--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do you want a new truth when you do…" description: "\"“Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what you already know? Far better to read a few books and make them your own than to read many bo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/eknath-easwaran-7274_books_why-do-you-want-a-new-truth-when-you-do_2283175.jpg" --- # Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what… ![“Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what you already know? Far better to read a few books and make them your own than to read many books quickly and superficially.” quote by Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/eknath-easwaran-7274_books_why-do-you-want-a-new-truth-when-you-do_2283175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/eknath-easwaran-7274_books_why-do-you-want-a-new-truth-when-you-do_2283175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/eknath-easwaran-7274_books_why-do-you-want-a-new-truth-when-you-do_2283175.jpg) > ““Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what you already know? Far better to read a few books and make them your own than to read many books quickly and superficially.”” [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep mastery of few teachings beats superficial reading of many. **In simple terms:** Know few things deeply, not many shallowly. Key Takeaway Focus on mastering core principles. Themes learning depth authenticity Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - study habits - spiritual practice - professional training Key Concepts mastery mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - Which core ideas will you master? - How to avoid shallow consumption? A Different Perspective Time constraints limit deep study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Gluttony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gluttony/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Sprituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprituality/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [She read books quickly and compulsively, paperback after paperback, as if she might drift away without the anchor of the printed page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/she-read-books-quickly-and-compulsively-paperback-after-paperback-as/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [And what he ought to see, hear and understand is truth-eternal truth-and then practice it. That is conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/and-what-he-ought-to-see-hear-and-understand-is-truth-eternal-truth/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [... we all know how to pray better than we practice what we know!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-harkness/we-all-know-how-to-pray-better-than-we-practice-what-we-know/) [Georgia Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-harkness/) > [Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/who-are-the-learned-those-who-practice-what-they-know/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/use-your-gifts-faithfully-and-they-shall-be-enlarged-practice-what/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [All I can say is practice, you never know what you might do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soraya-jimenez/all-i-can-say-is-practice-you-never-know-what-you-might-do/) Soraya Jimenez > [You can only get so far from an evaluation standpoint in practice, and you know, at some point, you've got to go play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/you-can-only-get-so-far-from-an-evaluation-standpoint-in-practice-and/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/practice-what-you-know-and-it-will-help-to-make-clear-what-now-you-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more you practice what you know, the more shall you know what to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-practice-what-you-know-the-more-shall-you-know-what-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Try to put well in practice what you already know. In so doing, you will, in good time, discover the hidden things you now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/try-to-put-well-in-practice-what-you-already-know-in-so-doing-you/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [Try to put well in practice what you already know; and in so doing, you will in good time, discover the hidden things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rembrandt/try-to-put-well-in-practice-what-you-already-know-and-in-so-doing-you/) [Rembrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rembrandt/) > [Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what you now do not know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minna-antrim/practice-what-you-know-and-it-will-help-to-make-clear-what-you-now-do/) [Minna Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minna-antrim/) > [There is nothing to practice. To know yourself, be yourself. To be yourself, stop imagining yourself to be this or that. Just be. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-practice-to-know-yourself-be-yourself-to-be/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [One of the things Mother said to me, 'You want this, you're going to practice.' And I know how to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/one-of-the-things-mother-said-to-me-you-want-this-you-re-going-to/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [Those who practice know whether realization is attained or not, just as those who drink water know whether it is hot or cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/those-who-practice-know-whether-realization-is-attained-or-not-just/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) ## More by Eknath Easwaran > [When we truly are putting others first, we cannot but feel at peace with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/when-we-truly-are-putting-others-first-we-cannot-but-feel-at-peace/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [The real essentials of life - compassion, kindness, good will, forgiveness - are what is fundamental to living as a true human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/the-real-essentials-of-life-compassion-kindness-good-will-forgiveness/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [At the beginning of every winter people are careful to install storm windows. These extra panes of glass protect their houses against the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/at-the-beginning-of-every-winter-people-are-careful-to-install-storm/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [A calm mind releases the most precious capacity a human being can have: the capacity to turn anger into compassion, fear into fearlessness, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/a-calm-mind-releases-the-most-precious-capacity-a-human-being-can/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Don't think the purpose of meditation is to go deep into consciousness, wrap a blanket around yourself, and say, 'How cozy! I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/don-t-think-the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-go-deep-into/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation may require a lifetime to master, but it will have been a lifetime well spent. ... If you want to judge your progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-may-require-a-lifetime-to-master-but-it-will-have-been-a/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [“Meditation is the basis of a life of splendid health, untiring energy, unfailing love, and abiding wisdom. It is the very foundation of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-the-basis-of-a-life-of-splendid-health-untiring-energy/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Love is so exquisitely elusive. It cannot be bought, cannot be badgered, cannot be hijacked. It is available only in one rare form: as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/love-is-so-exquisitely-elusive-it-cannot-be-bought-cannot-be-badgered/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation is warm-up exercise for the mind, so that you can jog through the rest of the day without getting agitated or spraining your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-warm-up-exercise-for-the-mind-so-that-you-can-jog/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [By removing that which is petty and self-seeking, we bring forth all that is glorious and mindful of the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/by-removing-that-which-is-petty-and-self-seeking-we-bring-forth-all/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [As we get deeper, we move closer and closer to other people; we feel closer to life as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/as-we-get-deeper-we-move-closer-and-closer-to-other-people-we-feel/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [To be secure everywhere is the mark of sophistication, to be unshakable is the mark of courage, to be permanently in love with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/to-be-secure-everywhere-is-the-mark-of-sophistication-to-be/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [When the mind is still, we can become an instrument of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/when-the-mind-is-still-we-can-become-an-instrument-of-peace/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [It is not action or effort that we must surrender; it is self-will, and this is terribly difficult. You must do your best constantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/it-is-not-action-or-effort-that-we-must-surrender-it-is-self-will-and/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [“We expect professional and financial success to require time and effort. Why do we take success in our relationships for granted? Why should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/we-expect-professional-and-financial-success-to-require-time-and/) [eknath easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) [Explore all 93 Eknath Easwaran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why do you want a new truth when you do not practice what you already know? 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