--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thought is a disease of the brain. The…" description: "\"Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself against the degenerative process of creativity; it begins to jell; notions solidify into ina..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg" --- # Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself… ![“Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself against the degenerative process of creativity; it begins to jell; notions solidify into inalterable systems.” quote by Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg) > “Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself against the degenerative process of creativity; it begins to jell; notions solidify into inalterable systems.” [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) ## 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 resists creativity, solidifying ideas into rigid structures that hinder innovation. **In simple terms:** Thinking can become a restrictive habit. Key Takeaway Break mental rigidity to foster creativity. Themes creativity mental habits innovation stagnation Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - artistic projects - problem‑solving meetings Key Concepts cognitive flexibility neuroplasticity creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs are you holding onto that limit you? - How can you encourage mental fluidity? A Different Perspective Overcoming entrenched thought patterns requires effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [ One of the ideas that runs through this book \[Lincoln in the Bardo\] is this Buddhist notion that the mind is incredibly powerful; not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/one-of-the-ideas-that-runs-through-this-book-lincoln-in-the-bardo-is/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Mind is just a word we use to describe neural activity in the brain. No brain, no mind. We know this because if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/mind-is-just-a-word-we-use-to-describe-neural-activity-in-the-brain/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it, and reach your own decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-have-a-brain-and-mind-of-your-own-use-it-and-reach-your-own/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Everyone has brain few have mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yarro-rai/everyone-has-brain-few-have-mind/) [Yarro Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yarro-rai/) > [People always say I'm shy! But I'm not even shy! Like, if you knew what I'm saying in my brain. I'm in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hus/people-always-say-i-m-shy-but-i-m-not-even-shy-like-if-you-knew-what/) [J Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hus/) > [“What is inspired comes already arranged beforehand and there is very little to be done by the brain and by the mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/what-is-inspired-comes-already-arranged-beforehand-and-there-is-very/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“Time if the inner form of animal sense that animates events-the still frames-of the spatial world. The mind animates the world like the motor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/time-if-the-inner-form-of-animal-sense-that-animates-events-the-still/) [robert lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) > [The brain is an immensely complex organ, and many mysteries remain. Exactly how brain and mind or soma and psyche are related is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/the-brain-is-an-immensely-complex-organ-and-many-mysteries-remain/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Daniel Levitin takes the most sophisticated ideas that exist about the brain and mind, applies them to the most emotionally direct art we have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gopnik/daniel-levitin-takes-the-most-sophisticated-ideas-that-exist-about/) [Adam Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gopnik/) > [“•To become more expert at anything, the community needs to encourage and support the brain/ mind principle of relaxed alertness. Fear can hinder the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-a-flores/to-become-more-expert-at-anything-the-community-needs-to-encourage/) Kelly a Flores > [Genetics is crude, but neuroscience goes directly to work on the brain, and the mind follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/genetics-is-crude-but-neuroscience-goes-directly-to-work-on-the-brain/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [The computer model will be replaced by an organic model, in which the brain-mind is embodied - part of a whole, dynamic, living organism:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/the-computer-model-will-be-replaced-by-an-organic-model-in-which-the/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [the brain, the mind, and all the things that happen inside it, it's a very erogenous zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/the-brain-the-mind-and-all-the-things-that-happen-inside-it-it-s-a/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) > [One of the many conditions that have to be met for a brain to become a mind, and therefore have consciousness, is 'the analog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/one-of-the-many-conditions-that-have-to-be-met-for-a-brain-to-become/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) ## More by Thomas M. Disch > [“In short, Daniel was once again a member of a family. Viewed from without they were a strange enough family: a rattling, hunchbacked old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/in-short-daniel-was-once-again-a-member-of-a-family-viewed-from/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [But the toaster was quite satisfied with itself, thank you. Though it knew from magazines that there were toasters who could toast four slices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/but-the-toaster-was-quite-satisfied-with-itself-thank-you-though-it/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“Gender and the complications it gives rise to simply aren't relevant to the lives appliances lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/gender-and-the-complications-it-gives-rise-to-simply-aren-t-relevant/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“The problem is that we've got a sense of humor and (Republicans have) got guns. Will we die laughing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/the-problem-is-that-we-ve-got-a-sense-of-humor-and-republicans-have/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“This is my journal. I can be candid here. Candidly, I could not be more miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/this-is-my-journal-i-can-be-candid-here-candidly-i-could-not-be-more/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“What to Accept The fact of mountains. The actuality Of any stone — by kicking, if necessary. The need to ignore stupid people, While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/what-to-accept-the-fact-of-mountains-the-actuality-of-any-stone-by/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [A predilection for genre fiction is symptomatic of a kind of arrested development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/a-predilection-for-genre-fiction-is-symptomatic-of-a-kind-of-arrested/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [Poets are regarded as handicapped writers whose work must be treated with a tender condescension, such as one accords the athletic achievements of basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/poets-are-regarded-as-handicapped-writers-whose-work-must-be-treated/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“(Shoddiness is) the nature of human life. It takes an exertion to be indifferent to these things, but it's an exertion worth making. Also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/shoddiness-is-the-nature-of-human-life-it-takes-an-exertion-to-be/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“When one is experiencing failure, it is hard to resist the comfort of paranoia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/when-one-is-experiencing-failure-it-is-hard-to-resist-the-comfort-of/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“The toaster (lacking real bread) would pretend to make two crispy slices of toast. Or, if the day seemed special in some way, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/the-toaster-lacking-real-bread-would-pretend-to-make-two-crispy/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [Writers tend to consider distinction and originality as virtues, but they are anathema to publishers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/writers-tend-to-consider-distinction-and-originality-as-virtues-but/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [Sameness is what marketers want us to want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/sameness-is-what-marketers-want-us-to-want/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [Sometimes the whole world is mud luscious and puddle wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/sometimes-the-whole-world-is-mud-luscious-and-puddle-wonderful/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) > [“The end of the world. Let me tell you about the end of the world. It happened fifty years ago. Maybe a hundred. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/the-end-of-the-world-let-me-tell-you-about-the-end-of-the-world-it/) [Thomas M. Disch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) [Explore all 38 Thomas M. Disch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself against the degenerative process of creativity; it begins to jell; notions solidify into inalterable systems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas M. Disch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mind-defends-itself-against-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mind-defends-itself-against-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/thomas-m-disch-17152_brain_thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mi_1148565.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thought is a disease of the brain. The mind defends itself against the degenerative process of creativity…” — Thomas M. Disch", "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": "Thomas M. Disch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-disch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thought is a disease of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mind-defends-itself-against-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-disch/thought-is-a-disease-of-the-brain-the-mind-defends-itself-against-the/#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 } } ] } ```