--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the project but the living…" description: "\"It is not the project but the living process that will be the measure of our actions.\" — David Holmgren" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png" --- # It is not the project but the living process that will be… ![“It is not the project but the living process that will be the measure of our actions.” quote by David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png) > “It is not the project but the living process that will be the measure of our actions.” [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value lies in the ongoing, adaptive process, not just the finished project. **In simple terms:** Process matters more than product. Key Takeaway Focus on continuous learning and adaptation. Themes sustainability process design Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - urban gardening - community projects - business development Key Concepts Systems thinking adaptive management Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed feedback loops in your work? - What habits sustain long‑term success? A Different Perspective A finished product still needs ongoing care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) ## Related quotes > [Yo we project living, with plastic on the furniture, little niggaz coming up will, Fucking try to murda ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-yayo/yo-we-project-living-with-plastic-on-the-furniture-little-niggaz/) [Tony Yayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-yayo/) > [You should measure me by my actions, the friends I keep, and the charities I support, not by the politics of my husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-linton/you-should-measure-me-by-my-actions-the-friends-i-keep-and-the/) [Louise Linton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-linton/) > [Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/fools-measure-actions-after-they-are-done-by-the-event-wise-men/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [“The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ii/the-true-measure-of-all-our-actions-is-how-long-the-good-in-them-lasts/) Elizabeth II > [Measure actions, not outcomes. Focusing on the big picture all the time can be overwhelming and frustrating. So don't. Instead, focus on the smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/measure-actions-not-outcomes-focusing-on-the-big-picture-all-the-time/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [So always measure your actions and do the right thing for if not there will be consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-alfred/so-always-measure-your-actions-and-do-the-right-thing-for-if-not/) Alvin Alfred > [There are people around us always as a measure of our actions and our words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-people-around-us-always-as-a-measure-of-our-actions-and-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had to define stress, it would not be far off if you said it was the process of living. The process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-sarnoff/if-you-had-to-define-stress-it-would-not-be-far-off-if-you-said-it/) Stanley Sarnoff > [“Life is a process of creation, and you keep living it as if it were a process of re-enactment!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/life-is-a-process-of-creation-and-you-keep-living-it-as-if-it-were-a/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Living is not the story of your life. Living is the process of experiencing right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-erhard/living-is-not-the-story-of-your-life-living-is-the-process-of/) [Werner Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-erhard/) > [There cannot be a new religion. Religion is a continuous living process within us which is our sustenance. It's like a ladder on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/there-cannot-be-a-new-religion-religion-is-a-continuous-living/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [It's like a living process. You start out, and you see the Eiger north face, and you think, 'That's impossible.' Then you start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/it-s-like-a-living-process-you-start-out-and-you-see-the-eiger-north/) [Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/) > [I think it's important to cultivate as many people as you can to see which ones you jive with. And it makes you happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-mathis/i-think-it-s-important-to-cultivate-as-many-people-as-you-can-to-see/) [Johnny Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-mathis/) > [“I’m learning that what’s important is not so much what I do to make a living as who I become in the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-anderson/i-m-learning-that-what-s-important-is-not-so-much-what-i-do-to-make-a/) [Joan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-anderson/) > [You will find the truth the way you have found your awareness, spontaneously. It's a living process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/you-will-find-the-truth-the-way-you-have-found-your-awareness/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) ## More by David Holmgren > [Traditional agriculture was labour intensive, industrial agriculture is energy intensive, and permaculture-designed systems are information and design intensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/traditional-agriculture-was-labour-intensive-industrial-agriculture/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [Some ideas need to be continually reinvented and rediscovered, particularly an idea like the omnipotence of humans. It takes a long time to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/some-ideas-need-to-be-continually-reinvented-and-rediscovered/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [Although it is tempting to think of these natural landscapes as reflecting a stability in climactic and geologic forces, long periods of climactic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/although-it-is-tempting-to-think-of-these-natural-landscapes-as/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [When we work with nature instead of trying to impose our will, the solution is often found within the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/when-we-work-with-nature-instead-of-trying-to-impose-our-will-the/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [The permaculture's whole principle of having to work with nature, rather than fight against it, is not just an ethical restraint. It's also about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/the-permaculture-s-whole-principle-of-having-to-work-with-nature/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [A lot of people do get stuck on the idea that they can't pour energy into something unless they own it. Given the current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/a-lot-of-people-do-get-stuck-on-the-idea-that-they-can-t-pour-energy/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [I'm under no illusion that the future will be a neat and tidy or desirable world. We will gain a lot of things through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/i-m-under-no-illusion-that-the-future-will-be-a-neat-and-tidy-or/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [If you understand it from an ecological or sustainability perspective, agriculture is the primary way we meet most of our needs, and it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/if-you-understand-it-from-an-ecological-or-sustainability-perspective/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [I thought if something was a good idea, we should be able to apply it to ourselves as guinea pigs and do something with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/i-thought-if-something-was-a-good-idea-we-should-be-able-to-apply-it/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [The Earth is a living, breathing entity. Without ongoing care and nurturing, there will be consequences too big to ignore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/the-earth-is-a-living-breathing-entity-without-ongoing-care-and/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [If you give up on trying to change larger structures and just go off on what some would say is a personal indulgence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/if-you-give-up-on-trying-to-change-larger-structures-and-just-go-off/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) > [Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/consciously-designed-landscapes-which-mimic-the-patterns-and/) [David Holmgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) [Explore all 13 David Holmgren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the project but the living process that will be the measure of our actions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Holmgren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-process-that-will-be-the-measure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-process-that-will-be-the-measure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/david-holmgren-35112_action_it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-pro_1225872.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not the project but the living process that will be the measure of our actions.” — David Holmgren", "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": "David Holmgren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holmgren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not the project but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-process-that-will-be-the-measure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holmgren/it-is-not-the-project-but-the-living-process-that-will-be-the-measure/#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 } } ] } ```