--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Oriental philosophy approaches easily…" description: "\"The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it sometimes prattle about them. It only assigns ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg" --- # The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes… ![“The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it sometimes prattle about them. It only assigns their due rank respectively to Action and Contemplation, or rather does full justice to the latter. Western philosophers have not conceived of the…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg) > “The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it sometimes prattle about them. It only assigns their due rank respectively to Action and Contemplation, or rather does full justice to the latter. Western philosophers have not conceived of the significance of Contemplation in their sense.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts Eastern and Western thought, saying Eastern philosophy balances action and contemplation, while Western thought often neglects deep contemplation. **In simple terms:** Eastern thought balances action and contemplation; Western often neglects deep thought. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of contemplation alongside action. Themes philosophy culture contemplation action balance Mood thoughtful reflective critical Type philosophical analytical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - academic study - creative work - decision making Key Concepts Eastern philosophy Western philosophy contemplation action balance Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate deeper contemplation into daily tasks? - What benefits arise from balancing action with reflection? A Different Perspective Western traditions may undervalue contemplation, leading to superficial analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Each human being was given two possibilities: action and contemplation. Both lead to the same place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/each-human-being-was-given-two-possibilities-action-and-contemplation/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Action and contemplation are...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/action-and-contemplation-are/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/the-world-can-only-be-grasped-by-action-not-by-contemplation-the-hand/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [Western philosophers gained access to Asian and African traditions initially by noting similarities and differences. But that, as A.C. Mukerji, of Allahabad, was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-l-garfield/western-philosophers-gained-access-to-asian-and-african-traditions/) [Jay L. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-l-garfield/) > [First of all you must understand that practising martial arts means studying a certain oriental philosophy of life, otherwise it's merely a vacuous sport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/first-of-all-you-must-understand-that-practising-martial-arts-means/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [It is one thing to teach a dynamic Oriental philosophy and religious code; it is quite another to put such a discipline to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-one-thing-to-teach-a-dynamic-oriental-philosophy-and-religious/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We have to understand that the world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is more important than the eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/we-have-to-understand-that-the-world-can-only-be-grasped-by-action/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/the-world-can-only-be-grasped-by-action-not-by-contemplation-the-hand-2/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/the-world-can-only-be-grasped-by-action-not-by-contemplation/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [The Aim Of Life Is... To Strike A Balance Between Action And Contemplation...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/the-aim-of-life-is-to-strike-a-balance-between-action-and/) Pacifiersucker > [Every wild apple shrub excites our expectation thus, somewhat as every wild child. It is, perhaps, a prince in disguise. What a lesson to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-wild-apple-shrub-excites-our-expectation-thus-somewhat-as-every/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The natural historian is not a fisherman who prays for cloudy days and good luck merely; but as fishing has been styled "a contemplative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-natural-historian-is-not-a-fisherman-who-prays-for-cloudy-days/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ice is an interesting subject for contemplation. They told me that they had some in the ice-houses at Fresh Pond five years old which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/ice-is-an-interesting-subject-for-contemplation-they-told-me-that/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-man-is-tasked-to-make-his-life-even-in-its-details-worthy-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## 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": "The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it sometimes prattle about them. It only assigns their due rank respectively to Action and Contemplation, or rather does full justice to the latter. Western philosophers have not conceived of the significance of Contemplation in their sense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easily-loftier-themes-than-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easily-loftier-themes-than-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/henry-david-thoreau-20_action_the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easil_755854.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier themes than the modern aspires to; and no wonder if it…” — Henry David Thoreau", "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": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Oriental philosophy approaches easily loftier...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easily-loftier-themes-than-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-oriental-philosophy-approaches-easily-loftier-themes-than-the/#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 } } ] } ```