--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you let cloudy water settle, it will…" description: "\"If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg" --- # If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If… ![“If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg) > “If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Calmness clears both water and mind, revealing true direction. **In simple terms:** Settling brings clarity. Key Takeaway Allow thoughts to settle before acting. Themes mindfulness clarity inner peace Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal decision making - stress relief Key Concepts Buddhism meditation Questions to Reflect On - What mental clutter prevents your clarity? - How can you practice settling thoughts? A Different Perspective Clarity may be delayed if emotions dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Cloudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloudy/) [Cloudy Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloudy-water-4232008/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Let Cloudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-cloudy-4232006/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-set/) [Mind Settle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-settle-3147573/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Settle Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settle-clear-4232007/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [Upset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water Settle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-settle-4232005/) ## Related quotes > [The moment you make your mind up to settle with that one person, that is when you see the other beauties around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-djan/the-moment-you-make-your-mind-up-to-settle-with-that-one-person-that/) [Nana Djan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-djan/) > [“When you bring mindful mindful awareness to your thoughts, you train your mind to settle, and, with time and practice, realize you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmel-sheridan/when-you-bring-mindful-mindful-awareness-to-your-thoughts-you-train/) [Carmel Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmel-sheridan/) > [Surround yourself with the kinds of input that are uplifting, that expand your mind and settle your spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/surround-yourself-with-the-kinds-of-input-that-are-uplifting-that/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [He examined the chess problem and set out the pieces. It was a tricky ending, involving a couple of knights. 'White to play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-examined-the-chess-problem-and-set-out-the-pieces-it-was-a-tricky/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Think of (the Kingdom) like the sun. As it peeks through on a cloudy day, we do not say the sun has grown. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/think-of-the-kingdom-like-the-sun-as-it-peeks-through-on-a-cloudy-day/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The cloudy weather melts at length into beauty, and the brightest smiles of the heart are born of its tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/the-cloudy-weather-melts-at-length-into-beauty-and-the-brightest/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Vanity, fear, desire, competition - all such distortions within our own egos - condition our vision of those in relation to us. Add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/vanity-fear-desire-competition-all-such-distortions-within-our-own/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Philosophy aims at the logical clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity. A philosophical work consists essentially of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/philosophy-aims-at-the-logical-clarification-of-thoughts-philosophy/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/morality-without-religion-is-only-a-kind-of-dead-reckoning-an/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I always dreamed of playing the NBA, but along the way, the road got a little cloudy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-always-dreamed-of-playing-the-nba-but-along-the-way-the-road-got-a/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [In October, a maple tree before your window lights up your room like a great lamp. Even on cloudy days, its presence helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/in-october-a-maple-tree-before-your-window-lights-up-your-room-like-a/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [“On a cloudy night, when nothing seems above, still, there is love. Always love. For something, from someone. It's never done. Never.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-rana/on-a-cloudy-night-when-nothing-seems-above-still-there-is-love-always/) [Deepak Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-rana/) > [“But I’m pretty sure he could say potato right now and I’d think that was hot too, so my opinion is a little cloudy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/but-i-m-pretty-sure-he-could-say-potato-right-now-and-i-d-think-that/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Slow buds the pink dawn like a rose From out night's gray and cloudy sheath; Softly and still it grows and grows, Petal by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chauncey-woolsey/slow-buds-the-pink-dawn-like-a-rose-from-out-night-s-gray-and-cloudy/) [Sarah Chauncey Woolsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chauncey-woolsey/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Buddhist quotes > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Even my Buddhist friends have been feeling despair and when they go bad, you know the end is nigh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/even-my-buddhist-friends-have-been-feeling-despair-and-when-they-go/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“When I think about what it would take to achieve freedom from all psychological stuff, the response that comes is this: life is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-ingram/when-i-think-about-what-it-would-take-to-achieve-freedom-from-all/) [Daniel M. Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The Buddha gave his first talks, and three or four ascetics became his first disciples. They recognized his enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-buddha-gave-his-first-talks-and-three-or-four-ascetics-became-his/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 1,479 Buddhist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-become-clear-if-you-let-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-become-clear-if-you-let-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-b_2917197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will…” — Gautama Buddha", "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": "Gautama Buddha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you let cloudy water settle,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-become-clear-if-you-let-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-let-cloudy-water-settle-it-will-become-clear-if-you-let-your/#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 } } ] } ```