Some computers have security software that make it impossible to

The illusionist and mentalist Keith Barry once uttered words that shine with both mystery and insight: “Some computers have security software that make it impossible to hack into, and it's the same with brains — some malfunction, and some, you can't hack into them at all.” Though spoken in the language of the modern age, this quote carries the wisdom of the ancients—it speaks of the fortress of the mind, that most wondrous and perilous creation of nature. It reminds us that within every human skull lies both the key to wisdom and the gate to ruin; that the mind, like a computer, can be strong, guarded, and brilliant—or fragile, corrupted, and in need of care.

In the beginning of time, the elders of many tribes said that the soul lived in the heart, but as the ages passed, mankind discovered that it is the brain—that silent temple of thought—that shapes all perception and command. And yet, though we have charted the stars and split the atom, the inner workings of the mind remain a mystery greater than any machine we have made. Barry’s words remind us that while the human mind can be compared to a computer, it transcends that comparison—for it is alive, unpredictable, and divine in its complexity. Some minds are open and easily swayed by persuasion, while others are fortified with conviction, protected by invisible barriers of belief, discipline, or trauma.

To say that some brains cannot be hacked is to acknowledge the sacred individuality of thought. There are those whose minds are so fortified by principle, wisdom, or faith that no manipulation, no temptation, can penetrate their resolve. These are like great citadels in the storm of the world—unmoved by deceit, steady against chaos. And yet, there are also those whose minds falter, who are besieged by confusion or illness—minds that “malfunction,” as Barry says—not from weakness of will, but from the mysterious imbalance that nature sometimes bestows. To understand this is not to judge, but to see the full spectrum of what it means to be human.

Consider the story of Alan Turing, the father of modern computing. He built the foundations of what we now call the computer, a machine born from his own formidable mind—a mind few could ever “hack.” He deciphered the German Enigma code during the Second World War, breaking through a fortress that seemed unbreakable. Yet even he, the genius who cracked the most secret of machines, could not escape the deeper tragedy of human misunderstanding. The world around him tried to “hack” his identity, to force him into conformity. His mind was unassailable by logic, yet it was wounded by cruelty. From this tale we learn that not every fortress can—or should—be broken; some walls exist to protect the sacred core of self.

The ancients would have called the “security software” of the mind wisdom, conscience, or spiritual discipline. Just as a computer must be shielded from corruption, so too must the human mind be guarded against lies, fear, and despair. The sages of old spoke of purifying one’s thoughts through meditation, study, and silence—fortifying the inner kingdom against those who would seek to control it. For what is manipulation but the hacking of the human will? Those who know themselves deeply, who question their motives and guard their truth, cannot be swayed easily. Their minds are the most secure of all.

Yet let us not forget compassion for those whose minds falter. Just as machines can break, so too can the delicate circuits of the brain. The wise do not mock malfunction—they mend it. We must learn to help one another heal, to strengthen minds weakened by pain or confusion. A society is only as strong as its ability to tend both the fortress and the fallen gate. For every unbreakable mind, there is another that must be restored, and the duty of humankind is to aid in both—protecting wisdom and nurturing fragility.

And so, let the lesson be clear: guard your mind as you would your most precious treasure. Feed it truth, discipline, and reflection, for these are the shields that make it unhackable. Beware the thieves of thought—those who seek to fill your head with noise, anger, or deceit. At the same time, look upon those whose thoughts are clouded with mercy, not judgment; for the measure of a strong mind is not pride, but understanding. Build your mental defenses not from fear, but from knowledge and love. For in this way, your mind will become both fortress and beacon—unhackable, unbreakable, and full of light.

Thus spoke the ancients through the voice of the modern sage: the brain, like the computer, is a vessel of great power—but unlike the computer, it holds a soul within. It can be guarded or corrupted, healed or harmed, but it is never beyond transformation. The true art of living, then, is to strengthen one’s inner defenses while keeping the gates of compassion open. For the mind that is both wise and kind is not merely secure—it is eternal.