Mental Efficiency Quotes

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.

The human mind works at low efficiency. Twenty percent is the figure usually given. When, momentarily, there is a flash of greater power, it is termed a hunch, or insight, or intuition.

Software options proliferate extremely easily - too easily, in fact - because too many options create tools that can't ever be used intuitively. Intuitive actions confine the detail work to a dedicated part of the brain, leaving the rest of one's mind free to respond with attention and sensitivity to the changing texture of the moment.

Our minds are like certain vehicles,--when they have little to carry they make much noise about it, but when heavily loaded they run quietly.

It's the way the human brain works: when enough events occur in a pattern, we stop thinking and go into macro mode.

I don't wase time thinking, 'Am I doing it right?' I say, 'Am I doing it?'

The mind does different things in performance, and conscious thought sometimes takes a backseat.

The superiority of one mind over another depends on the rapidity with which experiences are thus organised.

Prejudices save time.

Your mind is an instrument, a tool. It is there to be used for a specific task, and when the task is completed, you lay it down. As it is, I would say about 80 to 90 percent of most people's thinking is not only repetitive and useless, but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature, much of it is also harmful. Observe your mind and you will find this to be true. It causes a serious leakage of vital energy.

If we actually thought about every decision we made, we'd be paralyzed ... You have to decide which decisions you're actually going to make, and then you have to let the rest of them go.

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are cavalry charges in a battle - they are limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments.

With the Great Detective, to think was to act, and to act was to think. Frequently he could do both together.

Be a mere assistant to your unconscious. Do only half the work. The rest will do itself.

The total mental efficiency of a man is the resultant of the working together of all his faculties. He is too complex a being for any one of them to have the casting vote. If any one of them do have the casting vote, it is more likely to be the strength of his desire and passion, the strength of the interest he takes in what is proposed. Concentration, memory, reasoning power, inventiveness, excellence of the senses, all are subsidiary to this.

It is better to have a fair intellect that is well used than a powerful one that is idle.

Small though it is, the human brain can be quite effective when used properly.

I'm not very good at multi-tasking. Most people aren't, but they think they are. The mind is really better when you're really focused on one thing.

In general we are least aware of what our minds do best.

My ultimate goal is to create operating systems for myself that allow me to think as little as possible about the silly decisions you can make all day long - like what to eat or where we should meet - so I can focus on making real decisions. Because mental energy is a finite quantity.

Productivity is less about what you do with your time. And more about how you run your mind.

Most of the time, we think fast. And most of the time we're really expert at what we're doing, and most of the time, what we do is right.

We are using all of our brain, all of the time; all of it is in use. However, you could probably argue that we don't use it effectively. Some of us are not trained to use our brains to their full potential. But definitely, all of it is there.