--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed" description: "\"The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed\" — Wendell Berry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg" --- # The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed ![“The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg) > “The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests that a mind not puzzled or challenged is idle and unproductive. **In simple terms:** Unchallenged minds are idle. Key Takeaway Seek intellectual challenges. Themes curiosity work mindfulness employment growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - creative problem solving - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophy psychology education Questions to Reflect On - What puzzles keep your mind engaged? - How do you avoid mental stagnation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) ## Related quotes > [It may be that when we no longer know... which way to go we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-may-be-that-when-we-no-longer-know-which-way-to-go-we-have-begun/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-may-be-that-when-we-no-longer-know-what-to-do-we-have-come-to-our-2/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-not-employed-the-impeded-stream-is/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I know well enough what it is, provided that nobody asks me; but if I am asked what it is and try to explain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-of-hippo/i-know-well-enough-what-it-is-provided-that-nobody-asks-me-but-if-i/) [St. Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-of-hippo/) > [Talk not of genius baffled. Genius is master of man. Genius does what it must, and Talent does what it can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/talk-not-of-genius-baffled-genius-is-master-of-man-genius-does-what/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us-2/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable report or evidence about Russia, nor will he be disillusioned by seeing with his own eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-believe-any-unfavorable-report-or/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Gail had a baby named Ned who was four months old, and a new look of baffled hurt, a left-behind sadness, like she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-woodrell/gail-had-a-baby-named-ned-who-was-four-months-old-and-a-new-look-of/) [Daniel Woodrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-woodrell/) > [Unbelievable," I heard Christian mutter behind me. "She toops them both?" I head Drustan ask. "And they permit it?" Dageus sounded baffled. I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/unbelievable-i-heard-christian-mutter-behind-me-she-toops-them-both-i/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“The only side God chooses is one of commonsense. If it doesn’t make sense; it is not God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-only-side-god-chooses-is-one-of-commonsense-if-it-doesn-t-make/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [There is such a thing as the courage in remaining baffled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-antrim/there-is-such-a-thing-as-the-courage-in-remaining-baffled/) [Donald Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-antrim/) > [It is sometimes of God's mercy that men in the eager pursuit of worldly aggrandizement are baffled; for they are very like a train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-sometimes-of-god-s-mercy-that-men-in-the-eager-pursuit-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely. The notion that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [“Identity confusion... is as if somebody lost their mental road map and has no appreciation of who they are or what is going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-chefetz/identity-confusion-is-as-if-somebody-lost-their-mental-road-map-and/) Richard A. Chefetz > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Baffled quotes > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Identity confusion... is as if somebody lost their mental road map and has no appreciation of who they are or what is going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-chefetz/identity-confusion-is-as-if-somebody-lost-their-mental-road-map-and/) Richard A. Chefetz > [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely. The notion that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [It is sometimes of God's mercy that men in the eager pursuit of worldly aggrandizement are baffled; for they are very like a train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-sometimes-of-god-s-mercy-that-men-in-the-eager-pursuit-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [There is such a thing as the courage in remaining baffled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-antrim/there-is-such-a-thing-as-the-courage-in-remaining-baffled/) [Donald Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-antrim/) > [“The only side God chooses is one of commonsense. If it doesn’t make sense; it is not God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-only-side-god-chooses-is-one-of-commonsense-if-it-doesn-t-make/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Unbelievable," I heard Christian mutter behind me. "She toops them both?" I head Drustan ask. "And they permit it?" Dageus sounded baffled. I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/unbelievable-i-heard-christian-mutter-behind-me-she-toops-them-both-i/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Gail had a baby named Ned who was four months old, and a new look of baffled hurt, a left-behind sadness, like she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-woodrell/gail-had-a-baby-named-ned-who-was-four-months-old-and-a-new-look-of/) [Daniel Woodrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-woodrell/) > [The fanatical Communist refuses to believe any unfavorable report or evidence about Russia, nor will he be disillusioned by seeing with his own eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-fanatical-communist-refuses-to-believe-any-unfavorable-report-or/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Books are in no hurry. An act of creation is in no hurry; it reads us, it privileges us infinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/books-are-in-no-hurry-an-act-of-creation-is-in-no-hurry-it-reads-us-2/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [Talk not of genius baffled. Genius is master of man. Genius does what it must, and Talent does what it can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/talk-not-of-genius-baffled-genius-is-master-of-man-genius-does-what/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [“I know well enough what it is, provided that nobody asks me; but if I am asked what it is and try to explain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-of-hippo/i-know-well-enough-what-it-is-provided-that-nobody-asks-me-but-if-i/) [St. Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-of-hippo/) > [Nothing baffles the schemes of evil people so much as the calm composure of great souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honore-gabriel-riqueti-comte-de-mirabeau/nothing-baffles-the-schemes-of-evil-people-so-much-as-the-calm/) [Honore Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honore-gabriel-riqueti-comte-de-mirabeau/) > [God has sovereignly pulled back the curtain on His glory. He has disclosed Himself on the platform of both creation and redemption that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-has-sovereignly-pulled-back-the-curtain-on-his-glory-he-has/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/one-who-never-turned-his-back-but-marched-breast-forward-never-2/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) Browse all 127 Baffled quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wendell Berry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemployed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baffled" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemployed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/wendell-berry-236_baffled_the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemploy_1045787.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mind that is not baffled, is unemployed” — Wendell Berry", "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": "Wendell Berry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mind that is not baffled,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemployed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-is-not-baffled-is-unemployed/#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 } } ] } ```