--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All that I have said up to now has merely…" description: "\"All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png" --- # All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When… ![“All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matters too much. Better to begin practice without delay. I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere. Do not hesitate, just get going. You…” quote by Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png) > “All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matters too much. Better to begin practice without delay. I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere. Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.” [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages immediate practice and action, urging not to over‑think but to move forward with confidence. **In simple terms:** Start practicing now without hesitation. Key Takeaway Begin now, don’t delay. Themes action mindfulness confidence Mood calm motivational Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - starting a meditation habit - making a life change - taking a risk - seeking guidance Key Concepts impermanence practice Questions to Reflect On - What is holding you back? - How can you simplify your next step? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can still cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-practice-1539258/) [Come Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-say/) [Delay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delay/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Hesitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hesitate/) [Inviting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inviting/) [Inviting Hesitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inviting-hesitate-1539257/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) ## Related quotes > [“To begin this Practice is easy. To persevere is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/to-begin-this-practice-is-easy-to-persevere-is-difficult/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [People always come up to me and say, 'you should do standup.' It's nice to discover things about yourself. That keeps everything lively and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/people-always-come-up-to-me-and-say-you-should-do-standup-it-s-nice/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I want people to know it's cool to come up to me and say hi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/i-want-people-to-know-it-s-cool-to-come-up-to-me-and-say-hi/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [When I go to the gas station or the restaurant, people still come up and say hi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-ford/when-i-go-to-the-gas-station-or-the-restaurant-people-still-come-up/) [Rob Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-ford/) > [Bring fire in my heart. Come on and say your love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-maya/bring-fire-in-my-heart-come-on-and-say-your-love/) [Edward Maya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-maya/) > [When people come up to me and say, 'I read your book,' I'm thinking, 'How dare you! Who gave you a copy?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-toltz/when-people-come-up-to-me-and-say-i-read-your-book-i-m-thinking-how/) [Steve Toltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-toltz/) > [For people to come to you and say, 'Would you like to be a part of our show?' after years of 'Please tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mader/for-people-to-come-to-you-and-say-would-you-like-to-be-a-part-of-our/) [Rebecca Mader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mader/) > [The world will never come together and say, 'We are one.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/the-world-will-never-come-together-and-say-we-are-one/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [“Come on… Say the same over and over…. Do the same over and over, show your buddies that you haven't made and any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/come-on-say-the-same-over-and-over-do-the-same-over-and-over-show/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [Some people come up and say they would like me to play Boba Fett again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bulloch/some-people-come-up-and-say-they-would-like-me-to-play-boba-fett-again/) [Jeremy Bulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bulloch/) > [If u have the balls to talk behind my back have the guts to come and say it to my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-cruz/if-u-have-the-balls-to-talk-behind-my-back-have-the-guts-to-come-and/) [Lola Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-cruz/) > [I love it when people come up to me and they say a line. Like, you know, 'My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/i-love-it-when-people-come-up-to-me-and-they-say-a-line-like-you-know/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [You have to feel you're the best at what you do. You don't have to come out and say it. But you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/you-have-to-feel-you-re-the-best-at-what-you-do-you-don-t-have-to/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [No one's ever come up and say 'You suck' to my face. I don't think anyone would ever do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/no-one-s-ever-come-up-and-say-you-suck-to-my-face-i-don-t-think/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) ## More by Ajahn Chah > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/letting-go-a-little-brings-a-little-peace-letting-go-a-lot-brings-a/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/mindfulness-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-mindfulness-when-we-are/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Some people are afraid of generosity. They feel they will be taken advantage of or oppressed. In cultivating generosity, we are only oppressing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/some-people-are-afraid-of-generosity-they-feel-they-will-be-taken/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Know and watch your heart. It's pure but emotions come to colour it. So let your mind be like a tightly woven net to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/know-and-watch-your-heart-it-s-pure-but-emotions-come-to-colour-it-so/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/a-woman-wanted-to-know-how-to-deal-with-anger-i-asked-when-anger/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Sati is life. Whenever we don't have sati, when we are heedless, it's as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/sati-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-sati-when-we-are-heedless-it-s-as/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/when-sitting-in-meditation-say-that-s-not-my-business-with-every/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/proper-effort-is-not-the-effort-to-make-something-particular-happen/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another's word for it. We need to develop meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/regarding-this-dhamma-it-is-not-something-that-we-can-simply-talk/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Things are simply the way they are. They don't give us suffering. Like a thorn: Does a sharp thorn give us suffering? No. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/things-are-simply-the-way-they-are-they-don-t-give-us-suffering-like/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) [Explore all 105 Ajahn Chah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## More Delay quotes > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Delay always heeds danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/delay-always-heeds-danger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The measured blood beats out the year's delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/the-measured-blood-beats-out-the-year-s-delay/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [Right is the eternal sun; the world cannot delay its coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/right-is-the-eternal-sun-the-world-cannot-delay-its-coming/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/circumstances-may-cause-interruptions-and-delays-but-never-lose-sight/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. Program maintenance is an entropy-increasing process, and even its most skillful execution only delays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/systems-program-building-is-an-entropy-decreasing-process-hence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Everyone I have spoken with so far recognises the need for the IRA to respond positively and every has said sooner is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/everyone-i-have-spoken-with-so-far-recognises-the-need-for-the-ira-to/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [If the politics of inaction and delay that have triumphed in this country continues for another decade, then Planetary Purgatory in the likely future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/if-the-politics-of-inaction-and-delay-that-have-triumphed-in-this/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [“Delay is never denial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/delay-is-never-denial/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We are being conditioned, as a population, to never wait, to never delay our gratification, to accept thoughtless, constant consumption as the new norm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/we-are-being-conditioned-as-a-population-to-never-wait-to-never-delay/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) [Browse all 636 Delay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something. But it is best not to speak about these matters too much. Better to begin practice without delay. I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere. Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ajahn Chah" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merely-been-words-when-people-come/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merely-been-words-when-people-come/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4d/ajahn-chah-4829_delay_all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merel_933496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All that I have said up to now has merely been words. When people come to see me, I have to say something…” — Ajahn Chah", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ajahn Chah", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All that I have said up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merely-been-words-when-people-come/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/all-that-i-have-said-up-to-now-has-merely-been-words-when-people-come/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```