--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing is not to think…" description: "\"The most important thing is not to think very much about oneself. To investigate candidly the charge; but not fussily, not very anxiously. On no accoun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/virginia-woolf-49_accounts_the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-think_1776810.jpg" --- # The most important thing is not to think very much about… ![“The most important thing is not to think very much about oneself. To investigate candidly the charge; but not fussily, not very anxiously. On no account to retaliate by going to the other extreme -- thinking too much.” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/virginia-woolf-49_accounts_the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-think_1776810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/virginia-woolf-49_accounts_the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-think_1776810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/virginia-woolf-49_accounts_the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-think_1776810.jpg) > “The most important thing is not to think very much about oneself. To investigate candidly the charge; but not fussily, not very anxiously. On no account to retaliate by going to the other extreme -- thinking too much.” [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑absorption limits insight; balanced self‑examination without anxiety yields clarity. **In simple terms:** Avoid excessive self‑focus. Key Takeaway Practice balanced self‑reflection. Themes self‑awareness balance mental health reflection Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - journaling - therapy - mindfulness - decision making Key Concepts philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep self‑reflection healthy? - When does self‑focus become harmful? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Extreme Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extreme-thinking-1827672/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-thing/) [Investigate Candidly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigate-candidly-1827673/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Investigate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-investigate-1827671/) [Think Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-oneself-387964/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-too-much/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) ## Related quotes > [I think in many ways narrow minded-attitudes lead to extreme thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-think-in-many-ways-narrow-minded-attitudes-lead-to-extreme-thinking/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [It does not seem possible to think of oneself as normal without thinking that some other kind of person is pathological,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-warner/it-does-not-seem-possible-to-think-of-oneself-as-normal-without/) [Michael Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-warner/) > [When one begins to think of oneself as growing old, one is already old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-de-wolfe/when-one-begins-to-think-of-oneself-as-growing-old-one-is-already-old/) [Elsie de Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsie-de-wolfe/) > [It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-oneself-when-alone-as-it-is/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One would always want to think of oneself as being on the side of love, ready to recognize it and wish it well -but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/one-would-always-want-to-think-of-oneself-as-being-on-the-side-of/) [Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/) > [There's no better tonic for other people's bad ideas, than to think for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/there-s-no-better-tonic-for-other-people-s-bad-ideas-than-to-think/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [The first step towards madness is to think oneself wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-de-rojas/the-first-step-towards-madness-is-to-think-oneself-wise/) [Fernando de Rojas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-de-rojas/) > [“This is who she is. She is this movement here, these steps, this turn, this raising of this arm. It's a waste of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-howrey/this-is-who-she-is-she-is-this-movement-here-these-steps-this-turn/) [Meg Howrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-howrey/) > [“Hardly even does one think of oneself, but only how to escape from oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/hardly-even-does-one-think-of-oneself-but-only-how-to-escape-from/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [That is the whole trouble with being a heretic. One usually must think out everything for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-menen/that-is-the-whole-trouble-with-being-a-heretic-one-usually-must-think/) [Aubrey Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-menen/) > [One trouble: to be a professional anything in the United States is to think of oneself as an expert and one's ideas as semisacred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/one-trouble-to-be-a-professional-anything-in-the-united-states-is-to/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [“The truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-truest-way-to-be-deceived-is-to-think-oneself-more-knowing-than/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It's rather nice to think of oneself as a sailor bending over the map of one's mind and deciding where to go and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/it-s-rather-nice-to-think-of-oneself-as-a-sailor-bending-over-the-map/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“To have an independant mind, to think for oneself, not to follow fashion, not to seek honour or decoration, not to become part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-schlumberge/to-have-an-independant-mind-to-think-for-oneself-not-to-follow/) [Marcel Schlumberge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-schlumberge/) ## More by Virginia Woolf > [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“The train slows and lengthens, as we approach London, the centre, and my heart draws out too, in fear, in exaltation. I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-train-slows-and-lengthens-as-we-approach-london-the-centre-and-my/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/across-the-broad-continent-of-a-woman-s-life-falls-the-shadow-of-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Sometimes he woke with a brain like lead; at others it was as if a thousand wax tapers were alight and people were throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/sometimes-he-woke-with-a-brain-like-lead-at-others-it-was-as-if-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Love ought to stop on both sides, don’t you think, simultaneously?’ He spoke without any stress on the words, so as not to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/love-ought-to-stop-on-both-sides-don-t-you-think-simultaneously-he/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“It is so vast an alleviation to be able to point for another to look at. And then not to talk. To follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-is-so-vast-an-alleviation-to-be-able-to-point-for-another-to-look/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“What a vast fertility of pleasure books hold for me! (...) I think I could happily live here & read forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-vast-fertility-of-pleasure-books-hold-for-me-i-think-i-could/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“For one's children so often gave one's own perceptions a little thrust forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-one-s-children-so-often-gave-one-s-own-perceptions-a-little/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“She would not say of anyone in the world now that they were this or were that. She felt very young; at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-would-not-say-of-anyone-in-the-world-now-that-they-were-this-or/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) [Explore all 1,872 Virginia Woolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [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/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. 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