--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a myth, sometimes widespread…" description: "\"There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need only do inner work...that a man is entirely responsible for his own problems; and that to cur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg" --- # There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need… ![“There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need only do inner work...that a man is entirely responsible for his own problems; and that to cure himself, he need only change himself…The fact is, a person is so formed by his surroundings, that his state of harmony depends entirely on his…” quote by Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg) > “There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need only do inner work...that a man is entirely responsible for his own problems; and that to cure himself, he need only change himself…The fact is, a person is so formed by his surroundings, that his state of harmony depends entirely on his harmony with his surroundings.” [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal harmony depends on harmony with one’s environment, not just inner work. **In simple terms:** Surroundings shape personal state. Key Takeaway Cultivate supportive environments. Themes environment well‑being interdependence Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - home design - workplace culture - urban planning Key Concepts Ecology of mind systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What surroundings hinder you? - How can you improve your environment? A Different Perspective Changing environment can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) ## Related quotes > [Just as a painter needs light in order to put the finishing touches to his picture, so I need an inner light, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/just-as-a-painter-needs-light-in-order-to-put-the-finishing-touches/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [You need your Inner Eye tested, if you ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-your-inner-eye-tested-if-you-ask-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The goal of inner work is to help clients unblock their bottlenecks and learn how to live in partnership with the unconscious rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-johnson/the-goal-of-inner-work-is-to-help-clients-unblock-their-bottlenecks/) [Robert Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-johnson/) > [“I don't believe the inner work ever really ends, and sometimes I'd like to take a vacation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-moffitt/i-don-t-believe-the-inner-work-ever-really-ends-and-sometimes-i-d/) [Debra Moffitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-moffitt/) > [Rekindling hope, engaging in inner work, and venturing into the world amount to a complete plan for picking yourself up when you're down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/rekindling-hope-engaging-in-inner-work-and-venturing-into-the-world/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [“But if the testing is decoupled from the programming task, if it is done by someone else, that programmer cannot enjoy an immediate uptick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-amabile/but-if-the-testing-is-decoupled-from-the-programming-task-if-it-is/) [Teresa Amabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-amabile/) > [If we doubt that the foundation for inner work is compassion for self and self-honoring behavior, we need only remind ourselves that the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-earle/if-we-doubt-that-the-foundation-for-inner-work-is-compassion-for-self/) [John Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-earle/) > [“The body is extremely important for Inner Work, because it is a reliable reality check in ways that our minds and emotions (the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-richard-riso/the-body-is-extremely-important-for-inner-work-because-it-is-a/) [Don Richard Riso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-richard-riso/) > [You can know everything that the books have to say, but ultimately it boils down to whether we do the inner work of devotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-can-know-everything-that-the-books-have-to-say-but-ultimately-it/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“If you want to foster great inner work life, focus first on eliminating the obstacles that cause setbacks. Why? Because one setback has more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-amabile/if-you-want-to-foster-great-inner-work-life-focus-first-on/) [Teresa Amabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-amabile/) > [“Many people spend their whole lives doing their best to follow the coaching, guidance, and warnings of the inner critic. Society supports this. However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-brown/many-people-spend-their-whole-lives-doing-their-best-to-follow-the/) Byron Brown > [We can't hire out our own inner work, but we can do the manual labor with delight and decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/we-can-t-hire-out-our-own-inner-work-but-we-can-do-the-manual-labor/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [“Consider what you can do to assist your inner work, try to do it as you think best, but it's actually only going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belsebuub/consider-what-you-can-do-to-assist-your-inner-work-try-to-do-it-as/) [Belsebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belsebuub/) > [“If you don't work on yourself, then much of your politics is merely projections. We have to walk our talk and do the inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/if-you-don-t-work-on-yourself-then-much-of-your-politics-is-merely/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I feel like I'd invested so much in the physical side of my life: running marathons - I brought a SEAL into my house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-itzler/i-feel-like-i-d-invested-so-much-in-the-physical-side-of-my-life/) [Jesse Itzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-itzler/) ## More by Christopher Alexander > [The more living patterns there are in a place - a room, a building, or a town - the more it comes to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/the-more-living-patterns-there-are-in-a-place-a-room-a-building-or-a/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [I mean, making simulations of what you're going to build is tremendously useful if you can get feedback from them that will tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/i-mean-making-simulations-of-what-you-re-going-to-build-is/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [It is not possible to make great buildings, or great towns, beautiful places, places where you feel yourself, places where you feel alive, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/it-is-not-possible-to-make-great-buildings-or-great-towns-beautiful/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [In an organic environment, every place is unique, and the different places also cooperate, with no parts left over, to create a global whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/in-an-organic-environment-every-place-is-unique-and-the-different/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [Drawings help people to work out intricate relationships between parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/drawings-help-people-to-work-out-intricate-relationships-between-parts/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [There is one timeless way of building. It is a thousand years old, and the same today as it has ever been. The great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-is-one-timeless-way-of-building-it-is-a-thousand-years-old-and/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [The structure of life I have described in buildings - the structure which I believe to be objective - is deeply and inextricably connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/the-structure-of-life-i-have-described-in-buildings-the-structure-2/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [We must face the fact that we are on the brink of times when man may be able to magnify his intellectual and inventive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/we-must-face-the-fact-that-we-are-on-the-brink-of-times-when-man-may/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [In short, no pattern is an isolated entity. Each pattern can exist in the world only to the extent that is supported by other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/in-short-no-pattern-is-an-isolated-entity-each-pattern-can-exist-in/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [In my life as an architect, I found that the single thing which inhibits young professionals, new students most severely, is their acceptance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/in-my-life-as-an-architect-i-found-that-the-single-thing-which/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [Speaking as a builder, if you start something, you must have a vision of the thing which arises from your instinct about preserving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/speaking-as-a-builder-if-you-start-something-you-must-have-a-vision/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [It is possible to make buildings by stringing together patterns, in a rather loose way. A building made like this, is an assembly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/it-is-possible-to-make-buildings-by-stringing-together-patterns-in-a/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [All space and matter, organic or inorganic, has some degree of life in it, and matter/space is more alive or less alive according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/all-space-and-matter-organic-or-inorganic-has-some-degree-of-life-in/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [There are some geologists involved with prospecting for oil and other hidden resources who can pick up a rock and say, 'Yes, there's oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-are-some-geologists-involved-with-prospecting-for-oil-and-other/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [To work our way towards a shared language once again, we must first learn how to discover patterns which are deep, and capable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/to-work-our-way-towards-a-shared-language-once-again-we-must-first/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) [Explore all 46 Christopher Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) ## More Cures quotes > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Being single isnt the cause of loneliness, and marriage is not necessarily the cure. There are many lonely married people as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-jones/being-single-isnt-the-cause-of-loneliness-and-marriage-is-not/) Renee Jones > [We know nothing of the principle of health, the positive of which pathology is the negative, except from observation and experience. And nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/we-know-nothing-of-the-principle-of-health-the-positive-of-which/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Arise Evans had a fungous nose, and said, it was revealed to him, that the King's hand would cure him, and at the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/arise-evans-had-a-fungous-nose-and-said-it-was-revealed-to-him-that/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [A lean purse is easier to cure than to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-clason/a-lean-purse-is-easier-to-cure-than-to-endure/) [George S. Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-clason/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Care is no cure, but rather corrosive, For things that are not to be remedied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/care-is-no-cure-but-rather-corrosive-for-things-that-are-not-to-be/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 1,511 Cures quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need only do inner work...that a man is entirely responsible for his own problems; and that to cure himself, he need only change himself…The fact is, a person is so formed by his surroundings, that his state of harmony depends entirely on his harmony with his surroundings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-that-a-person-need-only-do-inner/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cures" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-that-a-person-need-only-do-inner/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/christopher-alexander-14502_cures_there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-tha_2665756.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a myth, sometimes widespread, that a person need only do inner work...that a man is entirely…” — Christopher Alexander", "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": "Christopher Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a myth, sometimes widespread,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-that-a-person-need-only-do-inner/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/there-is-a-myth-sometimes-widespread-that-a-person-need-only-do-inner/#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 } } ] } ```