---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you decide to observe? Or do you…"
description: "\"Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?\" — Jiddu Krishnamurti"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg"
---

#  Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?

![“Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?” quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg)

> “Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?”

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Observation is a choice; deciding to watch versus merely seeing changes perception.

**In simple terms:** Choose to observe actively.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful observation.

Themes

awareness choice perception mindfulness

Mood

calm inquisitive

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- learning
- problem solving

Key Concepts

Phenomenology cognitive psychology consciousness

Questions to Reflect On

- What does active observation reveal that passive does not?
- How can you train yourself to observe more deeply?

A Different Perspective

Passive watching can limit insight.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [To merely observe your culture without contributing to it seems very close to existing as a ghost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/to-merely-observe-your-culture-without-contributing-to-it-seems-very/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“The highest form of human intelligence is to observe yourself without judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-highest-form-of-human-intelligence-is-to-observe-yourself-without-2/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Is it possible to observe without the observer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/is-it-possible-to-observe-without-the-observer/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [If I want to understand something, I must observe, I must not criticize, I must not condemn, I must not pursue it as pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/if-i-want-to-understand-something-i-must-observe-i-must-not-criticize/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [The highest form of human intelligence is to observe yourself without judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-highest-form-of-human-intelligence-is-to-observe-yourself-without/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [If you want to evolve and reinvent yourself, you will need to observe people and explore a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rithvik-dhanjani/if-you-want-to-evolve-and-reinvent-yourself-you-will-need-to-observe/)

[Rithvik Dhanjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rithvik-dhanjani/)

> [You can't observe as much if you're observed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevy-chase/you-can-t-observe-as-much-if-you-re-observed-by-others/)

[Chevy Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevy-chase/)

> [I am an emotional and fragile person. I observe life, I am perceptive and can read a person's body language. I have a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhur-bhandarkar/i-am-an-emotional-and-fragile-person-i-observe-life-i-am-perceptive/)

[Madhur Bhandarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhur-bhandarkar/)

> [I used to follow people home. I just like being anonymous so much that I would follow people home because they didn't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-used-to-follow-people-home-i-just-like-being-anonymous-so-much-that/)

[Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/)

> [Life is the biggest workshop: you have to observe life. You have to be one with the milieu more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayushmann-khurrana/life-is-the-biggest-workshop-you-have-to-observe-life-you-have-to-be/)

[Ayushmann Khurrana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayushmann-khurrana/)

> [I write about what I know, what I live, what I observe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-write-about-what-i-know-what-i-live-what-i-observe/)

[Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/)

> [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [“Take the time to observe the simple and ponder upon the seemingly insignificant. You’ll find a wealth of depth and beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-charlene/take-the-time-to-observe-the-simple-and-ponder-upon-the-seemingly/)

Melanie Charlene

> [I feel as if my mission is to write, to see, to observe, and I feel lazy if I'm not reaching conclusions. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-feel-as-if-my-mission-is-to-write-to-see-to-observe-and-i-feel-lazy/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More by Jiddu Krishnamurti

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I have only one purpose: to make people free, to urge them towards freedom, to help them to break away from all limitations, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-have-only-one-purpose-to-make-people-free-to-urge-them-towards/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Its beautiful to be alone. To be alone does not mean to be lonely. it means the mind is not influenced and contaminated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/its-beautiful-to-be-alone-to-be-alone-does-not-mean-to-be-lonely-it/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Knowing the cause of something is not going to help you to be free of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowing-the-cause-of-something-is-not-going-to-help-you-to-be-free-of/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Whatever discipline you exercise should be based on the goal your child is eventually to reach, namely, freedom and happiness. I would show him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/whatever-discipline-you-exercise-should-be-based-on-the-goal-your/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Without discontentment, without revolt, you can never attain harmony. It is a necessary stage, which must be gone through by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-discontentment-without-revolt-you-can-never-attain-harmony-it/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Meditation is a state of mind which looks at everything with complete attention, totally, not just parts of it. And no one can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-a-state-of-mind-which-looks-at-everything-with-complete/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [Learning is the very essence of humility . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/learning-is-the-very-essence-of-humility/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [“Life is a movement, a constant movement in relationship; and thought, trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, as memory, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/life-is-a-movement-a-constant-movement-in-relationship-and-thought/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [“Meditation is like going to a well, the waters of which are inexhaustible, with a pitcher that is always empty. The pitcher can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-like-going-to-a-well-the-waters-of-which-are/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [The observer is the observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-observer-is-the-observed/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [When we stop fighting with ourselves, we aren't creating anymore conflict in our mind. Then our mind can for the first time relax and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-we-stop-fighting-with-ourselves-we-aren-t-creating-anymore/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-lily-or-a-rose-never-pretends-and-its-beauty-is-that-it-is-what-it/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

[Explore all 807 Jiddu Krishnamurti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

## More Decide quotes

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/)

[Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/)

> [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/)

[David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/)

> [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/)

[Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/)

> [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/)

[Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/)

> [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/)

[Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/)

> [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/)

[John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/)

> [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/)

[Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/)

> [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/)

Raajni

> [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/)

[Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/)

Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jiddu Krishnamurti"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merely-observe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decide"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merely-observe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_decide_do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merel_3011912.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do you decide to observe? Or do you merely observe?” — Jiddu Krishnamurti",
                "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": "Jiddu Krishnamurti",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Do you decide to observe? Or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merely-observe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/do-you-decide-to-observe-or-do-you-merely-observe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
