--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know another human being in their…" description: "\"To know another human being in their essence, you don’t really need to know anything about them - their past, their history, their story. We confuse kn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg" --- # To know another human being in their essence, you don’t… ![“To know another human being in their essence, you don’t really need to know anything about them - their past, their history, their story. We confuse knowing about with a deeper knowing that is non-conceptual. Knowing about and knowing are totally different modalities. One is concerned with form…” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg) > “To know another human being in their essence, you don’t really need to know anything about them - their past, their history, their story. We confuse knowing about with a deeper knowing that is non-conceptual. Knowing about and knowing are totally different modalities. One is concerned with form, the other with the formless. One operates through thought, the other through stillness.” [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True understanding of a person comes from direct, non‑conceptual awareness, not from their past or stories. **In simple terms:** Seeing someone beyond their history. Key Takeaway Practice present‑moment awareness of others. Themes mindfulness presence authenticity Mood calm reflective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - counseling - relationship building - conflict resolution Key Concepts non‑conceptual knowing direct perception Questions to Reflect On - How can you experience another’s essence without judgment? - What practices help you stay in stillness? A Different Perspective May overlook practical context needed for decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [“Become at ease with the state of “not knowing.” This takes you beyond mind because the mind is always trying to conclude and interpret.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/become-at-ease-with-the-state-of-not-knowing-this-takes-you-beyond/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We can't buy love but we can pay for it so as I paid my life knowing that is non-refundable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinn/we-can-t-buy-love-but-we-can-pay-for-it-so-as-i-paid-my-life-knowing/) [Jinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinn/) > [Allow nature to teach you stillness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/allow-nature-to-teach-you-stillness/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you awaken spiritually, in fact, you can use thought much more effectively than before, but you realize there is a depth to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-awaken-spiritually-in-fact-you-can-use-thought-much-more/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Presence remains even amidst worldly activities. Stillness is there even when you're doing something quickly, like rushing to answer the phone. Otherwise you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/presence-remains-even-amidst-worldly-activities-stillness-is-there/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [In the stillness of your presence, you can feel your own formless and timeless reality as the unmanifested life that animates your physical form.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/in-the-stillness-of-your-presence-you-can-feel-your-own-formless-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Then, if action is possible or necessary, you take action or rather right action happens through you. Right action is action that is appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/then-if-action-is-possible-or-necessary-you-take-action-or-rather/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Silence is helpful, but you don't need it in order to find stillness. Even when there is noise, you can be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/silence-is-helpful-but-you-don-t-need-it-in-order-to-find-stillness/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Meditate or spend silent time in nature with your partner. When going for a walk or sitting in the car or at home, become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/meditate-or-spend-silent-time-in-nature-with-your-partner-when-going/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is the stillness that will save and transform the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-the-stillness-that-will-save-and-transform-the-world/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [True creativity flows only from stillness. When stillness becomes conscious, the spiritual dimension enters your life and you begin to be guided by an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-creativity-flows-only-from-stillness-when-stillness-becomes/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-lose-touch-with-yourself-you-lose-yourself-in-the-world/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“It is inner stillness that will save and transform the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-inner-stillness-that-will-save-and-transform-the-world/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [With stillness comes the benediction of peace”. “Thinking isolates a situation or event and calls it good or bad, as if it had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/with-stillness-comes-the-benediction-of-peace-thinking-isolates-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If spacious stillness is missing, the relationship will be dominated by the mind and can easily be taken over by problems and conflict. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/if-spacious-stillness-is-missing-the-relationship-will-be-dominated/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Eckhart Tolle > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [To become aware of the subtlety of nature you need to be alert. The moment you become alert you become still... thinking subsides. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-become-aware-of-the-subtlety-of-nature-you-need-to-be-alert-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most-helpful-for-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/war-is-a-mind-set-and-all-action-that-comes-out-of-such-a-mind-set/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Get the inside right, and the outside will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/get-the-inside-right-and-the-outside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-people-spend-their-entire-life-imprisoned-within-the-confines-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Jeste li zabrinuti? Razmišljate li često: »Što bi bilo da sam...?« To znači da ste se poistovjetili s umom, koji se projicira u neku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/jeste-li-zabrinuti-razmi-ljate-li-esto-to-bi-bilo-da-sam-to-zna-i-da/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Explore all 1,493 Eckhart Tolle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More Concerned quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [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/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The time has come when the whole world must be concerned about me. From now on, American Christianity must follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/the-time-has-come-when-the-whole-world-must-be-concerned-about-me/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I feel like I won the Lotto, as far as that show's concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/i-feel-like-i-won-the-lotto-as-far-as-that-show-s-concerned/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [“Is something bothering you, Sam?” Nixon asked with a deep furrow between his concerned chocolate eyes. “You mean besides the dead body lying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-dyllin/is-something-bothering-you-sam-nixon-asked-with-a-deep-furrow-between/) [D.T. Dyllin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-dyllin/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) Browse all 3,551 Concerned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To know another human being in their essence, you don’t really need to know anything about them - their past, their history, their story. We confuse knowing about with a deeper knowing that is non-conceptual. Knowing about and knowing are totally different modalities. One is concerned with form, the other with the formless. One operates through thought, the other through stillness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eckhart Tolle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-know-another-human-being-in-their-essence-you-don-t-really-need-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concerned" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-know-another-human-being-in-their-essence-you-don-t-really-need-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39b/eckhart-tolle-81_concerned_to-know-another-human-being-in-their-ess_2747023.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To know another human being in their essence, you don’t really need to know anything about them - their…” — Eckhart Tolle", "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": "Eckhart Tolle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To know another human being in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-know-another-human-being-in-their-essence-you-don-t-really-need-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-know-another-human-being-in-their-essence-you-don-t-really-need-to/#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 } } ] } ```