GW used to tell me to “Wear a hat or your brains will cook.” Obviously to protect the head, but I cannot say if the brain cooks. And, my little passive-aggressive attitude caused me not to wear a hat.
GW was an intelligent man. Probably he knew the brain would not really cook. So what was the reason for this frequent statement? Maybe a mild disciplinary push with the passive-aggressive Doc.
More likely, GW was suggesting that one must protect ones own inner most thoughts, ideas, plans. Keep them covered until time to reveal and put them out into the pressure cooker of public consumption. Surprise surprise increases the possibility of success.