"The problem that we, as living organisms, face - and not we only, humans, but any living organism faces - is the management of life."

Life

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Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Life as articulated by Antonio Damasio. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Life provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About Antonio Damasio

Antonio Damasio is a Portuguese neuroscientist. He is currently the David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience, as well as Professor of Psychology, Philosophy, and Neurology, at the University of Southern California, and, additionally, an adjunct professor at the Salk Institute. He was previously the chair of neurology at the University of Iowa for 20 years. Damasio heads the Brain and Creativity Institute, and has authored several books. One of the most renowned neuroscientists of his generation, Damasio's research in neuroscience has shown that emotions play a central role in social cognition and decision-making.

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More by Antonio Damasio

"Rather than being a luxury, emotions are a very intelligent way of driving an organism toward certain outcomes."

— Antonio Damasio
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"Of necessity, the autobiographical self is not just about one individual but about all the others that an individual interacts with. Of necessity, it incorporates the culture in which the interactions took place."

— Antonio Damasio
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"We do not merely perceive objects and hold thoughts in our minds: all our perceptions and thought processes are felt. All have a distinctive component that announces an unequivocal link between images and the existence of life in our organism."

— Antonio Damasio
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"I cannot listen to Beethoven or Mahler or Chopin or Bach when I write because those composers require you stop what you are doing and listen."

— Antonio Damasio
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More about Life

"Wisdom principle 42 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 29."

— Doug Beason
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"I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge."

— Igor Stravinsky
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"It's populated by people who, by and large, have terrific communication skills. Every day is an extraordinary day. For me, it was just a great area for storytelling."

— Aaron Sorkin
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"I was to Japanese visitors to Washington what the Mona Lisa is to Americans visiting Paris."

— John C. Danforth
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