---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a fundamental spiritual quality…"
description: "\"There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that transcends religious traditions. Gratitude is a universal human experience that can seem to ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png"
---

#  There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that…

![“There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that transcends religious traditions. Gratitude is a universal human experience that can seem to be either a random occurrence of grace or a chosen attitude to create a better experience of life; in many ways it contains elements of both…” quote by Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png)

> “There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that transcends religious traditions. Gratitude is a universal human experience that can seem to be either a random occurrence of grace or a chosen attitude to create a better experience of life; in many ways it contains elements of both. Grateful people sense that they are not separated from others or from God; this recognition of unity with all things brings a deep sense of gratefulness, whether we are religious or not.”

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Gratitude is a deep, spiritual feeling that unites people beyond religion, seen as either spontaneous grace or a purposeful attitude.

**In simple terms:** Gratitude unites us beyond faith.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate gratitude as a daily practice.

Themes

spirituality unity psychology

Mood

reflective uplifting

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily journaling
- family gatherings
- team meetings
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

interconnectedness mindset humanism

Questions to Reflect On

- Can gratitude be practiced without feeling insincere?
- How does gratitude differ across cultures?

A Different Perspective

Gratitude can feel forced if not genuine.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Gratefulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratefulness/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious traditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-traditions/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/)

## Related quotes

> [I found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-found-there-were-things-about-religion-that-i-really-loved-things/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [We can choose to be grateful, no matter what. This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-can-choose-to-be-grateful-no-matter-what-this-type-of-gratitude/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Religious traditions are in a constant state of development and renewed self-understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/religious-traditions-are-in-a-constant-state-of-development-and/)

[David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/)

> [“…religious traditions build up meaning only over time and in a communal context. They can’t be purchased like a burger or a pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/religious-traditions-build-up-meaning-only-over-time-and-in-a/)

[Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/)

> [Once you're in a kind of revealed religious tradition, you wind up having to explain how the things said about God in the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-adamson/once-you-re-in-a-kind-of-revealed-religious-tradition-you-wind-up/)

[Peter Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-adamson/)

> [All major religious traditions carry basically the same message that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/all-major-religious-traditions-carry-basically-the-same-message-that/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Regrettably, many religious traditions exacerbate our innate proclivity to divide the world into two clearly demarcated camps, and in doing so, this fans the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-saad/regrettably-many-religious-traditions-exacerbate-our-innate/)

[Gad Saad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-saad/)

> [We must stop using the Bible as though it were a potpourri of inerrant proof-texts by which we can bring people into bondage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-brinsmead/we-must-stop-using-the-bible-as-though-it-were-a-potpourri-of/)

Robert D. Brinsmead

> [Christianity is our foe. If animal rights is to succeed, we must destroy the Judeo-Christian religious tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/christianity-is-our-foe-if-animal-rights-is-to-succeed-we-must/)

[Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/)

> [It is probably true quite generally that in the history of human thinking the most fruitful developments frequently take place at those points where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/it-is-probably-true-quite-generally-that-in-the-history-of-human/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [The highest principles for our aspirations and judgments are given to us in the Jewish-Christian religious tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-highest-principles-for-our-aspirations-and-judgments-are-given-to/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [We are not a religious tradition with a creed, but a religious movement that has always wedded social justice work to theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/we-are-not-a-religious-tradition-with-a-creed-but-a-religious/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [If we are to live with our feet on the ground, in touch with reality, we must help one another accept the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/if-we-are-to-live-with-our-feet-on-the-ground-in-touch-with-reality/)

[Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/)

> [A very enjoyable meditation on the curious thing called 'Zen' -not the Japanese religious tradition but rather the Western clich of Zen that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gardner/a-very-enjoyable-meditation-on-the-curious-thing-called-zen-not-the/)

Alexander Gardner

> [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## More by Angeles Arrien

> [The visionary is the one who brings his or her voice into the world and who refuses to edit, rehearse, perform, or hide. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/the-visionary-is-the-one-who-brings-his-or-her-voice-into-the-world/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [Healing does not take place in the fast lane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/healing-does-not-take-place-in-the-fast-lane/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [The portal of healing and creativity always takes us into the realm of the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/the-portal-of-healing-and-creativity-always-takes-us-into-the-realm/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [One day, a woman found herself standing at Heaven's gate. The angels' only question to her was, "Zusai, why weren't you Zusai?" Within that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/one-day-a-woman-found-herself-standing-at-heaven-s-gate-the-angels/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [Human beings are essentially here for two purposes - to learn about and express love, and to create. We learn about love in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/human-beings-are-essentially-here-for-two-purposes-to-learn-about-and/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [Many of the tribal peoples of the world recognize that there are four places in nature where you can find deep peace and remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/many-of-the-tribal-peoples-of-the-world-recognize-that-there-are-four/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [We must shift our allegiances from fear to curiosity, from attachment to letting go, from control to trust, and from entitlement to humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/we-must-shift-our-allegiances-from-fear-to-curiosity-from-attachment/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [I trust the mystery. I trust what comes in silence and what comes in nature where there's no diversion. I think the lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/i-trust-the-mystery-i-trust-what-comes-in-silence-and-what-comes-in/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [Four Rules For Life Show up. Pay attention. Tell the truth. Don't be attached to the results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/four-rules-for-life-show-up-pay-attention-tell-the-truth-don-t-be/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [When we dance we touch the essence of who we are and experience the unity between spirit and matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/when-we-dance-we-touch-the-essence-of-who-we-are-and-experience-the/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [The four Ways reflect a pervasive belief that life will be simple if we practice four basic principles: Show up or choose to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/the-four-ways-reflect-a-pervasive-belief-that-life-will-be-simple-if/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [“Eternal Friend, I hereby forgive anyone who hurt, upset, or offended me; damaging my body, my property, my reputation, or people whom I love;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/eternal-friend-i-hereby-forgive-anyone-who-hurt-upset-or-offended-me/)

[Ángeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [“Eternal Friend, help me to be thoughtful and to resist committing acts that are evil in Your eyes. Whatever sins I have committed, please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/eternal-friend-help-me-to-be-thoughtful-and-to-resist-committing-acts/)

[Ángeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [“But your heart muscle goes on working for as long as you live. It does not get tired, because there is a phase of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/but-your-heart-muscle-goes-on-working-for-as-long-as-you-live-it-does/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

> [In the sweet territory of silence we touch the mystery. It's the place of reflection and contemplation, and it's the place where we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/in-the-sweet-territory-of-silence-we-touch-the-mystery-it-s-the-place/)

[Angeles Arrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

[Explore all 22 Angeles Arrien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/)

## More All things quotes

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/)

[Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/)

> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/)

[Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/)

> [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/)

James Nayler

> [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/)

[Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/)

> [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/)

[Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/)

[Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/)

> [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/)

[Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/)

> [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/)

[Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/)

> [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/)

[Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/)

Browse all 2,486 All things quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that transcends religious traditions. Gratitude is a universal human experience that can seem to be either a random occurrence of grace or a chosen attitude to create a better experience of life; in many ways it contains elements of both. Grateful people sense that they are not separated from others or from God; this recognition of unity with all things brings a deep sense of gratefulness, whether we are religious or not.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Angeles Arrien"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality-to-gratitude-that-transcends/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "All things"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality-to-gratitude-that-transcends/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/angeles-arrien-26288_all-things_there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality_1572376.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is a fundamental spiritual quality to gratitude that transcends religious traditions. Gratitude is a…” — Angeles Arrien",
                "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": "Angeles Arrien",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angeles-arrien/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is a fundamental spiritual quality...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality-to-gratitude-that-transcends/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angeles-arrien/there-is-a-fundamental-spiritual-quality-to-gratitude-that-transcends/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
