--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is vain to say human beings ought to…" description: "\"“It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/charlotte-bronte-144_peace_it-is-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to_1543489.jpg" --- # It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with… ![“It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot.” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/charlotte-bronte-144_peace_it-is-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to_1543489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/charlotte-bronte-144_peace_it-is-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to_1543489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/charlotte-bronte-144_peace_it-is-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to_1543489.jpg) > ““It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot.”” [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People cannot be content with mere peace; they need purposeful action, otherwise they suffer a worse fate than the speaker, leading to quiet rebellion. **In simple terms:** Action is essential for a fulfilling life. Key Takeaway Seek purposeful activity. Themes literature human nature existential Mood melancholic determined Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career stagnation - social injustice - personal growth Key Concepts Romanticism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What action gives your life meaning? - How do you balance tranquility and activity? A Different Perspective Action alone may not guarantee satisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Tranquility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquility/) ## Related quotes > [It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/it-is-in-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to-be-satisfied-with/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/it-is-in-vain-to-say-human-beings-ought-to-be-satisfied-with-2/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“One need only posit some threat to the public tranquility and any action can be justified. All the horrors of the reign of terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/one-need-only-posit-some-threat-to-the-public-tranquility-and-any/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“It was not the power to be tranquil which had failed me, but the reason for tranquility was no more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/it-was-not-the-power-to-be-tranquil-which-had-failed-me-but-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Human beings ought not to draw in their antennae at every ungentle touch, like supersensitive insects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-t-a-hoffmann/human-beings-ought-not-to-draw-in-their-antennae-at-every-ungentle/) [E. T. A. Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-t-a-hoffmann/) > [The Pariahs, our fellow beings, ought to be educated by the higher castes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-pariahs-our-fellow-beings-ought-to-be-educated-by-the-higher/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [whatever our ignorance left to itself, and whatever the wounds that other human beings are, we ought to study ourselves with a sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/whatever-our-ignorance-left-to-itself-and-whatever-the-wounds-that/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [“We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world - its good facts, its bad facts, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/we-want-to-stand-upon-our-own-feet-and-look-fair-and-square-at-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“We are as forlorn as children lost in the woods. When you stand in front of me and look at me, what do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/we-are-as-forlorn-as-children-lost-in-the-woods-when-you-stand-in/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [If men will permit themselves to think, as rational beings ought to think, nothing can appear more ridiculous and absurd, exclusive of all moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-men-will-permit-themselves-to-think-as-rational-beings-ought-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [As human beings, we ought to be vulnerable. We shouldn't try to say that we can be self-sufficient or do everything that's necessary for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/as-human-beings-we-ought-to-be-vulnerable-we-shouldn-t-try-to-say/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [“What matters is that we’re all thinking beings, and if we are thinking beings we ought to be able to find common ground somewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-waters/what-matters-is-that-we-re-all-thinking-beings-and-if-we-are-thinking/) [Daniel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-waters/) > [“A conscience free from guilt leads to tranquility of the mind, and only a tranquil mind can see things as they truly are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohdi-sanders/a-conscience-free-from-guilt-leads-to-tranquility-of-the-mind-and/) [Bohdi Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohdi-sanders/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Don't live by my words, don't die by them, chew them slowly digest them, and smile if they give nourishment to your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/don-t-live-by-my-words-don-t-die-by-them-chew-them-slowly-digest-them/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) ## More by Charlotte Brontë > [When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-we-are-struck-at-without-a-reason-we-should-strike-back-again/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“A deal of people, Miss, are for trusting all to Providence; but I say Providence will not dispense with the means, though He often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/a-deal-of-people-miss-are-for-trusting-all-to-providence-but-i-say/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“This night is not calm; the equinox still struggles in its storms. The wild rains of the day are abated; the great single cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/this-night-is-not-calm-the-equinox-still-struggles-in-its-storms-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“How dare I, Mrs Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/how-dare-i-mrs-reed-how-dare-i-because-it-is-the-truth-you-think-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Poverty, for me, is synonymous with degradation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/poverty-for-me-is-synonymous-with-degradation/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [When his first-born was put into his arms, he could see that the boy had inherited his own eyes, as they once were -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-his-first-born-was-put-into-his-arms-he-could-see-that-the-boy/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Talented people almost always know full well the excellence that is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/talented-people-almost-always-know-full-well-the-excellence-that-is/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Not one spark of spirit, not one symptom of resistance, would they have shown till the hand of the Corsican bandit had grasped that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/not-one-spark-of-spirit-not-one-symptom-of-resistance-would-they-have/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Love can excuse anything except meanness; but meanness kills love, cripples even natural affection; without esteem true love cannot exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/love-can-excuse-anything-except-meanness-but-meanness-kills-love/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“You are no ruin sir--no lighting-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots, whether you ask them or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/you-are-no-ruin-sir-no-lighting-struck-tree-you-are-green-and/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Explore all 1,082 Charlotte Brontë quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. 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This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. 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