--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was not a public - I was not a thinker…" description: "\"I was not a public - I was not a thinker. I was a doer.\" — Bill Moyers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/bill-moyers-2625_doer_i-was-not-a-public-i-was-not-a-thinker-i_2088579.png" --- # I was not a public - I was not a thinker. I was a doer. ![“I was not a public - I was not a thinker. I was a doer.” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/bill-moyers-2625_doer_i-was-not-a-public-i-was-not-a-thinker-i_2088579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/bill-moyers-2625_doer_i-was-not-a-public-i-was-not-a-thinker-i_2088579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/630/bill-moyers-2625_doer_i-was-not-a-public-i-was-not-a-thinker-i_2088579.png) > “I was not a public - I was not a thinker. I was a doer.” [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He identifies himself as a doer rather than a thinker, emphasizing action over contemplation. **In simple terms:** Action over contemplation. Key Takeaway Prioritize doing over endless analysis. Themes action pragmatism identity productivity Mood pragmatic direct Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - project execution - entrepreneurship - personal habit formation Key Concepts behavioral economics self‑concept agency Questions to Reflect On - When is thinking essential before acting? - How do you ensure actions align with values? A Different Perspective Neglecting reflection can lead to misguided actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) ## Related quotes > [As long as one feels that he is the doer, he cannot escape from the wheel of births.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-long-as-one-feels-that-he-is-the-doer-he-cannot-escape-from-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [You must realize you are not the doer, that you are not the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-must-realize-you-are-not-the-doer-that-you-are-not-the-action/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If the 'I am the doer' idea goes, then only I Am remains and that 'I Am' has no religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/if-the-i-am-the-doer-idea-goes-then-only-i-am-remains-and-that-i-am/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [So many thinkers, so few doers. -Nabil N. Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-jamal/so-many-thinkers-so-few-doers-nabil-n-jamal/) [Nabil Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-jamal/) > [We need a doer, not a talker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/we-need-a-doer-not-a-talker/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [The true entreprenuer is a doer,not a dreamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-true-entreprenuer-is-a-doer-not-a-dreamer/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [The doer is merely a fiction added to the deed ? the deed is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-doer-is-merely-a-fiction-added-to-the-deed-the-deed-is-everything/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Ditch the dream and be a doer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/ditch-the-dream-and-be-a-doer/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [He who thinks he is the doer is also the sufferer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/he-who-thinks-he-is-the-doer-is-also-the-sufferer/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I'm a doer, and whether it was the tsunami in Sri Lanka or the earthquake in Indonesia, I was always saying, I should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-walker/i-m-a-doer-and-whether-it-was-the-tsunami-in-sri-lanka-or-the/) [Paul Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-walker/) > [The true entrepreneur is a doer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-true-entrepreneur-is-a-doer/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Be a doer and not a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/be-a-doer-and-not-a-critic/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“Whenever He answers prayers, God usually prioritizes those by people who, instead of their mouths, have prayed with their hands and/or feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-he-answers-prayers-god-usually-prioritizes-those-by-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Jesus was a doer, and not only a talker. He led the way by example. He showed us how to live and minister to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-pawlowski/jesus-was-a-doer-and-not-only-a-talker-he-led-the-way-by-example-he/) [Artur Pawlowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-pawlowski/) > [I pledge to you I'm not a talker. I'm a doer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-pledge-to-you-i-m-not-a-talker-i-m-a-doer/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) ## More by Bill Moyers > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-the-public-loses-faith-in-democracy-s-ability-to-solve-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [It's very difficult to measure the impact on policy of any investigative journalism. You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/civilization-is-but-a-thin-veneer-stretched-across-the-passions-of/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I really believe that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-really-believe-that-coincidence-is-god-s-way-of-remaining-anonymous/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [A profound transformation is happening here. The framers of our nation never envisioned these huge media giants; never imagined what could happen if big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-profound-transformation-is-happening-here-the-framers-of-our-nation/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Explore all 157 Bill Moyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) ## More Doer quotes > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“There is nothing we could add to that which has already been created…perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-amis/there-is-nothing-we-could-add-to-that-which-has-already-been-created/) [Vivian Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-amis/) > [As long as one feels that he is the doer, he cannot escape from the wheel of births.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-long-as-one-feels-that-he-is-the-doer-he-cannot-escape-from-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Of the two, only one can be the doer. If God is the doer; then there is nothing for us to do. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/of-the-two-only-one-can-be-the-doer-if-god-is-the-doer-then-there-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I'm not a talker. I'm a doer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-m-not-a-talker-i-m-a-doer/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [Be a doer, not a stewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/be-a-doer-not-a-stewer/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [All performances are different. I don't think it's necessary to compare one with another. I am just me playing the role of Lear. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holm/all-performances-are-different-i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to/) [Ian Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holm/) > [Jesus was a doer, and not only a talker. He led the way by example. He showed us how to live and minister to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-pawlowski/jesus-was-a-doer-and-not-only-a-talker-he-led-the-way-by-example-he/) [Artur Pawlowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-pawlowski/) > [“If you believe God (Ishwar) to be the doer, then why do you believe yourself to be doer?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-believe-god-ishwar-to-be-the-doer-then-why-do-you-believe/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“My Belle. I'm so proud of you. Look at what you created here." Belle blushed. "I didn't create it, Papa. It's Hugo's shop." "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/random-house-disney/my-belle-i-m-so-proud-of-you-look-at-what-you-created-here-belle/) [Random House Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/random-house-disney/) > [I would not have one turntable if my brother didn't buy the turntable. I was the dreamer; he was the doer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-would-not-have-one-turntable-if-my-brother-didn-t-buy-the-turntable/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The Hollywood model is to develop scripts for 10 years, sell them, transfer them, attach this actor, then attach a director. This isn't what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/the-hollywood-model-is-to-develop-scripts-for-10-years-sell-them/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [“TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR, BE A DOER FIRST. IT TAKES “YOU” TO BE THAT!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-joshi/to-be-an-entrepreneur-be-a-doer-first-it-takes-you-to-be-that/) [PRIYANSHU JOSHI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-joshi/) > [“Worldly life is based on ‘action’ and the spiritual life is based on ‘knowing’. One does the action and the other ‘sees’. The ‘doer’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/worldly-life-is-based-on-action-and-the-spiritual-life-is-based-on/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The wrong is never the only thing a wrong-doer has done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/the-wrong-is-never-the-only-thing-a-wrong-doer-has-done/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) Browse all 48 Doer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was not a public - I was not a thinker. 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