--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wise people build their lives around what…" description: "\"Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. Not the other way around.\" — John Ortberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/john-ortberg-932_eternal_wise-people-build-their-lives-around-wha_1957409.png" --- # Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and… ![“Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. Not the other way around.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/john-ortberg-932_eternal_wise-people-build-their-lives-around-wha_1957409.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/john-ortberg-932_eternal_wise-people-build-their-lives-around-wha_1957409.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/john-ortberg-932_eternal_wise-people-build-their-lives-around-wha_1957409.png) > “Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. Not the other way around.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People should prioritize lasting values and fit fleeting activities around them, not the reverse. **In simple terms:** Focus on what lasts, fit the temporary around it. Key Takeaway Prioritize eternal over temporary. Themes values priorities life design Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - relationships - daily routines - long‑term projects Key Concepts spirituality time management purpose Questions to Reflect On - What eternal goals guide your daily choices? - How do you keep temporary tasks from overtaking priorities? A Different Perspective Balancing short‑term needs can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-lives-1144199/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal Squeeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-squeeze-3211318/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lives Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-eternal-2562744/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Temporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-people/) ## Related quotes > [Can I get a witness let it unfold. We living our lives to eternal our soul aye-oh-aye-oh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bone-thugs-n-harmony/can-i-get-a-witness-let-it-unfold-we-living-our-lives-to-eternal-our/) [Bone Thugs N Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bone-thugs-n-harmony/) > [Like a dog, a playwright lives in an eternal present and a play is never closed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/like-a-dog-a-playwright-lives-in-an-eternal-present-and-a-play-is/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [The scripture is God's plan on how we are to live our lives here and what we are to do to have eternal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/the-scripture-is-god-s-plan-on-how-we-are-to-live-our-lives-here-and/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I have a deep conviction that our lives are eternal, that it is waking and sleeping, that we are born together with the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-wallace/i-have-a-deep-conviction-that-our-lives-are-eternal-that-it-is-waking/) [Marcia Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-wallace/) > [“Our own intellectual shortfalls and perplexities do not alter the fact of God’s astonishing foreknowledge, which takes into account our choices for which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-own-intellectual-shortfalls-and-perplexities-do-not-alter-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“A soul that becomes the place where divine grace is harbored and encouraged joins the class of the immortals and lives on into eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gordon/a-soul-that-becomes-the-place-where-divine-grace-is-harbored-and/) [Gary Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gordon/) > [I write about this in The Last Temple, the early church knew that Christ has risen from the dead, and so they didn't live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-hanegraaff/i-write-about-this-in-the-last-temple-the-early-church-knew-that/) [Hank Hanegraaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-hanegraaff/) > [“We often build our lives in a way that shuts out freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/we-often-build-our-lives-in-a-way-that-shuts-out-freedom/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [We cannot build our lives around what might happen tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/we-cannot-build-our-lives-around-what-might-happen-tomorrow/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [We build our lives in moments, and even the ones we can't remember become the story of who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/we-build-our-lives-in-moments-and-even-the-ones-we-can-t-remember/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Those who will find here a hold for their souls, an anvil for their hands, and vitality for their hearts, will build both their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berl-katznelson/those-who-will-find-here-a-hold-for-their-souls-an-anvil-for-their/) [Berl Katznelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berl-katznelson/) > [“We have to build our lives out of what materials we have. It's as though we were given a heap of blocks and told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/we-have-to-build-our-lives-out-of-what-materials-we-have-it-s-as/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [Learn that you can strengthen and build the lives of people as you become involved with them. Lift them. Give them support and strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learn-that-you-can-strengthen-and-build-the-lives-of-people-as-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hope is what we all build lives for ourselves upon, is it not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/hope-is-what-we-all-build-lives-for-ourselves-upon-is-it-not/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Many of us don’t realize that we have a choice about which aspect of ourselves we will use as the foundation upon which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/many-of-us-don-t-realize-that-we-have-a-choice-about-which-aspect-of/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Eternal quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [“Please not yet. Those are the three eternal words. Please not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/please-not-yet-those-are-the-three-eternal-words-please-not-yet/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-remain-an-eternal-optimist-about-love-i-believe-in-love/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [The time has come for us to understand that the Eternal Feminine is the greatest power in this Universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/the-time-has-come-for-us-to-understand-that-the-eternal-feminine-is/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/we-are-eternal-all-this-pain-is-an-illusion/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [In some respects I will never die. Because art is immortal. What we leave behind and what we create - the energy that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/in-some-respects-i-will-never-die-because-art-is-immortal-what-we/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The only way to have eternal love is to never let your heart forget what it’s like to live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-only-way-to-have-eternal-love-is-to-never-let-your-heart-forget/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [In the course of our eternal existence, we spend infinitely more time in the spirit world on the other side than we spend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/in-the-course-of-our-eternal-existence-we-spend-infinitely-more-time/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) [Browse all 3,280 Eternal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. 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