---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truth is something we discover by…"
description: "\"Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is not a list of statements, but a direction of life.\" — David Steindl-Rast"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png"
---

#  Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is…

![“Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is not a list of statements, but a direction of life.” quote by David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png)

> “Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is not a list of statements, but a direction of life.”

[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.

Truth is lived experience, a guiding principle rather than a list of factual claims.

**In simple terms:** Truth guides life, not just facts.

Key Takeaway

Live according to your principles.

Themes

philosophy ethics purpose

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

aphilosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal decisions
- leadership
- spiritual practice
- education

Key Concepts

existentialism pragmatism

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you align actions with your truth?
- What if your truth conflicts with others?

A Different Perspective

Truth can be subjective and contested.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Direction Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction-life/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements/) [Statements Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements-direction-4471028/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-discover-2833229/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/)

## Related quotes

> [The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/the-truth-is-most-of-us-discover-where-we-are-headed-when-we-arrive/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [The secret gem of truth has been hidden in the core of your own heart all along. My invitation is to stop all movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gangaji/the-secret-gem-of-truth-has-been-hidden-in-the-core-of-your-own-heart/)

[Gangaji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gangaji/)

> [The first step toward finding God, Who is Truth, is to discover the truth about myself: and if I have been in error, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-first-step-toward-finding-god-who-is-truth-is-to-discover-the/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.”8 Psychologist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-barry-kaufman/the-truth-is-most-of-us-discover-where-we-are-headed-when-we-arrive-8/)

[Scott Barry Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-barry-kaufman/)

> [“It is now. But a trip like this? You will find something to fill it with. A truth of your own, that you discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-pennypacker/it-is-now-but-a-trip-like-this-you-will-find-something-to-fill-it/)

[Sara Pennypacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-pennypacker/)

> [“Divine truth is not something we “discover;” it is revealed by the Holy Spirit of God. As such, no other reality in the Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-t-blackaby/divine-truth-is-not-something-we-discover-it-is-revealed-by-the-holy/)

[Henry T. Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/)

> [“Your world, your universe, the people and situation around you, are all an enigma. You only are the only truth, but... you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaz-kohli/your-world-your-universe-the-people-and-situation-around-you-are-all/)

[Ayaz Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaz-kohli/)

> [I've always been a great believer that you work as hard as you can and try to have some direction in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hughton/i-ve-always-been-a-great-believer-that-you-work-as-hard-as-you-can/)

[Chris Hughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hughton/)

> [“Remember this truth: now matters more than any other time in your life, because it’s what you are doing today that is determining who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/remember-this-truth-now-matters-more-than-any-other-time-in-your-life/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [Nothing is beneath you if it is in the direction of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nothing-is-beneath-you-if-it-is-in-the-direction-of-your-life/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“You are moving in the opposite direction when your life is about survival only”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-moving-in-the-opposite-direction-when-your-life-is-about/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Choose your company wisely. Surround yourself with positive people that bring out the best in you. Your direction in life depends .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-your-company-wisely-surround-yourself-with-positive-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [On any one day you can massively change the direction of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/on-any-one-day-you-can-massively-change-the-direction-of-your-life/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [“no one can absolutely control the direction of his life; but each person can certainly influence it. The armchair explorers who complain that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/no-one-can-absolutely-control-the-direction-of-his-life-but-each/)

[Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/)

> [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/)

[Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/)

## 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/)

> [Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/)

[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/)

[Explore all 70 David Steindl-Rast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

## More Inspirational quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/)

[Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/)

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

> [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/)

[Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/)

> [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/)

[Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/)

> [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

[Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is not a list of statements, but a direction of life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Steindl-Rast"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carrying-it-out-it-is-not-a-list-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspirational"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carrying-it-out-it-is-not-a-list-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/david-steindl-rast-9835_inspirational_truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carryi_2143052.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Truth is something we discover by carrying it out. It is not a list of statements, but a direction of life.” — 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": "Truth is something we discover by...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carrying-it-out-it-is-not-a-list-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/truth-is-something-we-discover-by-carrying-it-out-it-is-not-a-list-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
