---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is not a thought that is being…"
description: "\"There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind\" — E. P. Thompson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png"
---

#  There is not a thought that is being thought in the West…

![“There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind” quote by E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png)

> “There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind”

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Ideas from any culture can be present in Indian thought, showing global intellectual exchange.

**In simple terms:** World ideas appear in Indian minds.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge cross‑cultural thinking.

Themes

globalization intellectual exchange culture

Mood

analytical curious

Type

academic reflective

When to use this quote

- education
- media
- political discourse

Key Concepts

philosophy postcolonial studies

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you see foreign ideas influencing local thought?
- What benefits arise from such exchanges?

A Different Perspective

Cultural appropriation concerns may arise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/)

## Related quotes

> [An examination of Indian Vedic doctrines shows that it is in tune with the most advanced scientific and philosophical thought of the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-woodroffe/an-examination-of-indian-vedic-doctrines-shows-that-it-is-in-tune/)

Sir John Woodroffe

> [To the Indian mind there is nothing higher than religious ideals, that this is the keynote of Indian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-the-indian-mind-there-is-nothing-higher-than-religious-ideals-that/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Indian culture certainly gives the Indian mind, including the mind of the Indian scientist, the ability to think out of the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-joffe/indian-culture-certainly-gives-the-indian-mind-including-the-mind-of/)

[Roland Joffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-joffe/)

> [Religion is the peculiarity of the growth of the Indian mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/religion-is-the-peculiarity-of-the-growth-of-the-indian-mind/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Spirituality is indeed the master key of the Indian mind; the sense of the infinitive is native to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/spirituality-is-indeed-the-master-key-of-the-indian-mind-the-sense-of/)

[Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/)

> [ Let us realise \[that\] we are the infinite power. Who put a limit to the power of mind? Let us realise we are all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-us-realise-that-we-are-the-infinite-power-who-put-a-limit-to-the/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [The Indian mind is first religious, then anything else. So this is to be strengthened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-indian-mind-is-first-religious-then-anything-else-so-this-is-to/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Spirituality is the master key of the Indian mind. It is this dominant inclination of India which gives character to all the expressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/spirituality-is-the-master-key-of-the-indian-mind-it-is-this-dominant/)

[Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/)

> [As Muslims, we must have an active presence based on ethical and moral consistency. We need to be very vocal, to inform people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/as-muslims-we-must-have-an-active-presence-based-on-ethical-and-moral/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [Women are outperforming men in almost every sphere of life in our society and the women of East Indian ancestry are no exception to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamla-persad-bissessar/women-are-outperforming-men-in-almost-every-sphere-of-life-in-our/)

[Kamla Persad-Bissessar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamla-persad-bissessar/)

> [“Freedom is not an idea; a philosophy written about freedom is not freedom. Either one is free or one is not. One is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-is-not-an-idea-a-philosophy-written-about-freedom-is-not/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Once you've done that, push the thought of no thought away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/once-you-ve-done-that-push-the-thought-of-no-thought-away/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“She thought no one could see her. I thought she was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/she-thought-no-one-could-see-her-i-thought-she-was-beautiful/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Is action merely the incidental product of thought, or is thought the consequential product of action?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/is-action-merely-the-incidental-product-of-thought-or-is-thought-the/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

## More by E. P. Thompson

> [I have become a prisoner of the peace movement. But you can't say that the termination is coming and then say that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-have-become-a-prisoner-of-the-peace-movement-but-you-can-t-say-that/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [This going into Europe will not turn out to be the thrilling mutual exchange supposed. It is more like nine middle-aged couples with failing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/this-going-into-europe-will-not-turn-out-to-be-the-thrilling-mutual/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [Could I interrupt here, because there is an alternative explanation, which you are particularly well placed to examine. You know the argument that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/could-i-interrupt-here-because-there-is-an-alternative-explanation/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [You know as a scientist that both were developed completely independently of each other in the laboratories. And only afterward were the political situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/you-know-as-a-scientist-that-both-were-developed-completely/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I do not see class as a 'structure', nor even as a 'category', but as something which in fact happens (and can be shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-do-not-see-class-as-a-structure-nor-even-as-a-category-but-as/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [The missiles come first, and the justifications come second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/the-missiles-come-first-and-the-justifications-come-second/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [We must not look at the past with the enormous condescension of posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/we-must-not-look-at-the-past-with-the-enormous-condescension-of/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I think that the U.S. does have this very much more open attitude, and I admire it very much and I think it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-think-that-the-u-s-does-have-this-very-much-more-open-attitude-and/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I don't care tuppence whether I'm forced into a leadership position or not. I'd much sooner not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-don-t-care-tuppence-whether-i-m-forced-into-a-leadership-position/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [The readings of Soviet society are as many as the experts you speak to. In my view, it's a society that is overdue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/the-readings-of-soviet-society-are-as-many-as-the-experts-you-speak/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [There are no European voices at Geneva, there are no European voices at START.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/there-are-no-european-voices-at-geneva-there-are-no-european-voices/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I think you will find scientists that think like you in Germany and Britain, and you will find politicians that think like Weinberger. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-think-you-will-find-scientists-that-think-like-you-in-germany-and/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I am convinced that we are in a terminal process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-am-convinced-that-we-are-in-a-terminal-process/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [The talk about balance, nuclear balance, seems to me to be metaphysical and doesn't seem to be real at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/the-talk-about-balance-nuclear-balance-seems-to-me-to-be-metaphysical/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

> [I will hear no talk that there are no intermediate-range weapons on the NATO side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-will-hear-no-talk-that-there-are-no-intermediate-range-weapons-on/)

[E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

[Explore all 20 E. P. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/)

## More Active quotes

> [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/)

[Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/)

> [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/)

[Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/)

> [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/)

[Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/)

> [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/)

[Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/)

> [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/)

[Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/)

> [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/)

[Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/)

> [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/)

[Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/)

> [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/)

[Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/)

> [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/)

[Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/)

Browse all 2,212 Active quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "E. P. Thompson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-thought-in-the-west-or-the-east/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Active"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-thought-in-the-west-or-the-east/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/e-p-thompson-27932_active_there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-tho_1505189.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind” — E. P. Thompson",
                "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": "E. P. Thompson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is not a thought that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-thought-in-the-west-or-the-east/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/there-is-not-a-thought-that-is-being-thought-in-the-west-or-the-east/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
