--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as you're in motion, your…" description: "\"“As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured. Only when you reach the summit and turn to look back, can you be at peace.”\" — Joyce Carol ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png" --- # As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured… ![“As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured. Only when you reach the summit and turn to look back, can you be at peace.” quote by Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png) > ““As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured. Only when you reach the summit and turn to look back, can you be at peace.”” [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perspective is clouded while moving; only after reaching a high point and reflecting back can one find peace. **In simple terms:** Clarity comes after reaching a goal and looking back. Key Takeaway Seek distance for insight. Themes growth reflection peace perspective Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal milestones - spiritual journeys Key Concepts mindfulness goal achievement self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What “summit” do you need to reach for clarity? - How can you gain peace without a final goal? A Different Perspective Not everyone reaches a summit to reflect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) ## Related quotes > [“I am convinced that the jealous, the angry, the bitter and the egotistical are the first to race to the top of mountains. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/i-am-convinced-that-the-jealous-the-angry-the-bitter-and-the-2/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [It may take us a little longer to reach the summit, but never fear, we will get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/it-may-take-us-a-little-longer-to-reach-the-summit-but-never-fear-we/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [To reach the summit you gotta take the hard path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wissam-douglas/to-reach-the-summit-you-gotta-take-the-hard-path/) Wissam Douglas > [“Life isn´t a puzzle to be solved. It´s an adventure to be savored. Let every challenge be a new mountain to climb, not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/life-isn-t-a-puzzle-to-be-solved-it-s-an-adventure-to-be-savored-let-2/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Each of us has a mountain to climb. To reach the summit you need to understand who you are and what you can do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-hungerford/each-of-us-has-a-mountain-to-climb-to-reach-the-summit-you-need-to/) Rich Hungerford > [You climb to reach the summit, but once there, discover that all roads lead down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-lem/you-climb-to-reach-the-summit-but-once-there-discover-that-all-roads/) [Stanislaw Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-lem/) > [“If you want to reach the summit, you gotta take the hard path”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wissam-douglas/if-you-want-to-reach-the-summit-you-gotta-take-the-hard-path/) Wissam Douglas > [“Once you reach the summit of your own heart you will see beauty is everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/once-you-reach-the-summit-of-your-own-heart-you-will-see-beauty-is/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/they-have-not-any-difficulties-on-the-way-up-because-they-fly-but/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > […life isn’t a puzzle to be solved. It’s an adventure to be savored. Let every challenge be a new mountain to climb, not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/life-isn-t-a-puzzle-to-be-solved-it-s-an-adventure-to-be-savored-let/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I offer my expertise and experience for hire in order to help a group of people reach the summit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/i-offer-my-expertise-and-experience-for-hire-in-order-to-help-a-group/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [We often see people every day searching in the wrong places for the things they desire. Too many of our fellow humans try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/we-often-see-people-every-day-searching-in-the-wrong-places-for-the/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [“Don't look for peace. Don't look for any other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/don-t-look-for-peace-don-t-look-for-any-other-state-than-the-one-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Just like trouble, if you look for peace you'll find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teni-a/just-like-trouble-if-you-look-for-peace-you-ll-find-it/) [Teni. A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teni-a/) > [Stop doing what is wrong, and do good... Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-doing-what-is-wrong-and-do-good-look-for-peace-and-do-all-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Joyce Carol Oates > [“A woman who has lost her husband is invalid, thus an invalid. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-woman-who-has-lost-her-husband-is-invalid-thus-an-invalid-in/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/running-if-there-s-any-activity-happier-more-exhilarating-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [You need so much energy and encouragement to write that if someone says something negative, some of that energy goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/you-need-so-much-energy-and-encouragement-to-write-that-if-someone/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I learned long ago that being Lewis Carroll was infinitely more exciting than being Alice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-learned-long-ago-that-being-lewis-carroll-was-infinitely-more/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Paradox: how do we know what we have failed to see because we have no language to express it, thus we cannot know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/paradox-how-do-we-know-what-we-have-failed-to-see-because-we-have-no/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [At all crucial moments in our lives we want to speak without knowing what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/at-all-crucial-moments-in-our-lives-we-want-to-speak-without-knowing/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [A writer’s life is in his work, and that is the place to find him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-writer-s-life-is-in-his-work-and-that-is-the-place-to-find-him/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The challenge is to resist circumstances. Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Did you know, Marianne: how by breaking the code that day, you broke it forever? For us all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/did-you-know-marianne-how-by-breaking-the-code-that-day-you-broke-it/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Keep a light, hopeful heart. But expect the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/keep-a-light-hopeful-heart-but-expect-the-worst/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [And this is the forbidden truth, the unspeakable taboo - that evil is not always repellent but frequently attractive; that it has the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/and-this-is-the-forbidden-truth-the-unspeakable-taboo-that-evil-is/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I don't think that writer's block exists really. I think that when you're trying to do something prematurely, it just won't come. Certain subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-don-t-think-that-writer-s-block-exists-really-i-think-that-when-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [... such speculation is like staring into the hot white sun. you know the sun is there but you can't see a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/such-speculation-is-like-staring-into-the-hot-white-sun-you-know-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) [Explore all 658 Joyce Carol Oates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“There is no fortune greater than peace; there is no force greater than peace; there is no excellent tapas greater than peace; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muruganar/there-is-no-fortune-greater-than-peace-there-is-no-force-greater-than/) [Muruganar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muruganar/) > [Give me love, give me peace on earth, give me light, give me life, keep me free from birth, give me hope, help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-me-love-give-me-peace-on-earth-give-me-light-give-me-life-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,655 Peace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured. Only when you reach the summit and turn to look back, can you be at peace.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joyce Carol Oates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspective-is-obscured-only-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Peace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspective-is-obscured-only-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/joyce-carol-oates-344_peace_as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspec_1688791.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As long as you're in motion, your perspective is obscured. Only when you reach the summit and turn to look…” — Joyce Carol Oates", "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": "Joyce Carol Oates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As long as you're in motion,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspective-is-obscured-only-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/as-long-as-you-re-in-motion-your-perspective-is-obscured-only-when/#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 } } ] } ```