--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Externally we are a single being, but…" description: "\"Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world.\" — Hazrat Inayat Khan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png" --- # Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a… ![“Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world.” quote by Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png) > “Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world.” [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External unity contrasts with internal diversity of thoughts and emotions. **In simple terms:** We appear unified but are internally complex. Key Takeaway Embrace inner diversity while cooperating outwardly. Themes identity unity inner world Mood peaceful reflective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - team projects - family dynamics - personal meditation - conflict mediation Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor inner differences? - What practices foster inner harmony? A Different Perspective External unity can mask inner conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The more you respond to change externally, the more solid you need to be internally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-stocker/the-more-you-respond-to-change-externally-the-more-solid-you-need-to/) [Todd Stocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-stocker/) > [Democracy must be internally generated. You cannot force it from the top - it's not going to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/democracy-must-be-internally-generated-you-cannot-force-it-from-the/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Internally, we have so many different parts, both positive and negative. And if you force them together, a spark comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arca/internally-we-have-so-many-different-parts-both-positive-and-negative/) [Arca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arca/) > [I deal with things internally. People around me won't even know what's going on. I'll never create a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-deal-with-things-internally-people-around-me-won-t-even-know-what-s/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [It's difficult to do that internally, because you're flying five, six hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-mcmahon/it-s-difficult-to-do-that-internally-because-you-re-flying-five-six/) [Vince McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-mcmahon/) > [If you see distraction externally, you end up creating an internally distracted state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/if-you-see-distraction-externally-you-end-up-creating-an-internally/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [Externally keep yourself away from all relationships, and internally have no pantings in your heart; when your mind is like unto a straight-standing wall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/externally-keep-yourself-away-from-all-relationships-and-internally/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [I don't think there is any harm in being plus-size as long as you are fit internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-don-t-think-there-is-any-harm-in-being-plus-size-as-long-as-you-are/) [Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/) > [Internally, we sometimes say Slack is like a nervous system, connective tissue, or the internal network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/internally-we-sometimes-say-slack-is-like-a-nervous-system-connective/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [The brain internally simulates what will happen if you were to perform some action under specific conditions. Internal models not only play a role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/the-brain-internally-simulates-what-will-happen-if-you-were-to/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [I believe people from the film industry, musicians, dancers, artists and writers are all internally connected. The form of expression externally may vary, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/i-believe-people-from-the-film-industry-musicians-dancers-artists-and/) [Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/) > [I think I'm still a lone wolf, internally. And I always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/i-think-i-m-still-a-lone-wolf-internally-and-i-always-will-be/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [I have done a lot of work internally to find out who I am, what voice Eamonn Walker has and how he wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamonn-walker/i-have-done-a-lot-of-work-internally-to-find-out-who-i-am-what-voice/) [Eamonn Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamonn-walker/) > [“Discipline is a given; the choice is whether it is applied internally or externally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/discipline-is-a-given-the-choice-is-whether-it-is-applied-internally/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Becoming internally empowered shifts a person's center of gravity from external to internal- a mark of spiritual passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/becoming-internally-empowered-shifts-a-person-s-center-of-gravity/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) ## More by Hazrat Inayat Khan > [“To a soul which is wide awake, the Judgment Day does not come after death. For that soul every day is a Judgment Day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/to-a-soul-which-is-wide-awake-the-judgment-day-does-not-come-after/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [The only way to live in the midst of inharmonious influences is to strengthen the will power and endure all things, yet keeping fineness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-only-way-to-live-in-the-midst-of-inharmonious-influences-is-to/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [The first lesson to learn is to resign oneself to the little difficulties in life, not to hit out at everything one comes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-first-lesson-to-learn-is-to-resign-oneself-to-the-little/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/there-should-be-balance-in-all-our-actions-to-be-either-extreme-or/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [It is a presumption on the part of man when he demands in words an explanation of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/it-is-a-presumption-on-the-part-of-man-when-he-demands-in-words-an/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [All that produces longing in the heart deprives it of its freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/all-that-produces-longing-in-the-heart-deprives-it-of-its-freedom/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [If someone strikes my heart, it does not break, but it bursts, and the flame coming out of it becomes a torch on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/if-someone-strikes-my-heart-it-does-not-break-but-it-bursts-and-the/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this instrument to the Divine Musician, the only muscian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/i-played-the-vina-until-my-heart-turned-into-the-same-instrument-then/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Our virtues are made by love, and our sins are caused by the lack of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/our-virtues-are-made-by-love-and-our-sins-are-caused-by-the-lack-of-it/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Life is a place where it is necessary to move gently. Whether it be in thought, speech, or action, the rhythm must be controlled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/life-is-a-place-where-it-is-necessary-to-move-gently-whether-it-be-in/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [The voice is not only indicative of man's character, but it is the expression of his spirit. Other sounds can be louder than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-voice-is-not-only-indicative-of-man-s-character-but-it-is-the/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [People who have never had an ideal may hope to find one; they are in a better state than the people who allow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/people-who-have-never-had-an-ideal-may-hope-to-find-one-they-are-in-a/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [In a small affair or in a big affair, first consult yourself and find out if there is any conflict in your own being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/in-a-small-affair-or-in-a-big-affair-first-consult-yourself-and-find/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [The one Spirit of life is given different names, the sacred names. We more easily recognize the Spirit of life by the particular name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-one-spirit-of-life-is-given-different-names-the-sacred-names-we/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) [Explore all 219 Hazrat Inayat Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) ## More Single quotes > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Don't be in a relationship if you're going to act single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-in-a-relationship-if-you-re-going-to-act-single/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just decided to take some time off. I've been modeling since '93, '92, and that's a pretty long time. I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/) [Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/) > [I don't fear being single at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-flack/i-don-t-fear-being-single-at-all/) [Caroline Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-flack/) > [I rather be a single father, raising on my own. I'd hate to be a 'part-time' dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-rather-be-a-single-father-raising-on-my-own-i-d-hate-to-be-a-part/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to recognize that you're not going to be at your best every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-dorfman/you-have-to-recognize-that-you-re-not-going-to-be-at-your-best-every/) [Andi Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-dorfman/) > [So sick of being single! Ready to fall asleep & wake next to someone special!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-sick-of-being-single-ready-to-fall-asleep-wake-next-to-someone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm taken even when I'm single.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/i-m-taken-even-when-i-m-single/) G-Fwea D > [Single as a dollar and not looking for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/single-as-a-dollar-and-not-looking-for-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Sex and The City' was made to correct the myth that if you were single at a certain age, you were a leper. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-patrick-king/sex-and-the-city-was-made-to-correct-the-myth-that-if-you-were-single/) [Michael Patrick King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-patrick-king/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [To all the single ladies out there,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-the-single-ladies-out-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let 'being single' make you feel like a loner. Its better to be alone. Relationships arent cures for loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-being-single-make-you-feel-like-a-loner-its-better-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) Browse all 3,303 Single quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hazrat Inayat Khan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-internally-we-are-a-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Single" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-internally-we-are-a-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/hazrat-inayat-khan-1646_single_externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-int_2925366.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world.” — Hazrat Inayat Khan", "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": "Hazrat Inayat Khan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Externally we are a single being,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-internally-we-are-a-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/externally-we-are-a-single-being-but-internally-we-are-a-world/#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 } } ] } ```