---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we devote ourselves to the life at…"
description: "\"If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will follow. For life, it seems, reveals itself through those willing to live. Anything else, no m..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png"
---

#  If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will…

![“If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will follow. For life, it seems, reveals itself through those willing to live. Anything else, no matter how beautiful, is just advertising.” quote by Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png)

> “If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will follow. For life, it seems, reveals itself through those willing to live. Anything else, no matter how beautiful, is just advertising.”

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focusing on present lived experience allows deeper meaning to emerge, while superficial pursuits remain empty.

**In simple terms:** Live now, deeper meaning follows.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize authentic experience.

Themes

presence authenticity meaning mindfulness

Mood

contemplative reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily work
- relationships
- creative projects
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

existentialism humanism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does present focus shape your purpose?
- What distractions prevent authentic living?

A Different Perspective

Superficial beauty can distract from deeper growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [Just advertising departments with legs and high heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/just-advertising-departments-with-legs-and-high-heels/)

[Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/)

> [I imagine a world in which all humans are born with an intact capacity to love, and I am willing to devote my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lim/i-imagine-a-world-in-which-all-humans-are-born-with-an-intact/)

[Robin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lim/)

> [Life reveals itself to us only in so far as well live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/life-reveals-itself-to-us-only-in-so-far-as-well-live-it/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“Life, wherever it reveals itself; truth, no matter how bitter; bold, sincere speech with people—these are my leaven, these are what I want, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-wherever-it-reveals-itself-truth-no-matter-how-bitter-bold/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The insatiable thirst for everything that lies beyond, and that life reveals, is the most living proof of our immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-insatiable-thirst-for-everything-that-lies-beyond-and-that-life/)

[Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/)

> [Hope is one of lifeôs powerful tools.. Hope carries you through tough times, builds your inner strength, makes you creative and possibility driven, connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/hope-is-one-of-life-s-powerful-tools-hope-carries-you-through-tough/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

> [“Upon an ever expansive horizon, Life reveals Her mystery; To live is a gift, to feel is a blessing, and to take part in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco/upon-an-ever-expansive-horizon-life-reveals-her-mystery-to-live-is-a/)

Francisco

> [The insatiable thirst for everything which lies beyond, and which life reveals, is the most living proof of our immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-insatiable-thirst-for-everything-which-lies-beyond-and-which-life/)

[Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/)

> [“When someone points out your past mistakes, look at them dead in the eyes and follow with, 'and I’d do it all again to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/when-someone-points-out-your-past-mistakes-look-at-them-dead-in-the/)

[Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/)

> [I follow life's changes, continue with my time-outs, and remain curious about what's next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-follow-life-s-changes-continue-with-my-time-outs-and-remain-curious/)

[Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/)

> [Simple rules to follow in Life: Trust the Lord, guard your heart, learn from the past and have know regrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bell/simple-rules-to-follow-in-life-trust-the-lord-guard-your-heart-learn/)

[Linda Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bell/)

> [When u r in light, everything will follow u. But when u enter dark, even your own shadow will not follow u that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-u-r-in-light-everything-will-follow-u-but-when-u-enter-dark-even/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [Choose good friends. Friends help to determine your future. You will tend to be like them and to be found where they choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/choose-good-friends-friends-help-to-determine-your-future-you-will/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Actually, now I don't even eat that much anymore. If you tried to follow me now, you'd be in trouble. You wouldn't be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-albarado/actually-now-i-don-t-even-eat-that-much-anymore-if-you-tried-to/)

Robby Albarado

> [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

## More by Mark Nepo

> [“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/often-we-find-it-easier-to-think-our-way-around-things-rather-than-to/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [Each soul on earth is complete unto itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/each-soul-on-earth-is-complete-unto-itself/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [“a living symbol that can call into my moment of sadness a deeper sense of plenitude and generosity that is always there, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/a-living-symbol-that-can-call-into-my-moment-of-sadness-a-deeper/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [“COMING OUT While there is much to do we are not here to do.   Under the want to problem-solve is the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/coming-out-while-there-is-much-to-do-we-are-not-here-to-do-under-the/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [The greatest thing we can do to be closer to our own lives and to the freshness of living is to open up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/the-greatest-thing-we-can-do-to-be-closer-to-our-own-lives-and-to-the/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [For though we stubbornly cling, believing in our moment of hunger that there is no other possibility of love, we only have to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/for-though-we-stubbornly-cling-believing-in-our-moment-of-hunger-that/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [Perhaps the hardest thing I've learned, and still struggle with, is that I don't have to be finished in order to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/perhaps-the-hardest-thing-i-ve-learned-and-still-struggle-with-is/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [A successful creative expression is one in which the person who has expressed it was transformed for having encountered it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/a-successful-creative-expression-is-one-in-which-the-person-who-has/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [No amount of thinking can stop thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/no-amount-of-thinking-can-stop-thinking/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [“Yet beneath all the talk of tragedy and grace, I have come to believe that we are destined to be opened by the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/yet-beneath-all-the-talk-of-tragedy-and-grace-i-have-come-to-believe/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [The glassblower knows: while in the heat of beginning, any shape is possible. Once hardened, the only way to change is to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/the-glassblower-knows-while-in-the-heat-of-beginning-any-shape-is/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [We work so hard to get somewhere, to realize a dream, to arrive at some destination, that we often forget that though some satisfaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/we-work-so-hard-to-get-somewhere-to-realize-a-dream-to-arrive-at-some/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [Our job is not to expose the mystery but to participate in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/our-job-is-not-to-expose-the-mystery-but-to-participate-in-it/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

> [Pursue the obstacle It will set you free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/pursue-the-obstacle-it-will-set-you-free/)

[Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

[Explore all 217 Mark Nepo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/)

## More Advertising quotes

> [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/)

[Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/)

> [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [We have the capital, the resources, and the technology that we need to build a mobile advertising platform across the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/we-have-the-capital-the-resources-and-the-technology-that-we-need-to/)

[Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/)

> [“Never run advertising until the major publicity possibilities have been exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/never-run-advertising-until-the-major-publicity-possibilities-have/)

[Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/)

> [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/)

[William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/)

> [I like Valentine's Day. The trouble is the florists and the candy-makers and the card people are all advertising so much, you don't dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-like-valentine-s-day-the-trouble-is-the-florists-and-the-candy/)

[Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/)

> [I happened to be spotted by a modeling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-happened-to-be-spotted-by-a-modeling-agent-who-offered-me-a-part/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/)

[Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/)

> [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/)

[Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/)

> [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/)

[Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/)

> [I'm supposed to be taking time off. But I'm still writing and I have this Gap advert lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-m-supposed-to-be-taking-time-off-but-i-m-still-writing-and-i-have/)

[Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/)

> [Any seeming deception in a statement is costly, not only in the expense of the advertising but in the detrimental effect produced upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/any-seeming-deception-in-a-statement-is-costly-not-only-in-the/)

[John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/)

[Browse all 1,942 Advertising quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will follow. For life, it seems, reveals itself through those willing to live. Anything else, no matter how beautiful, is just advertising.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mark Nepo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-hand-the-rest-will-follow-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advertising"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-hand-the-rest-will-follow-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/mark-nepo-1670_advertising_if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-ha_1988657.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we devote ourselves to the life at hand, the rest will follow. For life, it seems, reveals itself through…” — Mark Nepo",
                "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": "Mark Nepo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If we devote ourselves to the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-hand-the-rest-will-follow-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/if-we-devote-ourselves-to-the-life-at-hand-the-rest-will-follow-for/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
