--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely only correct understanding could…" description: "\"Surely only correct understanding could lead to correct action.\" — Lois McMaster Bujold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_action_surely-only-correct-understanding-could_805586.jpg" --- # Surely only correct understanding could lead to correct… ![“Surely only correct understanding could lead to correct action.” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_action_surely-only-correct-understanding-could_805586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_action_surely-only-correct-understanding-could_805586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_action_surely-only-correct-understanding-could_805586.jpg) > “Surely only correct understanding could lead to correct action.” [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accurate understanding is a prerequisite for taking the right actions. **In simple terms:** Understanding leads to correct action. Key Takeaway Seek true understanding first. Themes knowledge action accuracy Mood analytical cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - problem solving - medical diagnosis - strategic planning - personal choices Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify your understanding? - What steps ensure accurate action? A Different Perspective Misunderstanding can still lead to action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Whether man is disposed to yield to nature or to oppose her, he cannot do without a correct understanding of her language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/whether-man-is-disposed-to-yield-to-nature-or-to-oppose-her-he-cannot/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [“The finest defense of character is correct action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/the-finest-defense-of-character-is-correct-action/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [The finest defense of character is correct action. Acquaint yourself with virtue, and you can expect proper treatment from those around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/the-finest-defense-of-character-is-correct-action-acquaint-yourself/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [What is correct action in a deteriorating world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/what-is-correct-action-in-a-deteriorating-world/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The government does things like insisting that all encryption programs should have a back door. But surely no one is stupid enough to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/the-government-does-things-like-insisting-that-all-encryption/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [It will not do to say that international law is the enemy of the Jewish people, since the Jewish people surely did not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/it-will-not-do-to-say-that-international-law-is-the-enemy-of-the/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [When you shop online, wouldn't you like to sample the bouquet of wines, the aroma of cigars, or the subtle fragrance of flowers before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-platt/when-you-shop-online-wouldn-t-you-like-to-sample-the-bouquet-of-wines/) [Charles Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-platt/) > [No matter how plain and simple you are, there's someone who will surely look at you as if you are the most perfect creature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-plain-and-simple-you-are-there-s-someone-who-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Surely, she was too young to have so many ghosts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/surely-she-was-too-young-to-have-so-many-ghosts/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Surely, that's what interns were invented for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillin/surely-that-s-what-interns-were-invented-for/) [Paul Gillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillin/) > [“That’s what we have to find out, but it surely has nothing to do with a mountain, a witch, or other such folderol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/that-s-what-we-have-to-find-out-but-it-surely-has-nothing-to-do-with/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [Life and families and babies are all joyous gifts. But if we do not begin to truly account for our numbers, we will surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/life-and-families-and-babies-are-all-joyous-gifts-but-if-we-do-not/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) > [What you set your heart upon, surely shall be yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-you-set-your-heart-upon-surely-shall-be-yours/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It may be an extreme example brought about by abnormal circumstances - but the criteria of human rights kick in, surely, precisely when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-may-be-an-extreme-example-brought-about-by-abnormal-circumstances/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [Moments can't b back but surely we can create some more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghav-singh/moments-can-t-b-back-but-surely-we-can-create-some-more/) [Raghav Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghav-singh/) ## More by Lois McMaster Bujold > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Never do yourself, what you can con professionals into doing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/never-do-yourself-what-you-can-con-professionals-into-doing-for-you/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“It reminded him of that definition of his father's. A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind. The mind was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/it-reminded-him-of-that-definition-of-his-father-s-a-weapon-is-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I was imagining the most bizarre things befalling you.” “Did they include a six-hundred-pound ice bear and a pirate poet?” “No…” “Then they weren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-was-imagining-the-most-bizarre-things-befalling-you-did-they/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [There is a sad disconnectedness that overcomes a library when its owner is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/there-is-a-sad-disconnectedness-that-overcomes-a-library-when-its/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“No, amusing me only, I wonder if they realize how they are used?" "Not a bit. They think they are the emperors of creation."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/no-amusing-me-only-i-wonder-if-they-realize-how-they-are-used-not-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“You bastards are on the top of Imperial Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan's very own shit list now, you bet. But under what name? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-bastards-are-on-the-top-of-imperial-lord-auditor-miles-vorkosigan/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Anyway, if the Cetagandans really wanted to assassinate you, they'd hardly do it here. 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Dear God, how did this happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-always-thought-my-parents-could-fix-anything-now-it-s-my-turn-dear/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-think-it-is-not-so-much-the-growth-of-virtue-as-simply-the/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Mark’s ideas tended to the bland, and there was no point in asking Miles, whose embittered suggestions all ran to things like Vomit Vanilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/mark-s-ideas-tended-to-the-bland-and-there-was-no-point-in-asking/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/the-dead-cannot-cry-out-for-justice-it-is-a-duty-of-the-living-to-do/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Gardens were meant to be seen, smelled, walked through, grubbed in. A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/gardens-were-meant-to-be-seen-smelled-walked-through-grubbed-in-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) [Explore all 392 Lois McMaster Bujold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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