---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think we are in sync with our…"
description: "\"“We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.”\" — Marshall Goldsmith"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png"
---

#  We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually…

![“We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.” quote by Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png)

> ““We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.””

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

## About This Quote

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

We often assume harmony with our surroundings, yet hidden conflicts can undermine us.

**In simple terms:** We think we’re aligned, but hidden wars exist.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address hidden conflicts.

Themes

self-awareness environment conflict growth

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

advisory philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- team dynamics
- personal health
- strategic decision making

Key Concepts

cognitive bias systemic tension resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- What unseen conflicts affect your decisions?
- How can you test assumptions about your environment?

A Different Perspective

Assuming conflict may cause paranoia and inaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actually War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-war-4688566/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Environment Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment-actually-2045169/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Sync](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-sync-1453915/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [I think that N\*SYNC had opportunities laid out in front of them because of their connections with people whom Backstreet were affiliated with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lachey/i-think-that-n-sync-had-opportunities-laid-out-in-front-of-them/)

[Nick Lachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lachey/)

> [So actually war is politically profitable, financially profitable, morally depraved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/so-actually-war-is-politically-profitable-financially-profitable/)

[Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/)

> [We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about a moment in time, and through that moment, it manages to speak about Afghanistan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/we-never-want-to-update-black-watch-because-it-s-about-a-moment-in/)

[John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/)

> [Many of the environmental rules not only fail to protect the natural environment, they actually increase the damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/many-of-the-environmental-rules-not-only-fail-to-protect-the-natural/)

[Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/)

> [We seem to forget that everything that is good for the environment is a job. Solar panels don't put themselves up. Wind turbines don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-seem-to-forget-that-everything-that-is-good-for-the-environment-is/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [The environment can actually affect gene expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/the-environment-can-actually-affect-gene-expression/)

[Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/)

> [I am a big lover of the environment. I actually come from Maine, which is pretty much all environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-gray-cabey/i-am-a-big-lover-of-the-environment-i-actually-come-from-maine-which/)

[Noah Gray-Cabey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-gray-cabey/)

> [But I think you have to - whatever the environment looks like, it does enter into people's art work one way or another; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/but-i-think-you-have-to-whatever-the-environment-looks-like-it-does/)

[Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/)

> [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/)

[David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/)

> [I don't think we have to have a personal relation to a life lost to understand that something terrible has taken place, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/i-don-t-think-we-have-to-have-a-personal-relation-to-a-life-lost-to/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [I don't think 'This Means War' is an appropriate picture to do in 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcg/i-don-t-think-this-means-war-is-an-appropriate-picture-to-do-in-3-d/)

[McG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcg/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [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/)

> [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

## More by Marshall Goldsmith

> [Our inner beliefs trigger failure before it happens. They sabotage lasting change by canceling its possibility. We employ these beliefs as articles of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/our-inner-beliefs-trigger-failure-before-it-happens-they-sabotage/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [If the CEO is not going to give you a fair chance, you're probably not going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/if-the-ceo-is-not-going-to-give-you-a-fair-chance-you-re-probably-not/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [Never confuse acquiring degrees with wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/never-confuse-acquiring-degrees-with-wisdom/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [Change is not a one-way street- it involves two parties: the person who is changing and the people who notice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/change-is-not-a-one-way-street-it-involves-two-parties-the-person-who/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/active-questions-are-the-alternative-to-passive-questions-there-is-a/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [We deify willpower and self-control - and mock its absence. People who achieve through remarkable willpower are 'strong' and 'heroic.' People who need help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-deify-willpower-and-self-control-and-mock-its-absence-people-who/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [Those who lead by example and demonstrate passion for what they do make it much easier for their followers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/those-who-lead-by-example-and-demonstrate-passion-for-what-they-do/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/one-of-the-most-important-actions-things-a-leader-can-do-is-to-lead/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [Almost everyone I meet is successful because of doing a lot of things right, and almost everyone I meet is successful in spite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/almost-everyone-i-meet-is-successful-because-of-doing-a-lot-of-things/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/in-our-world-we-have-this-huge-focus-on-vicarious-living-politicians/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [It's not appropriate to pass judgment when we specifically ask people to voice their opinions... even if you ask a question and agree with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/it-s-not-appropriate-to-pass-judgment-when-we-specifically-ask-people/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-only-thing-i-don-t-think-people-don-t-understand-about-good/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [As I've gotten older, I've gotten simpler - my level of aspiration has actually gone down and down. But my level of impact has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-gotten-simpler-my-level-of-aspiration-has/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [The more we are committed to believing that something is true, the less likely we are to believe that its opposite is true, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-more-we-are-committed-to-believing-that-something-is-true-the/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

> [The people I coach are very successful people, so it's very hard for winners to not constantly win. Even if it's trivial and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/the-people-i-coach-are-very-successful-people-so-it-s-very-hard-for/)

[Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

[Explore all 96 Marshall Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/)

## More Environment quotes

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [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/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-paved-paradise-and-put-up-a-parkin-lot-with-a-pink-hotel-a/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Daily life is both the subject and environment of the work I am making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/daily-life-is-both-the-subject-and-environment-of-the-work-i-am-making/)

[Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/)

> [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

> [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/)

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

> [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/)

[Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/)

> [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/)

[Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/)

> [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/)

[Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/)

> [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/)

[Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/)

[Browse all 8,669 Environment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marshall Goldsmith"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environment-but-actually-it-s-at-war/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Environment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environment-but-actually-it-s-at-war/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/marshall-goldsmith-6918_environment_we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environ_2177520.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.” — Marshall Goldsmith",
                "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": "Marshall Goldsmith",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We think we are in sync...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environment-but-actually-it-s-at-war/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environment-but-actually-it-s-at-war/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
