How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He handed me back the wrench, saying, "The world's a puzzle; no need to make sense out of it." (P.48)
Philosophers and religious teachers usually try to tell us why reality exists, or what the answers to intellectual puzzles are. Socrates takes the complete opposite approach. He says the trick is to learn not to worry about it. You know, like the song: "Don't Worry Be Happy."
Quote #2
The world was peopled with minds, whirling faster than any wind, in search of distraction and escape from the predicament of change, the dilemma of life and death—seeking purpose, security, enjoyment, trying to make sense of the mystery. Everyone everywhere lived a confused, bitter search. Reality never matched their dreams, happiness was just around the corner—a corner they never turned.
And the source of it all was the human mind. (1.107-108)
This passage from one of Dan's visions hammers home a key point of the book: your mind is the source of your troubles.
Quote #3
"I'd better redefine some terms for you. "Mind" is one of those slippery terms like "love." The proper definition depends on your state of consciousness. Look at it this way. You have a brain that directs the body, stores information, and plays with that information. We refer to the brain's abstract processes as "the intellect." Nowhere have I mentioned mind. The brain and the mind are not the same. The brain is real; the mind isn't.
"Mind" is an illusory reflection of cerebral fidgeting. It comprises all the random, uncontrolled thoughts that bubble into awareness from the subconscious. Consciousness is not mind; awareness is not mind; attention is not mind. Mind is an obstruction, an aggravation. It is a kind of evolutionary mistake in the human being, a primal weakness in the human experiment. I have no use for the mind.” (2.35-36)
This quote is Socrates' answer to Dan's objection that the mind is to be credited with many accomplishments such as science and art. The teacher distinguishes between the mind and the intellect. While the latter can be helpful, Socrates says, the former is a problem. So yeah, he totally trashes the mind in this quote. He isn't divided in his opinion at all.