--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To take what there is in life and use it…" description: "\"To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting forever in vain for the preconceived, to dig deep into the actual and get something out of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg" --- # To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting… ![“To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting forever in vain for the preconceived, to dig deep into the actual and get something out of that; this, doubtless, is the right way to live.” quote by Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg) > “To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting forever in vain for the preconceived, to dig deep into the actual and get something out of that; this, doubtless, is the right way to live.” [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live actively, using what you have now rather than waiting for ideal conditions. **In simple terms:** Live actively, using what you have now Key Takeaway Act now, don’t wait for perfection. Themes action philosophy mindfulness Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism pragmatism self-determination Questions to Reflect On - What resources can you use today? - How do you balance planning and doing? A Different Perspective Idealism can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Time is what we have in this life, and how we use it determines what our life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-couturier/time-is-what-we-have-in-this-life-and-how-we-use-it-determines-what/) [Andy Couturier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-couturier/) > [“He used sweet wine in place of life because he didn't have any more life to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/he-used-sweet-wine-in-place-of-life-because-he-didn-t-have-any-more/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“In life you use what you know, Anastasia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/in-life-you-use-what-you-know-anastasia/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“Learn from them, baby. You got one life, never use it just to breathe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/learn-from-them-baby-you-got-one-life-never-use-it-just-to-breathe/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Money is a tool that can either fix or damage your life. Use it wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/money-is-a-tool-that-can-either-fix-or-damage-your-life-use-it-wisely/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [A life without impact and contribution is a very empty life, so use your life to make the world better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/a-life-without-impact-and-contribution-is-a-very-empty-life-so-use/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [You got one life, never use it just to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-got-one-life-never-use-it-just-to-breathe/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Life has no use at all, declared Adiyogi. It is simply a phenomenon. Little acts have purpose. But life is not framed within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/life-has-no-use-at-all-declared-adiyogi-it-is-simply-a-phenomenon/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) > [AirPods have squirmed their way into my life. I use them every day, and I always know where they are and if they're charged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/airpods-have-squirmed-their-way-into-my-life-i-use-them-every-day-and/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [If you're old enough to have a job and to have a life, you use Facebook exactly as advertised, you look up old friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/if-you-re-old-enough-to-have-a-job-and-to-have-a-life-you-use/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [Nothing would mean anything if I didn't live a life of use to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/nothing-would-mean-anything-if-i-didn-t-live-a-life-of-use-to-others/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I've been painting all my life, and I'm serious about it. I use it as more or less an outlet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-mimieux/i-ve-been-painting-all-my-life-and-i-m-serious-about-it-i-use-it-as/) [Yvette Mimieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-mimieux/) > [“Everything you do in life use percentage as your god.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/everything-you-do-in-life-use-percentage-as-your-god/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [We tear life out of life to use it for looking at itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/we-tear-life-out-of-life-to-use-it-for-looking-at-itself/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) ## More by Henry James > [Though there are some disagreeable things in Venice there is nothing so disagreeable as the visitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/though-there-are-some-disagreeable-things-in-venice-there-is-nothing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“In literature we move through a blest world in which we know nothing except by style, but in which everything is saved by it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/in-literature-we-move-through-a-blest-world-in-which-we-know-nothing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“I shall stay here as long as I may, I don't want to think — I needn't think. I don't care for anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/i-shall-stay-here-as-long-as-i-may-i-don-t-want-to-think-i-needn-t/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“...It often seemed to her that she thought too much about herself, you could have made her blush any day of the year, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-often-seemed-to-her-that-she-thought-too-much-about-herself-you/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“I reflected acutely that the sense of such differences, such superiorities of quality, always, on the part of the majority—which could include even stupid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/i-reflected-acutely-that-the-sense-of-such-differences-such/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“She had had a real fright but had fallen back to earth. The odd thing was that in her fall her fear too had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-had-had-a-real-fright-but-had-fallen-back-to-earth-the-odd-thing/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [I ought to tell you I'm probably your cousin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/i-ought-to-tell-you-i-m-probably-your-cousin/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“She had never met a woman who had less of that fault which is the principal obstacle to friendship - the air of reproducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-had-never-met-a-woman-who-had-less-of-that-fault-which-is-the/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [London is on the whole the most possible form of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/london-is-on-the-whole-the-most-possible-form-of-life/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [If you have work to do, don't wait to feel like it; set to work and you will feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/if-you-have-work-to-do-don-t-wait-to-feel-like-it-set-to-work-and-you/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“She answered that she liked standing up and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/she-answered-that-she-liked-standing-up-and/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [It is no wonder he wins every game. He has never done a thing in his life exept play games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-is-no-wonder-he-wins-every-game-he-has-never-done-a-thing-in-his/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [Make (the reader) think the evil, make him think it for himself, and you are released from weak specifications. My values are positively all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/make-the-reader-think-the-evil-make-him-think-it-for-himself-and-you/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“It was the air she wanted and the world she would now exclusively choose; the quiet chambers, nobly overwhelming, rich but slightly veiled, opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-was-the-air-she-wanted-and-the-world-she-would-now-exclusively/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [The time-honored bread-sauce of the happy ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/the-time-honored-bread-sauce-of-the-happy-ending/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) [Explore all 571 Henry James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) ## More Dig deep quotes > [“Personally, I’m a mess of conflicting impulses—I’m independent and greedy and I also want to belong and share and be a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/personally-i-m-a-mess-of-conflicting-impulses-i-m-independent-and/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [Go get your shovel and we'll dig a deep hole. To bury the castle, bury the castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramore/go-get-your-shovel-and-we-ll-dig-a-deep-hole-to-bury-the-castle-bury/) [Paramore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramore/) > [Folks may not be familiar with Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, but they live with the effects of PBMs almost every time they go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/folks-may-not-be-familiar-with-pharmacy-benefit-managers-or-pbms-but/) [Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/) > [I like characters with problems. I like to understand them... To play alcoholics, fetishists, strange girls, you have to dig deep within yourself. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-trintignant/i-like-characters-with-problems-i-like-to-understand-them-to-play/) Marie Trintignant > [You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/you-dig-deeper-and-it-gets-more-and-more-complicated-and-you-get/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“Through my willingness to train every day and to dig deep in the after-class ukemi sessions, over time I earned the respect and friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/through-my-willingness-to-train-every-day-and-to-dig-deep-in-the/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [To mend a broken heart sometimes you gotta be a archaeologist, you have to dig deep and search for what still remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-degroff/to-mend-a-broken-heart-sometimes-you-gotta-be-a-archaeologist-you/) Brian DeGroff > [“From this point forward, you don’t even know how to quit in life.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/from-this-point-forward-you-don-t-even-know-how-to-quit-in-life-aaron/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [You know, the benefit in life is to say, 'Maybe you made a mistake, let's dig deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/you-know-the-benefit-in-life-is-to-say-maybe-you-made-a-mistake-let-s/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [In this digital world, web shows are a total game changer. Compared to films, they allow you to have far more choices to collaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupriya-goenka/in-this-digital-world-web-shows-are-a-total-game-changer-compared-to/) [Anupriya Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupriya-goenka/) > [“There was a time when men were gods. But they abused their divine powers so much that Lord Brahma, the master of all gods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virend-singh/there-was-a-time-when-men-were-gods-but-they-abused-their-divine/) Virend Singh > [“Dig deep for you to discover the misery of success – success has miseries that are hidden in failure and those miseries cannot befriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/dig-deep-for-you-to-discover-the-misery-of-success-success-has/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [“I'm about to as you a favor." And I'm about to tell you no." "It's not a make-out scene. Though I'd be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-b-jones/i-m-about-to-as-you-a-favor-and-i-m-about-to-tell-you-no-it-s-not-a/) [Jenny B. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-b-jones/) > [I need to have people doubting me, because that's when you dig deep and find out what you're made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-peavy/i-need-to-have-people-doubting-me-because-that-s-when-you-dig-deep/) [Jake Peavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-peavy/) > [“I struggle with enormous discrepancies: between the reality of motherhood and the image of it, between my love for my home and the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/i-struggle-with-enormous-discrepancies-between-the-reality-of/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) Browse all 322 Dig deep quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting forever in vain for the preconceived, to dig deep into the actual and get something out of that; this, doubtless, is the right way to live.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it-without-waiting-forever-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dig deep" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it-without-waiting-forever-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/henry-james-417_dig-deep_to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it_422938.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To take what there is in life and use it, without waiting forever in vain for the preconceived, to dig deep…” — Henry James", "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 James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To take what there is in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it-without-waiting-forever-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/to-take-what-there-is-in-life-and-use-it-without-waiting-forever-in/#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 } } ] } ```