--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thoughts start gathering, butting up…" description: "\"“The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and preparing to rush in and take over.”\" — Tamar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg" --- # The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the… ![“The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and preparing to rush in and take over.” quote by Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg) > ““The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and preparing to rush in and take over.”” [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts crowd the mind like a barrier, preparing to dominate unless we manage them. **In simple terms:** Mental chatter can overwhelm without control. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to keep thoughts in check. Themes mindfulness mental health self‑control Mood calm focused Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - creative writing - decision making Key Concepts psychology stress management Questions to Reflect On - What techniques help you calm a racing mind? - When do you let thoughts guide action? A Different Perspective Anxiety may arise from over‑analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Strategizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-strategizing-3616440/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Preparing Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing-rush-3616442/) [Strategizing Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategizing-preparing-3616441/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-start-981601/) ## Related quotes > [“...thoughts aren't the problem. Problems only develop when thoughts no longer arise from or refer to actual experience. That's when thoughts start ossifying into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-nichtern/thoughts-aren-t-the-problem-problems-only-develop-when-thoughts-no/) [Ethan Nichtern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-nichtern/) > [When you start comparing yourself to another man's mirror, that's when those negative thoughts start creeping in. My journey isn't anybody else's journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arian-foster/when-you-start-comparing-yourself-to-another-man-s-mirror-that-s-when/) [Arian Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arian-foster/) > [All thoughts start from emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/all-thoughts-start-from-emotions/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Urgent necessity prompts many to do things, at the very thoughts of which they perhaps would start at other times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/urgent-necessity-prompts-many-to-do-things-at-the-very-thoughts-of/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“I feel these forbidden thoughts creep in sometimes without warning. Slow thoughts that always start quietly, like whispers you're not even sure you're hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-smith/i-feel-these-forbidden-thoughts-creep-in-sometimes-without-warning/) [Amber Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-smith/) > [I always write a thing first and think about it afterward, which is not a bad procedure because the easiest way to have consequential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/i-always-write-a-thing-first-and-think-about-it-afterward-which-is/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [Every story I write starts with a dilemma or a theme. Once I am convinced that this is the issue that is perturbing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-lenz/every-story-i-write-starts-with-a-dilemma-or-a-theme-once-i-am/) [Siegfried Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-lenz/) > [When you listen to what entities say, the gradually work their way into your thoughts. After a while you will start thinking their thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-listen-to-what-entities-say-the-gradually-work-their-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Start thinking happy thoughts and start being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/start-thinking-happy-thoughts-and-start-being-happy/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [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/) > [All that we are is the result of what we have thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-we-are-is-the-result-of-what-we-have-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Tamara Ireland Stone > [“I’m here now. Letting them out. Freeing my words Building better walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-m-here-now-letting-them-out-freeing-my-words-building-better-walls/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“You are still here stitched into the words on these walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/you-are-still-here-stitched-into-the-words-on-these-walls/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“How many thought does the brain automatically deliver in a single day?" "Seventy thousand" "That's right. Do you act on seventy thousand thoughts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/how-many-thought-does-the-brain-automatically-deliver-in-a-single-day/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And suddenly, she stops moving and looks straight at me. "I'm in love with everything about you". Her words make me suck in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-suddenly-she-stops-moving-and-looks-straight-at-me-i-m-in-love/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“Da igual si estaba escrito o no; no me corresponde a mí cambiarlo solo porque puedo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/da-igual-si-estaba-escrito-o-no-no-me-corresponde-a-m-cambiarlo-solo/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I don’t stay anywhere. I visit. I observe. I leave. I don’t ever stay.” I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-don-t-stay-anywhere-i-visit-i-observe-i-leave-i-don-t-ever-stay-i-m/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And I just keep going and going, picking up pins and stabbing them into the paper until the map is covered with places I’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-i-just-keep-going-and-going-picking-up-pins-and-stabbing-them/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“After you left I stared at the driveway Feeling its emptiness Wondering if you’d return. After you left I thought about your questions Wishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/after-you-left-i-stared-at-the-driveway-feeling-its-emptiness/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I'm completely in love with you. What if I didn't leave, after all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-m-completely-in-love-with-you-what-if-i-didn-t-leave-after-all/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“It's me, asking him to let me in. Asking all of them to give a chance to show them that, deep down, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/it-s-me-asking-him-to-let-me-in-asking-all-of-them-to-give-a-chance/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“Ms. Navarro,” Mr. Mohr said, and Allie stopped and turned to look at him. “Can I ask you one more thing?” “Sure.” “Why didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/ms-navarro-mr-mohr-said-and-allie-stopped-and-turned-to-look-at-him/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I stood there and stared at it—this colorful expanse of paper, with its topographic mountain ranges and changeable shades of blue to depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-stood-there-and-stared-at-it-this-colorful-expanse-of-paper-with/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“La vida es una aventura intrépida o no es nada.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/la-vida-es-una-aventura-intr-pida-o-no-es-nada/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-so-most-of-the-disorder-part/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And I know I need to invite him over for dinner, because there's no question. This is serious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-i-know-i-need-to-invite-him-over-for-dinner-because-there-s-no/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) [Explore all 16 Tamara Ireland Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) ## More Thoughts quotes > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“He who is mindless is defenceless” RjS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/he-who-is-mindless-is-defenceless-rjs/) [rassool jibraeel snyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rassool-jibraeel-snyman/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [I keep my thoughts to myself, and I think that's one of the best ways to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-jackson/i-keep-my-thoughts-to-myself-and-i-think-that-s-one-of-the-best-ways/) [Tito Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-jackson/) > [“Whenever we think, we construct a world that is centred upon the object of our thinking; whenever we act, we reconstruct a world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/whenever-we-think-we-construct-a-world-that-is-centred-upon-the/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [Fill your minds with thoughts that will make you smile each time you remember them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/fill-your-minds-with-thoughts-that-will-make-you-smile-each-time-you/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [All that we are is the result of what we have thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-we-are-is-the-result-of-what-we-have-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/you-are-the-one-who-calls-the-law-of-attraction-into-action-and-you/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I know a lot of people that have had fake Twitters... actors and musicians that I know. It's sort of a problem. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-know-a-lot-of-people-that-have-had-fake-twitters-actors-and/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [You bring out a lot of your own thoughts and attitudes when acting. I think a great deal of it has to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/you-bring-out-a-lot-of-your-own-thoughts-and-attitudes-when-acting-i/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/determine-to-do-some-thinking-for-yourself-don-t-live-entirely-upon/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) [Browse all 4,325 Thoughts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and preparing to rush in and take over.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tamara Ireland Stone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up-against-the-caution-tape/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Thoughts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up-against-the-caution-tape/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_philosophy-of-mind_the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up_1203145.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and…” — Tamara Ireland Stone", "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": "Tamara Ireland Stone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The thoughts start gathering, butting up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up-against-the-caution-tape/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up-against-the-caution-tape/#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 } } ] } ```