--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Three things differentiate living from…" description: "\"Three things differentiate living from the soul verses living from the ego only: the ability to sense and learn new ways, the tenacity to ride a rough ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_ability_three-things-differentiate-living-from-t_278463.png" --- # Three things differentiate living from the soul verses… ![“Three things differentiate living from the soul verses living from the ego only: the ability to sense and learn new ways, the tenacity to ride a rough road, and the patience to learn deep love over time.” quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_ability_three-things-differentiate-living-from-t_278463.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_ability_three-things-differentiate-living-from-t_278463.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_ability_three-things-differentiate-living-from-t_278463.png) > “Three things differentiate living from the soul verses living from the ego only: the ability to sense and learn new ways, the tenacity to ride a rough road, and the patience to learn deep love over time.” [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living authentically requires openness to learning, resilience through hardship, and patience for deep love to develop. **In simple terms:** Growth needs learning, resilience, and love. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity, perseverance, and compassion. Themes personal growth spirituality psychology resilience Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative projects - long‑term relationships - spiritual practice Key Concepts self‑actualization emotional intelligence long‑term development Questions to Reflect On - What new skills can you learn now? - How do you practice patience in love? A Different Perspective Focusing only on ego can limit depth and connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Deep love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-love/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Rough road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-road/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Tenacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenacity/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) ## Related quotes > [The properties which differentiate living matter from any kind of inorganic imitation may be instinctively felt, but can hardly be formulated without expert knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-properties-which-differentiate-living-matter-from-any-kind-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are living by ego instead of love always remember we are slave of our own ego..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-we-are-living-by-ego-instead-of-love-always-remember-we-are-slave/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The many factors which divide us are actually much more superficial than those we share. Despite all of the things that differentiate us -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-many-factors-which-divide-us-are-actually-much-more-superficial/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Loving yourself and being in love with yourself are two entirely different things. Differentiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cervantes/loving-yourself-and-being-in-love-with-yourself-are-two-entirely/) [Andrew Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cervantes/) > [I had a few fibroids removed, and they left me with a Grand Canyon of scar tissue in my uterus. 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It hurt but didn't, and it eased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alysha-speer/once-upon-a-raindrop-i-landed-on-depression-my-umbrella-broke-and/) [Alysha Speer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alysha-speer/) > [Anything is Possible, it's not going to come to you, you have to work to get it, it might be a rough road but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-malaki/anything-is-possible-it-s-not-going-to-come-to-you-you-have-to-work/) Rabih Malaki > [“The end of friendship is a commerce the most strict and homely that can be joined; more strict than any of which we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-end-of-friendship-is-a-commerce-the-most-strict-and-homely-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Being in-love is not always being happy. Most of the time it's like walking barefooted in a rough road but when you reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namae/being-in-love-is-not-always-being-happy-most-of-the-time-it-s-like/) Namae > [I think any girl who comes to Hollywood with sex symbol or bombshell hanging over her has a rough road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/i-think-any-girl-who-comes-to-hollywood-with-sex-symbol-or-bombshell/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) ## More by Clarissa Pinkola Estes > [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Whether you are possessed of a simple heart or the ambitions of an Amazon, whether you are trying to make it to the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/whether-you-are-possessed-of-a-simple-heart-or-the-ambitions-of-an/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. 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Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Dogs are the magicians of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/dogs-are-the-magicians-of-the-universe/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/ours-is-not-the-task-of-fixing-the-entire-world-all-at-once-but-of/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Being real doesn't mean being reckless, it means allowing La Voz Mitologica, The Mythological Voice, to speak. One does that by shutting off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/being-real-doesn-t-mean-being-reckless-it-means-allowing-la-voz/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Without art we live under the illusion that there is only time, and not eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/without-art-we-live-under-the-illusion-that-there-is-only-time-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Some psychological thinkers, including Freud and Bettelheim, have interpreted episodes such as those found in the Bluebeard tale as psychological punishments for women’s sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/some-psychological-thinkers-including-freud-and-bettelheim-have/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman… have faith. There is yet time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/if-you-have-never-been-called-a-defiant-incorrigible-impossible-woman/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [we all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/we-all-begin-the-process-before-we-are-ready-before-we-are-strong/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“To love a woman, the mate must also love her wildish nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/to-love-a-woman-the-mate-must-also-love-her-wildish-nature/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) [Explore all 223 Clarissa Pinkola Estes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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