--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only gratefulness, in the form of…" description: "\"Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.\" — David Steindl-Rast" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png" --- # Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for… ![“Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.” quote by David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png) > “Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.” [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that gratitude, combined with an open, receptive attitude toward the unexpected, captures life's fullness and hope. **In simple terms:** Gratitude and openness bring life's fullness and hope. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude and stay open to surprises. Themes gratitude openness hope mindfulness Mood thoughtful optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily gratitude practice - creative work - travel experiences Key Concepts abundance serendipity spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice gratitude without forcing positivity? - In what ways does surprise enrich your life? A Different Perspective Openness can lead to disappointment if expectations are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullness/) [Fullness of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullness-of-life/) [Gratefulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratefulness/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitless/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [Gratefulness is that fullness of life for which we are all thirsting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-is-that-fullness-of-life-for-which-we-are-all-thirsting/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [As we learn to give thanks for all of life and death, for all of this given world of ours, we find a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-we-learn-to-give-thanks-for-all-of-life-and-death-for-all-of-this/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-van-horn/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we-have-into-4/) [Bruce Van Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-van-horn/) > [“Your complete intelligence is designed to experience the fullness of life, not a narrow omission of its best possibilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/your-complete-intelligence-is-designed-to-experience-the-fullness-of/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The fullness of life is only accessible in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-fullness-of-life-is-only-accessible-in-the-present-moment/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Without fullness of experience, length of days is nothing. When fullness of life has been achieved, shortness of days is nothing. That is perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/without-fullness-of-experience-length-of-days-is-nothing-when/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [The fullness of life is incubated in its messy places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/the-fullness-of-life-is-incubated-in-its-messy-places/) [Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/) > [I came to a clear conclusion, and it is a universal one: To live, to struggle, to be in love with life--in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-came-to-a-clear-conclusion-and-it-is-a-universal-one-to-live-to/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Pray for and work for fullness of life above every thing; full red blood in the body; full honesty and truth in the mind;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/pray-for-and-work-for-fullness-of-life-above-every-thing-full-red/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I believe that is what the God experience does for us. It calls us beyond our limits into the fullness of life - into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-believe-that-is-what-the-god-experience-does-for-us-it-calls-us/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [But we have only begun to love the earth. We have only begun to imagine the fullness of life. How could we tire of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/but-we-have-only-begun-to-love-the-earth-we-have-only-begun-to/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fullness of life comes from an identity built on giving and on joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fullness-of-life-comes-from-an-identity-built-on-giving-and-on-joy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we-have-into/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Faith is more important to me than life itself because without it there would be no fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/faith-is-more-important-to-me-than-life-itself-because-without-it/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More by David Steindl-Rast > [Home and journey together constitute the creative polarity of the heart, the two dimensions we must cultivate if we want to 'develop the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/home-and-journey-together-constitute-the-creative-polarity-of-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-i-express-my-gratitude-i-become-more-deeply-aware-of-it-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Gratefulness makes us aware of the gift and makes us happy. As long as we take things for granted they don't make us happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-makes-us-aware-of-the-gift-and-makes-us-happy-as-long-as/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Any change in attitude changes the way one sees the world, and this in turn changes the way one acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/any-change-in-attitude-changes-the-way-one-sees-the-world-and-this-in/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [If you learn to respond as if it’s the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/if-you-learn-to-respond-as-if-it-s-the-first-day-in-your-life-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather, to have slept well last night, to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/we-have-thousands-of-opportunities-every-day-to-be-grateful-for/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [The universe is gratis. It cannot be earned, nor need it be earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/the-universe-is-gratis-it-cannot-be-earned-nor-need-it-be-earned/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [...our happiness hinges not on good luck; it hinges on peace of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/our-happiness-hinges-not-on-good-luck-it-hinges-on-peace-of-heart/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [From experience we know that whenever we are truly awake and alive, we are also truly grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/from-experience-we-know-that-whenever-we-are-truly-awake-and-alive-we/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Blessing is the lifeblood throbbing through the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/blessing-is-the-lifeblood-throbbing-through-the-universe/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Beauty seen makes the one who sees it more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/beauty-seen-makes-the-one-who-sees-it-more-beautiful/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [Each one of us is called to become that great song that comes out of the silence, and the more we let ourselves down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/each-one-of-us-is-called-to-become-that-great-song-that-comes-out-of/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/in-moments-of-surprise-we-catch-at-least-a-glimpse-of-the-joy-to/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [...One can learn to focus on 'opportunity' as the gift within every given moment. This attitude towards life always improves the situation. Even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/one-can-learn-to-focus-on-opportunity-as-the-gift-within-every-given/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [“Sometimes people get the mistaken notion that spirituality is a separate department of life, the penthouse of existence. But rightly understood, it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/sometimes-people-get-the-mistaken-notion-that-spirituality-is-a/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) [Explore all 70 David Steindl-Rast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) ## More Form quotes > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) Browse all 12,984 Form quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Steindl-Rast" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Form" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daa/david-steindl-rast-9835_form_only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitle_172025.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.” — David Steindl-Rast", "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 Steindl-Rast", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only gratefulness, in the form of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/#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 } } ] } ```