--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While a modicum of consciousness may have…" description: "\"While a modicum of consciousness may have had survivalist properties during an immemorial chapter of our evolution – so one theory goes – this faculty ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/thomas-ligotti-2073_agents_while-a-modicum-of-consciousness-may-hav_2905163.png" --- # While a modicum of consciousness may have had survivalist… ![“While a modicum of consciousness may have had survivalist properties during an immemorial chapter of our evolution – so one theory goes – this faculty soon enough became a seditious agent working against us … we need to hamper our consciousness for all we are worth or it will impose upon us a too…” quote by Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/thomas-ligotti-2073_agents_while-a-modicum-of-consciousness-may-hav_2905163.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/thomas-ligotti-2073_agents_while-a-modicum-of-consciousness-may-hav_2905163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/thomas-ligotti-2073_agents_while-a-modicum-of-consciousness-may-hav_2905163.png) > “While a modicum of consciousness may have had survivalist properties during an immemorial chapter of our evolution – so one theory goes – this faculty soon enough became a seditious agent working against us … we need to hamper our consciousness for all we are worth or it will impose upon us a too clear vision of what we do not want to see … Consciousness has forced us into the paradoxical position of striving to be unself-conscious of what we are – hunks of spoiling flesh on disintegrating bones” [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consciousness, once advantageous, now threatens us by revealing uncomfortable truths; we may need to suppress it. **In simple terms:** Awareness can be dangerous; we might want to limit it. Key Takeaway Consider the cost of too much self‑awareness. Themes consciousness paradox survival self‑deception philosophy Mood uneasy introspective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - mental health - creative work - spiritual practice Key Concepts existential dread cognitive overload evolutionary psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truths does your consciousness reveal that you wish to ignore? - Can limiting awareness improve well‑being? A Different Perspective Suppressing awareness can lead to loss of insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-vision/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Forced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-forced-801645/) [Consciousness Survivalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-survivalist-4153226/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [Hamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamper/) [Hamper Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamper-consciousness-1816427/) [Hunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunk/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Modicum Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modicum-consciousness-4153225/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Paradoxical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxical/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Soon enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soon-enough/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Unself Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unself-conscious-1337030/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Consciousness has forced us into the paradoxical position of striving to be unself-conscious of what we are - hunks of spoiling flesh on disintegrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/consciousness-has-forced-us-into-the-paradoxical-position-of-striving/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [“As Zapffe concluded, we need to hamper our consciousness for all we are worth or it will impose upon us a too clear vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/as-zapffe-concluded-we-need-to-hamper-our-consciousness-for-all-we/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [“For the rest of the earth’s organisms, existence is relatively uncomplicated. 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