Acquiring knowledge Quote by Krishnamurti
““Most of us waste this extraordinary thing called life. We have lived forty or sixty years, have gone to the office, engaged ourselves in social activity, escaping in various forms, and at the end of it, we have nothing but an empty, dull, stupid life, a wasted life. Now, pleasure has created this pattern of social life. We take pleasure in ambition, in competition, in acquiring knowledge or power, or position, prestige, status. And that pursuit of pleasure as ambition, competition, greed, envy, status, domination, power is respectable. It is made respectable by a society which has only one concept: that you shall lead a moral life, which is a respectable life. You can be ambitious, you can be greedy, you can be violent, you can be competitive, you can be a ruthless human being, but society accepts it, because at the end of your ambition, you are either so called successful man with plenty of money, or a failure and therefore a frustrated human being. So social morality is immorality.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Social Morality, 1960s
The quote critiques how society equates moral respectability with ambition, competition, and material success, leading many to live empty lives focused on external validation rather than inner fulfillment.
In simple terms: Society values ambition over true meaning, causing wasted lives.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner purpose beyond societal expectations.
Themes
materialism
morality
existence
meaning
societal pressure
Mood
reflective
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
ethical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- social media influence
- consumer culture
- education systems
Key Concepts
existentialism
ethical critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a life well lived for you?
- How can you balance personal ambition with inner fulfillment?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks individuals who find meaning in non-material pursuits and community service.
