--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge is the reward of action. For it…" description: "\"Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing things that one becomes transformed. Executing a symbolical gesture, actually living through, to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg" --- # Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing… ![“Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing things that one becomes transformed. Executing a symbolical gesture, actually living through, to the very limit, a particular role, one comes to realize the truth inherent in the role. Suffering its consequences, one fathoms and exhausts its…” quote by Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg) > “Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing things that one becomes transformed. Executing a symbolical gesture, actually living through, to the very limit, a particular role, one comes to realize the truth inherent in the role. Suffering its consequences, one fathoms and exhausts its contents.” [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action transforms knowledge; by fully inhabiting a role and experiencing its limits, we discover deeper truths, even at the cost of suffering. **In simple terms:** Doing things teaches us more than thinking alone. Key Takeaway Engage fully in experiences to learn. Themes learning experience transformation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career challenges - artistic practice - personal growth Key Concepts embodiment symbolic action self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What role have you fully lived out? - How do you balance effort with self‑care? A Different Perspective Transformation can be painful and may lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-doing-813438/) [Actually living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-living/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Executing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executing/) [Fathom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fathom/) [Gestures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gestures/) [Inherent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherent/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-reward-3887145/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Reward Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-action-852798/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Role Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-suffering-3887146/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Transformed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformed/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The reward of all action is to be found in enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagavad-gita-2/the-reward-of-all-action-is-to-be-found-in-enlightenment/) [Bhagavad-Gita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagavad-gita-2/) > [Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/do-not-believe-that-possibly-you-can-escape-the-reward-of-your-action/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've always appreciated a creative approach to action, doing things that people don't expect, tweaking things to make them different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/i-ve-always-appreciated-a-creative-approach-to-action-doing-things/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [When faced with a sea of troubles, take action, and in so doing end it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-faced-with-a-sea-of-troubles-take-action-and-in-so-doing-end-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Interrupt your thoughts of "I should", with your action of doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/interrupt-your-thoughts-of-i-should-with-your-action-of-doing/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The best way to avoid a bad action is by doing a good one, for there is no difficulty in the world like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clare/the-best-way-to-avoid-a-bad-action-is-by-doing-a-good-one-for-there/) [John Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clare/) > [Taking action and doing, is one key to success. Keeping logistics in mind - enormous things are possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisela-hausmann-naked-determination-41-stories-about-overcoming-fear/taking-action-and-doing-is-one-key-to-success-keeping-logistics-in/) [Gisela Hausmann "Naked Determination 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisela-hausmann-naked-determination-41-stories-about-overcoming-fear/) > [To initiate (user) action, doing must be easier than thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/to-initiate-user-action-doing-must-be-easier-than-thinking/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [I want to say to mothers out there, you know, take your children to marches. Take them to meetings because this is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/i-want-to-say-to-mothers-out-there-you-know-take-your-children-to/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [When you have a dream, you're thinking about it, but when you're actually living it out, it's surreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uriah-hall/when-you-have-a-dream-you-re-thinking-about-it-but-when-you-re/) [Uriah Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uriah-hall/) > [There is a big difference between just learning something, and actually LIVING what you learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/there-is-a-big-difference-between-just-learning-something-and/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [We are actually living in a million parallel realities every single minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-are-actually-living-in-a-million-parallel-realities-every-single/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [It's cool to actually be living your dream now and doing something that you thought about as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/it-s-cool-to-actually-be-living-your-dream-now-and-doing-something/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [“To be honest, I was alive…but I wasn't actually living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-m-hardin/to-be-honest-i-was-alive-but-i-wasn-t-actually-living/) [B.M. Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-m-hardin/) > [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/) ## More by Heinrich Zimmer > [“Via Joseph Campbell: My friend Heinrich Zimmer of years ago used to say, "The best things can't be told," because they transcend thought. "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/via-joseph-campbell-my-friend-heinrich-zimmer-of-years-ago-used-to/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) > [Limitless and immortal, the waters are the beginning and end of all things on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/limitless-and-immortal-the-waters-are-the-beginning-and-end-of-all/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) > [My friend Heinrich Zimmer of years ago used to say, 'The best things can't be told,' because they transcend thought. 'The second best are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/my-friend-heinrich-zimmer-of-years-ago-used-to-say-the-best-things/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) > [The best things can't be told,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/the-best-things-can-t-be-told/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) > [The real treasure, that which we all seek, is never very far; there is no real need to seek it in a distant place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/the-real-treasure-that-which-we-all-seek-is-never-very-far-there-is/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) > [“With the compelling convincingness of dreams, which are vague yet exact, the ghost voice draws us (to ourselves and all of our component selves),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/with-the-compelling-convincingness-of-dreams-which-are-vague-yet/) [Heinrich Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) [Explore all 7 Heinrich Zimmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing things that one becomes transformed. Executing a symbolical gesture, actually living through, to the very limit, a particular role, one comes to realize the truth inherent in the role. Suffering its consequences, one fathoms and exhausts its contents.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heinrich Zimmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it-is-by-doing-things-that-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it-is-by-doing-things-that-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/heinrich-zimmer-51946_action_knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it_2054297.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge is the reward of action. For it is by doing things that one becomes transformed. Executing a…” — Heinrich Zimmer", "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": "Heinrich Zimmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-zimmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knowledge is the reward of action....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it-is-by-doing-things-that-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-zimmer/knowledge-is-the-reward-of-action-for-it-is-by-doing-things-that-one/#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 } } ] } ```