--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people don't live aware lives. They…" description: "\"Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical thoughts - generally somebody else's - mechanical emotions, mechanical actio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg" --- # Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical… ![“Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical thoughts - generally somebody else's - mechanical emotions, mechanical actions, mechanical reactions.” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg) > “Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical thoughts - generally somebody else's - mechanical emotions, mechanical actions, mechanical reactions.” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many live unthinking, imitating others rather than forming their own thoughts and feelings. **In simple terms:** People often act mechanically, copying others. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thought. Themes conformity mindfulness self-awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - workplace - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize mechanical patterns? - What steps foster authentic thinking? A Different Perspective Breaking habits is difficult and may cause discomfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [Usually the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/usually-the-threat-of-death-makes-people-a-lot-more-aware-of-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Divide in yourself the mechanical from the conscious, see how little there is of the conscious, how seldom it works, and how strong is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/divide-in-yourself-the-mechanical-from-the-conscious-see-how-little/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Many things are mechanical and should remain mechanical. But mechanical thoughts, mechanical feelings—that is what has to be studied and can and should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/many-things-are-mechanical-and-should-remain-mechanical-but/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Wherever a man lives, he may live well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/wherever-a-man-lives-he-may-live-well/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We have soul contracts with every person in our lives to live in the vibration of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/we-have-soul-contracts-with-every-person-in-our-lives-to-live-in-the/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [Our love lives because I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/our-love-lives-because-i-live/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“We were given our lives to live to the fullest of our ability; come out of that dark and musty hole and begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hart/we-were-given-our-lives-to-live-to-the-fullest-of-our-ability-come/) [Barbara Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hart/) > [Up ahead they's a thousan' lives we might live, but when it comes it'll on'y be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/up-ahead-they-s-a-thousan-lives-we-might-live-but-when-it-comes-it-ll/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“How you live your life is your business. But remember, our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once. Most of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/how-you-live-your-life-is-your-business-but-remember-our-hearts-and-2/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“All the lives we could live, all the people we will never know, never will be, they are everywhere. That is what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/all-the-lives-we-could-live-all-the-people-we-will-never-know-never/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [The dead can survive as part of the lives of those that still live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzaburo-oe/the-dead-can-survive-as-part-of-the-lives-of-those-that-still-live/) [Kenzaburo Oe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzaburo-oe/) > [“Stories do not change, only the lives they live in do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-conaway/stories-do-not-change-only-the-lives-they-live-in-do/) [Cameron Conaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-conaway/) > [It is the cells which create and maintain in us, during the span of our lives, our will to live and survive, to search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-claude/it-is-the-cells-which-create-and-maintain-in-us-during-the-span-of/) [Albert Claude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-claude/) > [Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/some-people-never-go-crazy-what-truly-horrible-lives-they-must-live/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [We all have our lives to live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-our-lives-to-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical thoughts - generally somebody else's - mechanical emotions, mechanical actions, mechanical reactions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony de Mello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they-live-mechanical-lives/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they-live-mechanical-lives/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/anthony-de-mello-1331_action_most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they_3047674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most people don't live aware lives. They live mechanical lives, mechanical thoughts - generally somebody…” — Anthony de Mello", "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": "Anthony de Mello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most people don't live aware lives....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they-live-mechanical-lives/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/most-people-don-t-live-aware-lives-they-live-mechanical-lives/#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 } } ] } ```