Mind Quote by Yuval Noah Harari
““In the nineteenth century, scientists described brains and minds as if they were steam engines. Why steam engines? Because that was the leading technology of the day, which powered trains, ships and factories, so when humans tried to explain life, they assumed it must work according to analogous principles. Mind and body are made of pipes, cylinders, valves and pistons that build and release pressure, thereby producing movements and actions. Such thinking had a deep influence even on Freudian psychology, which is why much of our psychological jargon is still replete with concepts borrowed from mechanical engineering.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, 2014
The quote explains how 19th‑century scientific metaphors shaped our view of mind and body, using steam‑engine imagery that still lingers in psychological language.
In simple terms: Old tech metaphors still color how we talk about mind.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question outdated metaphors.
Themes
history
psychology
metaphor
science
language
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- education
- therapy
- public speaking
- writing
- media analysis
Key Concepts
mechanical metaphor
cognitive framing
historical influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current tech metaphors shape our self‑understanding?
- What alternative metaphors could better capture brain function?
A Different Perspective
These metaphors can oversimplify complex mental processes.
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