--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was it possible to do both, to contribute…" description: "\"“Was it possible to do both, to contribute to the world while merely observing it? To be content in the moment, but plan for the future? Could you foll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/holly-robinson-105695_common-sense_was-it-possible-to-do-both-to-contribute_2584663.jpg" --- # Was it possible to do both, to contribute to the world… ![“Was it possible to do both, to contribute to the world while merely observing it? To be content in the moment, but plan for the future? Could you follow your heart without losing all common sense?” quote by Holly Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/holly-robinson-105695_common-sense_was-it-possible-to-do-both-to-contribute_2584663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/holly-robinson-105695_common-sense_was-it-possible-to-do-both-to-contribute_2584663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/holly-robinson-105695_common-sense_was-it-possible-to-do-both-to-contribute_2584663.jpg) > ““Was it possible to do both, to contribute to the world while merely observing it? To be content in the moment, but plan for the future? Could you follow your heart without losing all common sense?”” [Holly Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplates whether one can both observe life and actively contribute, balancing present contentment with future planning. **In simple terms:** Can you watch life and still act, balancing now and future? Key Takeaway Seek balance between presence and purposeful action. Themes mindfulness action future planning contentment balance Mood essay philosophical personal Type Common sense:1 Contentment:1 Follow your heart:1 Giving:1 Giving your best:1 Observing:1 Time:1 Plan Future:1 Follow Heart:1 Merely Observing:1 When to use this quote - Risk of paralysis by over‑analysis. Key Concepts personal growth career development philosophical inquiry life choices Questions to Reflect On - contemplative - hopeful - balanced A Different Perspective What does “observing” mean to you?;How can you plan without losing present joy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Follow Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-heart/) [Follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-heart/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-your-best/) [Merely Observing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-observing-1808441/) [Observing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observing/) [Plan Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-future/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I learn a great deal by merely observing you, and letting you talk as long as you please, and taking note of what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-learn-a-great-deal-by-merely-observing-you-and-letting-you-talk-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you listen to everybody's opinions, I mean, I always say I'd be digging a ditch on the side of the road now if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-setzer/if-you-listen-to-everybody-s-opinions-i-mean-i-always-say-i-d-be/) [Brian Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-setzer/) > [Always follow your heart. Sometimes it's gonna hurt - but you're going to be fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/always-follow-your-heart-sometimes-it-s-gonna-hurt-but-you-re-going/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [Aphrodite: Pfft. That's not the point. Follow your heart. Percy: But... I don't know where it's going. My heart, I mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/aphrodite-pfft-that-s-not-the-point-follow-your-heart-percy-but-i-don/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [If you follow your heart, you're never going to regret anything, even if you completely mess up constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/if-you-follow-your-heart-you-re-never-going-to-regret-anything-even/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. The transition is up to the person. You have to follow your heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-there-to-support-the-artist/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Stay Strong, Don't ever give up on your dream. Follow your heart,Don't listen to haters, They will screw you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-xd/stay-strong-don-t-ever-give-up-on-your-dream-follow-your-heart-don-t/) [Me XD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-xd/) > [You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-re-already-naked-there-is-no-reason-not-to-follow-your-heart/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“If you follow your heart, you will be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-you-follow-your-heart-you-will-be-happy/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Don't just follow your heart. Your heart will betray you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/don-t-just-follow-your-heart-your-heart-will-betray-you/) [Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/) > [“You have to follow your heart, otherwise hearts have a habit of breaking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-ashton/you-have-to-follow-your-heart-otherwise-hearts-have-a-habit-of/) [Clare Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-ashton/) > [“What' and ‘if’ two words as nonthreatening as words come. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letters-to-juliet/what-and-if-two-words-as-nonthreatening-as-words-come-but-put-them/) [Letters to Juliet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letters-to-juliet/) > [I wish I could tell you to always follow your heart, but I think it is bad advice. You have a heart, yes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wish-i-could-tell-you-to-always-follow-your-heart-but-i-think-it-is/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Follow your heart, but don't leave your brain behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-van-zyl/follow-your-heart-but-don-t-leave-your-brain-behind/) [Matthew Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-van-zyl/) > [You can choose to follow your heart always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/you-can-choose-to-follow-your-heart-always/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) ## More by Holly Robinson > [“Even for women without children, trading hours that produce income for hours that produce “only” art seems like a foolish decision. What a loss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-robinson/even-for-women-without-children-trading-hours-that-produce-income-for/) [Holly Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-robinson/) [Explore all 2 Holly Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-robinson/) ## More Common sense quotes > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Below the 40th latitude there is no law; below the 50th no god; below the 60th no common sense and below the 70th no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley/below-the-40th-latitude-there-is-no-law-below-the-50th-no-god-below/) [Kim Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley/) > [I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness - nay, I have never found common sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/i-have-never-seen-either-a-drop-of-piety-or-a-grain-of-truth-or/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [“It was true that common sense wasn’t her forte. It wasn’t that she was silly or stupid, but she heard so many more voices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/it-was-true-that-common-sense-wasn-t-her-forte-it-wasn-t-that-she-was/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [In Raleigh, partisan battles, power struggles and lawsuits might grab the headlines, but we have to work together where we can. To look beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/in-raleigh-partisan-battles-power-struggles-and-lawsuits-might-grab/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [“Listen: Common sense doesn't mean what it used to mean." -Matthias Chalmers, STAIRWAY2 HEAVEN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-thompson/listen-common-sense-doesn-t-mean-what-it-used-to-mean-matthias/) [Chaz Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-thompson/) > [“when people’s brains are in defensive mode, it becomes harder to see common sense. Small disagreements can end up holding back progress beyond reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-webb/when-people-s-brains-are-in-defensive-mode-it-becomes-harder-to-see/) [Caroline Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-webb/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) [Browse all 1,942 Common sense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Was it possible to do both, to contribute to the world while merely observing it? To be content in the moment, but plan for the future? 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