have to build the body by good nutritious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-there-is-no-strength-in-body-and-mind-the-atman-cannot-be-realized/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The body and mind are dependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-body-and-mind-are-dependent/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [According to us, there are three things in the makeup of man. There is the body, there is the mind, and there is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/according-to-us-there-are-three-things-in-the-makeup-of-man-there-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The body and mind are continually changing, and are, in fact, only names of series of changeful phenomena, like rivers whose waters are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-body-and-mind-are-continually-changing-and-are-in-fact-only-names/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Hysteria and degeneration have always existed; but they formerly showed themselves sporadically, and had no importance in the life of the whole community. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-nordau/hysteria-and-degeneration-have-always-existed-but-they-formerly/) [Max Nordau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-nordau/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of nerves, and put the Ego only in one body, if the mind is omnipresent? There is no reason why I should.[Source] The root of that degeneration is egotism - to think that one is just as great as any other, indeed!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swami Vivekananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that-it-is-working-in-this-body/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that-it-is-working-in-this-body/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of…” — Swami Vivekananda", "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": "Swami Vivekananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mind in its foolishness thinks...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that-it-is-working-in-this-body/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that-it-is-working-in-this-body/#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 } } ] } ```