--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Philosophy is fundamentally about how you…" description: "\"Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise manner, and, for me, that means decently an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg" --- # Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms… ![“Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise manner, and, for me, that means decently and compassionately and courageously and so forth.” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg) > “Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise manner, and, for me, that means decently and compassionately and courageously and so forth.” [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy is about making sense of life wisely, emphasizing decency, compassion, and courage as essential virtues. **In simple terms:** Philosophy guides wise living with kindness and bravery. Key Takeaway Live wisely with compassion and courage. Themes wisdom ethics virtue life courage Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type academic motivational When to use this quote - daily decision making - ethical dilemmas - personal growth - community leadership Key Concepts moral philosophy practical wisdom humanism Questions to Reflect On - What does living wisely look like for you? - How can compassion be balanced with courage? A Different Perspective Practical application can be challenging in complex real‑world scenarios. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-your-life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [My philosophy is fundamentally sad, but I'm not a sad man, and I don't believe I sadden anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-machado/my-philosophy-is-fundamentally-sad-but-i-m-not-a-sad-man-and-i-don-t-2/) [Antonio Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-machado/) > [The folkish philosophy is fundamentally distinguished from the Marxist by reason of the fact that the former recognizes the significance of race and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-folkish-philosophy-is-fundamentally-distinguished-from-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [My philosophy is fundamentally sad, but I’m not a sad man, and I don’t believe I sadden anyone else. In other words, the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-machado/my-philosophy-is-fundamentally-sad-but-i-m-not-a-sad-man-and-i-don-t/) [Antonio Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-machado/) > [Love is omni-inclusive, progressively exquisite, understanding and compassionately attuned to other than self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/love-is-omni-inclusive-progressively-exquisite-understanding-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Never underestimate the power of compassionately recognizing what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/never-underestimate-the-power-of-compassionately-recognizing-what-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [By acting compassionately, by helping to restore justice and to encourage peace, we are acknowledging that we are all part of one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/by-acting-compassionately-by-helping-to-restore-justice-and-to/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“If you really care about animals, then stop trying to figure out how to exploit them 'compassionately'. Just stop exploiting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/if-you-really-care-about-animals-then-stop-trying-to-figure-out-how/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“It is my humble intention to compassionately allow everyone and everything, especially my self, to be exactly as we are...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-freeman/it-is-my-humble-intention-to-compassionately-allow-everyone-and/) Maximus Freeman > [“The art of peaceful living comes down to living compassionately & wisely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-lokos/the-art-of-peaceful-living-comes-down-to-living-compassionately-wisely/) [Allan Lokos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-lokos/) > [It's often difficult for us to act compassionately, but sacred art eases the difficulty by ennobling us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/it-s-often-difficult-for-us-to-act-compassionately-but-sacred-art/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/when-we-know-ourselves-to-be-connected-to-all-others-acting/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Such beauty, he thought, was too perfect to have come about by mere chance. That day in the center of the Pacific was, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hillenbrand/such-beauty-he-thought-was-too-perfect-to-have-come-about-by-mere/) [Laura Hillenbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-hillenbrand/) > [If you want to know who we are, who America is, how we respond to evil-that's it: selflessly, compassionately, unafraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-you-want-to-know-who-we-are-who-america-is-how-we-respond-to-evil/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“It takes gumption to wake up every day to face the fickle world and cleave to your morals and values Not flinch at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuella-raphaelle/it-takes-gumption-to-wake-up-every-day-to-face-the-fickle-world-and/) Emmanuella Raphaelle > [we unwittingly project onto God our own attitudes and feelings toward ourselves... But we cannot assume that He feels about us the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/we-unwittingly-project-onto-god-our-own-attitudes-and-feelings-toward/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More by Cornel West > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Like King, we need to put on our cemetery clothes and be coffin-ready for the next great democratic battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/like-king-we-need-to-put-on-our-cemetery-clothes-and-be-coffin-ready/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [When we think of globalization we are thinking in part of structures and institutions that have been developed over time and that have allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/when-we-think-of-globalization-we-are-thinking-in-part-of-structures/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The challenge artists face today is whether to be an underground, unheard genius, or to dilute their art for the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-challenge-artists-face-today-is-whether-to-be-an-underground/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The need of black conservatives to gain the respect of their white peers deeply shapes certain elements of their conservatism. In this regard, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-need-of-black-conservatives-to-gain-the-respect-of-their-white/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I don't draw any distinctions between forms of bigotry or forms of ideology that lose sight of the humanity of people. I can't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-don-t-draw-any-distinctions-between-forms-of-bigotry-or-forms-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Barack Obama has domesticated the left in such a way that we feel as if we have no alternative but him...I refuse to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/barack-obama-has-domesticated-the-left-in-such-a-way-that-we-feel-as/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Larry Summers, I think, he had a long history of arrogance and relative ignorance about poor people's culture and working people's culture and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/larry-summers-i-think-he-had-a-long-history-of-arrogance-and-relative/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-gift-of-inspiration/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [You can see it in terms of the obsession on Wall Street with not just profits but greed, more profit, more profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-see-it-in-terms-of-the-obsession-on-wall-street-with-not-just/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Anybody who takes Martin Luther King seriously has got to go beyond the standard understanding of who he was, has to connect those dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/anybody-who-takes-martin-luther-king-seriously-has-got-to-go-beyond/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) [Explore all 400 Cornel West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## More Fundamentally quotes > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Life is fundamentally up for grabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/life-is-fundamentally-up-for-grabs/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [Fundamentally, I like to accomplish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/fundamentally-i-like-to-accomplish-things/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-lord-of-the-rings-is-of-course-a-fundamentally-religious-and/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [No one should be adored, it's fundamentally immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/no-one-should-be-adored-it-s-fundamentally-immoral/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [After spending 460 days as a hostage, I did emerge a fundamentally changed person. But I think, like everyone does as they grow older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/after-spending-460-days-as-a-hostage-i-did-emerge-a-fundamentally/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [When you're at a certain point in your time - age, that is, when you're older - you start to realize that, actually, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/when-you-re-at-a-certain-point-in-your-time-age-that-is-when-you-re/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [You would not enjoy Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-would-not-enjoy-nietzsche-sir-he-is-fundamentally-unsound/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the Hispanic community, the values that resonate in our community, are fundamentally conservative. They are faith, family, patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-hispanic-community-the-values-that-resonate-in-our/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Deterrence is still fundamentally about influencing an actor's decisions. It is about a solid policy foundation. It is about credible capabilities. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-kehler/deterrence-is-still-fundamentally-about-influencing-an-actor-s/) C. Robert Kehler > [I think that books are fundamentally educational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/i-think-that-books-are-fundamentally-educational/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [I have a mantra that people are naturally, fundamentally and inherently mobile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/i-have-a-mantra-that-people-are-naturally-fundamentally-and/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [Compassion is the intention to see each human being as no better or worse than yourself, neither more nor less important, and as fundamentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-miller/compassion-is-the-intention-to-see-each-human-being-as-no-better-or/) [Timothy Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-miller/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) Browse all 183 Fundamentally quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise manner, and, for me, that means decently and compassionately and courageously and so forth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cornel West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-you-come-to-terms-with-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fundamentally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-you-come-to-terms-with-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/cornel-west-708_life_philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-yo_1140530.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Philosophy is fundamentally about how you come to terms with living your life and trying to do it in a wise…” — Cornel West", "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": "Cornel West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Philosophy is fundamentally about how you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-you-come-to-terms-with-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/philosophy-is-fundamentally-about-how-you-come-to-terms-with-living/#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 } } ] } ```