--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all feel a separateness; we wish that…" description: "\"We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png" --- # We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water… ![“We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.” quote by Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png) > “We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.” [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human separateness dissolves when we focus outward, fostering collective empathy and unity. **In simple terms:** Look beyond self for unity. Key Takeaway Cultivate collective empathy. Themes unity empathy ego collective consciousness spirituality Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - community service - meditation groups - global initiatives Key Concepts Interdependence mindfulness social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice self‑less listening? - What benefits arise from shared purpose? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may resist outward focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Drop of water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drop-of-water/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Separateness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separateness/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [We must trust infinitely to the beneficent necessity which shines through all laws. Human nature expresses itself in them as characteristically as in statues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-must-trust-infinitely-to-the-beneficent-necessity-which-shines/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Only three things are infinite. The sky in its stars, the sea in its drops of water, and the heart in its tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/only-three-things-are-infinite-the-sky-in-its-stars-the-sea-in-its/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-overlook-tiny-good-actions-thinking-they-are-of-no-benefit/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [There's nothing like the discovery of an unknown work by a great thinker to set the intellectual community atwitter and cause academics to dart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-s-nothing-like-the-discovery-of-an-unknown-work-by-a-great/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Humans had built a world inside the world, which reflected it in pretty much the same way as a drop of water reflected the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/humans-had-built-a-world-inside-the-world-which-reflected-it-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/just-as-ripples-spread-out-when-a-single-pebble-is-dropped-into-water/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Anti-alcoholics are unfortunates in the grip of water, that terrible poison, so corrosive that out of all substances it has been chosen for washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/anti-alcoholics-are-unfortunates-in-the-grip-of-water-that-terrible/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [Show Holmes a drop of water and he would deduce the existence of the Atlantic. Show it to me and I would look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/show-holmes-a-drop-of-water-and-he-would-deduce-the-existence-of-the/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [There is no drop of water in the ocean, not even in the deepest parts of the abyss, that does not know and respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/there-is-no-drop-of-water-in-the-ocean-not-even-in-the-deepest-parts/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [Realization doesn't destroy the individual any more than the reflection of the moon breaks a drop of water. A drop of water can reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/realization-doesn-t-destroy-the-individual-any-more-than-the/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [Nothing surely is as potent as a law that may not be disobeyed. It has the force of the water drop that hollows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/nothing-surely-is-as-potent-as-a-law-that-may-not-be-disobeyed-it-has/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [We are like a drop of water in a vast, divine ocean, distinct yet immersed in something much larger than ourselves. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/we-are-like-a-drop-of-water-in-a-vast-divine-ocean-distinct-yet/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would merit greed, greed gets shed from him - like a drop of water from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed-for-what-would-merit-greed/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Sometimes a single drop of water is so valuable for the very thirsty that he may hesitate to drink it immediately!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/sometimes-a-single-drop-of-water-is-so-valuable-for-the-very-thirsty/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Mark Tobey > [I've tried to decentralize and interpenetrate so that all parts of a painting are of related value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/i-ve-tried-to-decentralize-and-interpenetrate-so-that-all-parts-of-a/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [Problems are an important part of maturing--meet them straight on. Work them out. It's like the chick in the egg. It has to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/problems-are-an-important-part-of-maturing-meet-them-straight-on-work/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [An artist must find his expression closely linked to his individual experience or else follow in the old grooves resulting in lifeless forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/an-artist-must-find-his-expression-closely-linked-to-his-individual/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [At a time when experimentation expresses itself in all forms of life, search becomes the only valid expression of the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/at-a-time-when-experimentation-expresses-itself-in-all-forms-of-life/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [Every artist's problem today is: What will we do with the human?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/every-artist-s-problem-today-is-what-will-we-do-with-the-human/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [I believe that painting should come through the avenues of meditation rather than the canals of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/i-believe-that-painting-should-come-through-the-avenues-of-meditation/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [Don't help the young too much — it will just weaken them and they'll resent it, and finally start avoiding you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/don-t-help-the-young-too-much-it-will-just-weaken-them-and-they-ll/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [On pavements and the bark of trees I have found whole worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/on-pavements-and-the-bark-of-trees-i-have-found-whole-worlds/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [There has been 32 isms since the advent of cubism, yet after all there are essentially the same two old strings, the Romantic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/there-has-been-32-isms-since-the-advent-of-cubism-yet-after-all-there/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [Now it seems to me that we are in a universalising period... If we are to have world peace, we should have an understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/now-it-seems-to-me-that-we-are-in-a-universalising-period-if-we-are/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [But there was escape, too, even in those days, for there was Whistler living in the grey mists with a faded orange moon. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/but-there-was-escape-too-even-in-those-days-for-there-was-whistler/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [The dimension that counts for the creative person is the space he creates within himself. This inner space is closer to the infinite than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/the-dimension-that-counts-for-the-creative-person-is-the-space-he/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [Reality must be expressed by a physical symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/reality-must-be-expressed-by-a-physical-symbol/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [You don't want to help the young too much,it will just weaken them and they'll only resent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/you-don-t-want-to-help-the-young-too-much-it-will-just-weaken-them/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) > [The Cubists used the figure, but they broke it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/the-cubists-used-the-figure-but-they-broke-it-up/) [Mark Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) [Explore all 23 Mark Tobey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/) ## More Agreement quotes > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Tobey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that-a-drop-of-water-would-soften/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that-a-drop-of-water-would-soften/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f50/mark-tobey-24950_agreement_we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that_846065.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common…” — Mark Tobey", "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 Tobey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tobey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We all feel a separateness; we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that-a-drop-of-water-would-soften/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tobey/we-all-feel-a-separateness-we-wish-that-a-drop-of-water-would-soften/#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 } } ] } ```