--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person has to be busy to be alive." description: "\"A person has to be busy to be alive.\" — Marian Anderson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png" --- # A person has to be busy to be alive. ![“A person has to be busy to be alive.” quote by Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png) > “A person has to be busy to be alive.” [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Staying busy is equated with feeling alive and purposeful. **In simple terms:** Busy life feels alive. Key Takeaway Find meaningful activity. Themes busyness purpose life Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - work projects - volunteering - creative pursuits Key Concepts meaningful engagement time management Questions to Reflect On - How does busyness serve you? - When does it become avoidance? A Different Perspective Too much busyness can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ## Related quotes > [It's useless to show how much you care for that special someone when that person is too busy getting someone else's attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-useless-to-show-how-much-you-care-for-that-special-someone-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A proud person is so busy looking down on others they cannot humble themselves to look up at God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/a-proud-person-is-so-busy-looking-down-on-others-they-cannot-humble/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [The best person to get something done is a busy person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-burnett/the-best-person-to-get-something-done-is-a-busy-person/) [Mark Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-burnett/) > [“She knew that you could love somebody more than anything and still not love the person all that much, if you were busy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/she-knew-that-you-could-love-somebody-more-than-anything-and-still/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [My secret to a long, healthy life is to always keep working. It keeps me busy and happy, and gives me a reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-heesters/my-secret-to-a-long-healthy-life-is-to-always-keep-working-it-keeps/) Johannes Heesters > [It is only by making the past alive again for a person that a true growth in the present is facilitated. If the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/it-is-only-by-making-the-past-alive-again-for-a-person-that-a-true/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [I found myself thinking a lot about my own spirituality. What it means to be Jewish, what it means to forgive, what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/i-found-myself-thinking-a-lot-about-my-own-spirituality-what-it-means/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [The nature of the love between a parent and child really is literally stronger than death. 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I sound East Coast much more than a blonde person from L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kavner/i-sound-new-york-i-sound-east-coast-much-more-than-a-blonde-person/) [Julie Kavner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kavner/) > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Marian Anderson > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-dares-to-take-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [“Sometimes racial prejudice is like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-racial-prejudice-is-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/leadership-should-be-born-out-of-the-understanding-of-the-needs-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/fear-is-a-disease-that-eats-away-at-logic-and-makes-man-inhuman/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I forgave the DAR many years ago. You lose a lot of time hating people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-forgave-the-dar-many-years-ago-you-lose-a-lot-of-time-hating-people/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prejudice: Sometimes it's like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prejudice-sometimes-it-s-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t-see/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-have-a-great-belief-in-the-future-of-my-people-and-my-country/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the-complexion-of-his-skin-this-fact-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Sometimes you're overwhelmed when a thing comes, and you do not realize the magnitude of the affair at that moment. When you get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-you-re-overwhelmed-when-a-thing-comes-and-you-do-not/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-to-others-dare-to/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/there-are-many-persons-ready-to-do-what-is-right-because-in-their/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prayer begins where human capacity ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prayer-begins-where-human-capacity-ends/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/everyone-has-a-gift-for-something-even-if-it-is-the-gift-of-being-a/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) [Explore all 30 Marian Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person has to be busy to be alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marian Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/marian-anderson-20831_alive_a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive-3043_3043808.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A person has to be busy to be alive.” — Marian Anderson", "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": "Marian Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A person has to be busy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/a-person-has-to-be-busy-to-be-alive/#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 } } ] } ```