--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought it was a question of…" description: "\"“I always thought it was a question of achieving some permanent state of tranquillity ... but it's not. It's more like learning to surf. The waves keep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/lisa-alther-23245_peace_i-always-thought-it-was-a-question-of-ac_2540146.png" --- # I always thought it was a question of achieving some… ![“I always thought it was a question of achieving some permanent state of tranquillity ... but it's not. It's more like learning to surf. The waves keep rolling in, each different from the last, and you have to ride them, instead of getting pounded to bits.” quote by Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/lisa-alther-23245_peace_i-always-thought-it-was-a-question-of-ac_2540146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/lisa-alther-23245_peace_i-always-thought-it-was-a-question-of-ac_2540146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/lisa-alther-23245_peace_i-always-thought-it-was-a-question-of-ac_2540146.png) > ““I always thought it was a question of achieving some permanent state of tranquillity ... but it's not. It's more like learning to surf. The waves keep rolling in, each different from the last, and you have to ride them, instead of getting pounded to bits.”” [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is like surfing; you must adapt to each wave rather than resist them. **In simple terms:** Life requires adapting to change. Key Takeaway Ride each challenge, don’t fight it. Themes adaptability resilience mindfulness Mood calm reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stressful events - career changes - personal growth - emotional turbulence Key Concepts impermanence flow state Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay present amid constant change? - What practices help you ride life’s waves? A Different Perspective Constant change can be exhausting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Tranquillity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquillity/) ## Related quotes > [Walk in the narrow streets after midnight under moonlight! Tranquillity is like a sugar for the mind; you think better in the silence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/walk-in-the-narrow-streets-after-midnight-under-moonlight/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Maybe you're getting into the rhythm of sailing life," says James. He looks out at the waves that are rolling in to lap against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-you-re-getting-into-the-rhythm-of-sailing-life-says-james-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I GO DOWN TO THE SHORE I go down to the shore in the morning and depending on the hour the waves are rolling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-go-down-to-the-shore-i-go-down-to-the-shore-in-the-morning-and/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“She would stand and behold the waves rolling, and think of the voice that could still the tumultuous deep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/she-would-stand-and-behold-the-waves-rolling-and-think-of-the-voice/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“And sometimes she would dream again of being Namakaokahai'i, her waves rolling across burled coral beds, scattering moonlight, cresting higher and higher the farther…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brennert/and-sometimes-she-would-dream-again-of-being-namakaokahai-i-her-waves/) [Alan Brennert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brennert/) > [“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/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [When the autumn meets the tranquillity, there you can see the King of the Sceneries!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-autumn-meets-the-tranquillity-there-you-can-see-the-king-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [People who put my paintings on their walls are putting their values on their walls: faith, family, home, a simpler way of living, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-put-my-paintings-on-their-walls-are-putting-their-values/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dear Superwoman, protect your tranquility and sanity. Remember that anything against authenticity is vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-protect-your-tranquility-and-sanity-remember-that/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“Here, the world slows down, takes a pause, offering refuge to hidden and discreet creatures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-passarelli/here-the-world-slows-down-takes-a-pause-offering-refuge-to-hidden-and/) [David Passarelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-passarelli/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/political-liberty-in-a-citizen-is-that-tranquillity-of-spirit-which/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet; a happy marriage has the tranquillity of a lovely sunset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/sensual-pleasures-have-the-fleeting-brilliance-of-a-comet-a-happy/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [“Hiking is rewarding. The tranquillity of the mountains provides a perfect setting for self-introspection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/hiking-is-rewarding-the-tranquillity-of-the-mountains-provides-a/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) ## More by Lisa Alther > [That's the risk you take if you change: that people you've been involved with won't like the new you. But other people who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/that-s-the-risk-you-take-if-you-change-that-people-you-ve-been/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Dying was apparently a weaning process; all the attachments to familiar people and objects have to be undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/dying-was-apparently-a-weaning-process-all-the-attachments-to/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [It had been fourteen years and I hadn't had anything published. I had 250 rejection slips. I got my first novel published and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/it-had-been-fourteen-years-and-i-hadn-t-had-anything-published-i-had/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [One didn't issue instructions to comets. Grown children did what they had to do, and parents could only grit their teeth and watch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/one-didn-t-issue-instructions-to-comets-grown-children-did-what-they/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/any-mother-could-perform-the-jobs-of-several-air-traffic-controllers/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [“Whatever I experienced in the world that I didn't understand I'd invent a story and workout my understanding of something through the story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/whatever-i-experienced-in-the-world-that-i-didn-t-understand-i-d/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Inspiration never arrived when you were searching for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/inspiration-never-arrived-when-you-were-searching-for-it/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [I happen to feel that the degree of a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting attitudes she can bring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/i-happen-to-feel-that-the-degree-of-a-person-s-intelligence-is/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [The human organism has only so much energy at its disposal. If you divert a great deal of it into any one channel, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/the-human-organism-has-only-so-much-energy-at-its-disposal-if-you/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [The strength you've insisted on assigning to others is actually within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/the-strength-you-ve-insisted-on-assigning-to-others-is-actually/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Depression was a very active state really. Even if you appeared to an observer to be immobilized, your mind was in a frenzy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/depression-was-a-very-active-state-really-even-if-you-appeared-to-an/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [I wrote for twelve years and collected 250 rejection slips before getting any fiction published, so I guess outside reinforcement isn't all that important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/i-wrote-for-twelve-years-and-collected-250-rejection-slips-before/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [The only obvious advantage to being an adult is that you can eat your dessert without haying sampled the vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/the-only-obvious-advantage-to-being-an-adult-is-that-you-can-eat-your/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [successful parenting was like log rolling, and she'd often landed in the drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/successful-parenting-was-like-log-rolling-and-she-d-often-landed-in/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [The man who has no inner life is a slave of his surroundings, as the barometer is the obedient servant of the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/the-man-who-has-no-inner-life-is-a-slave-of-his-surroundings-as-the/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) [Explore all 26 Lisa Alther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) ## 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": "“I always thought it was a question of achieving some permanent state of tranquillity ... but it's not. It's more like learning to surf. 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