--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must distinguish between spirituality…" description: "\"We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms, which aims to make us better people, and religion. Adopting a religion remains optional, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/matthieu-ricard-4004_adopting_we-must-distinguish-between-spirituality_1299551.jpg" --- # We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms… ![“We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms, which aims to make us better people, and religion. Adopting a religion remains optional, but becoming a better human being is essential.” quote by Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/matthieu-ricard-4004_adopting_we-must-distinguish-between-spirituality_1299551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/matthieu-ricard-4004_adopting_we-must-distinguish-between-spirituality_1299551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a44/matthieu-ricard-4004_adopting_we-must-distinguish-between-spirituality_1299551.jpg) > “We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms, which aims to make us better people, and religion. Adopting a religion remains optional, but becoming a better human being is essential.” [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spirituality seeks personal growth and ethical improvement, while religion is a structured, optional system of belief and practice. **In simple terms:** Spirituality improves us; religion is optional. Key Takeaway Focus on personal development regardless of faith. Themes ethics personal growth spirituality religion choice Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - self‑improvement workshops - community service - mindfulness practice - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts humanism moral philosophy secular ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate compassion without formal religion? - What practices deepen personal ethics? A Different Perspective Spirituality can be vague without concrete practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [You would think death was an optional extra nowadays. Nobody wants to tick that box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-would-think-death-was-an-optional-extra-nowadays-nobody-wants-to/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [“Misery is optional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/misery-is-optional/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [Pain in life is inevitable but suffering is not. Pain is what the world does to you, suffering is what you do to yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-in-life-is-inevitable-but-suffering-is-not-pain-is-what-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Bearing one another’s burdens is not easy, but it is also not optional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/bearing-one-another-s-burdens-is-not-easy-but-it-is-also-not-optional/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Of all the components of the ecosystem, humans are the only ones we know to be completely optional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-hammond/of-all-the-components-of-the-ecosystem-humans-are-the-only-ones-we/) Herb Hammond > [Teaching my kids to give back is an essential part of parenting. It's not something that's optional. Compassion is one of the basic values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-snow/teaching-my-kids-to-give-back-is-an-essential-part-of-parenting-it-s/) Kate Snow > [Breathing is optional, but I need some air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/breathing-is-optional-but-i-need-some-air/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [I don't have the slightest interest in gold. I like understanding what works and what doesn't in human systems. To me that's not optional;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-don-t-have-the-slightest-interest-in-gold-i-like-understanding-what/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Failing is not real, it's an optional state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/failing-is-not-real-it-s-an-optional-state-of-mind/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I gave a talk on gender stuff at Facebook one morning and a man didn't come. It was optional; he didn't have to come.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/i-gave-a-talk-on-gender-stuff-at-facebook-one-morning-and-a-man-didn/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [The Church is the Church in her worship. Worship is not an optional extra, but is of the very life and essence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-torrance/the-church-is-the-church-in-her-worship-worship-is-not-an-optional/) J. B. Torrance > [Growing older is mandatory, but growing up is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brewer/growing-older-is-mandatory-but-growing-up-is-optional/) [Heather Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brewer/) > [There needs to be a public dawning - and it is beginning to dawn on some members of the public - that how science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-d-holt-jr/there-needs-to-be-a-public-dawning-and-it-is-beginning-to-dawn-on/) [Rush D. Holt, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-d-holt-jr/) > [Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you. Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional. Physical pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara/pain-nourishes-courage-you-can-t-be-brave-if-you-ve-only-had/) [Barbara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara/) > [Our prep's not going to be any different. It will be optional batting practice like there was today. I don't want any more work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/our-prep-s-not-going-to-be-any-different-it-will-be-optional-batting/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) ## More by Matthieu Ricard > [Whatever you train, you change your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/whatever-you-train-you-change-your-brain/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“I think what everyone should be doing, before it's too late, is committing themselves to what they really want to do with their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/i-think-what-everyone-should-be-doing-before-it-s-too-late-is/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/happiness-is-a-state-of-inner-fulfillment-not-the-gratification-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [At each point in our lives, we are at a crossroads. We are the fruit of our past and we are the architects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/at-each-point-in-our-lives-we-are-at-a-crossroads-we-are-the-fruit-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [I don't often get into a bad mood, since it does not help anything and clouds my judgment, but I can certainly see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/i-don-t-often-get-into-a-bad-mood-since-it-does-not-help-anything-and/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Happiness can’t be reduced to a few agreeable sensations. Rather, it is a way of being and of experiencing the world—a profound fulfillment that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/happiness-can-t-be-reduced-to-a-few-agreeable-sensations-rather-it-is/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Peace is not weak. Standing up to a tank is harder than dropping a suicide bomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/peace-is-not-weak-standing-up-to-a-tank-is-harder-than-dropping-a/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Good and evil exist only in terms of the happiness or suffering they create in ourselves and others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/good-and-evil-exist-only-in-terms-of-the-happiness-or-suffering-they/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Authentic happiness is not linked to an activity, it is a state of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/authentic-happiness-is-not-linked-to-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [ When you see those in healthcare who don't get this burn-out, they are very motherly, fatherly, or loving and attentive with the patients. \[These\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/when-you-see-those-in-healthcare-who-don-t-get-this-burn-out-they-are/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Although the optimist may be a little giddy when foreseeing the future, telling himself that it will all work out in the end when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/although-the-optimist-may-be-a-little-giddy-when-foreseeing-the/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“There is a possibility for change because all emotions are fleeting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/there-is-a-possibility-for-change-because-all-emotions-are-fleeting/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [When faced with adverse circumstances, if you can do something, do it and there is not need to worry. If you can't do anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/when-faced-with-adverse-circumstances-if-you-can-do-something-do-it/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“The only ‘failure’ of quantum theory is its inability to provide a natural framework for our prejudices.”1”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/the-only-failure-of-quantum-theory-is-its-inability-to-provide-a/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [The mind is malleable. Our life can be greatly transformed by even a minimal change in how we manage our thoughts and perceive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/the-mind-is-malleable-our-life-can-be-greatly-transformed-by-even-a/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) [Explore all 108 Matthieu Ricard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) ## More Adopting quotes > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I'm definitely not opposed to adopting. I think that would be marvellous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/i-m-definitely-not-opposed-to-adopting-i-think-that-would-be/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [I know a lot of people want to buy puppies, but adopting a dog who needs a home is doing something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-know-a-lot-of-people-want-to-buy-puppies-but-adopting-a-dog-who/) [Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/) > [I'm not at all against white people adopting black children, because we're all human beings who need to give love and be nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-m-not-at-all-against-white-people-adopting-black-children-because/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [There are many examples of companies and countries that have improved their competitiveness and efficiency by adopting open source strategies. The creation of skills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shuttleworth/there-are-many-examples-of-companies-and-countries-that-have-improved/) [Mark Shuttleworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shuttleworth/) > [Save a life this Thanksgiving, and join me in starting a new tradition by adopting a turkey instead of eating one through Farm Sanctuary's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/save-a-life-this-thanksgiving-and-join-me-in-starting-a-new-tradition/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [As Barbara Streisand discovered, adopting a militaristic posture against a tech-savvy mob of civil libertarians is not going to be of much help: Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/as-barbara-streisand-discovered-adopting-a-militaristic-posture/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I've learned a lot from being a chameleon, sort of adopting the musical personalities of who I was playing with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-denk/i-ve-learned-a-lot-from-being-a-chameleon-sort-of-adopting-the/) [Jeremy Denk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-denk/) > [“If the system were designed to protect adoptees, why do so many have to fight for their rights?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/if-the-system-were-designed-to-protect-adoptees-why-do-so-many-have/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [Nevertheless, the number of farmers, small as well as large, who are adopting the new seeds and new technology is increasing very rapidly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-borlaug/nevertheless-the-number-of-farmers-small-as-well-as-large-who-are/) [Norman Borlaug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-borlaug/) > [Refusing to lift sanctions and adopting tougher rhetoric toward Iran would not be partisan issues. Plenty of Democrats think that those actions are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/refusing-to-lift-sanctions-and-adopting-tougher-rhetoric-toward-iran/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I was adopting an Ethiopian child, that's not true. My house was haunted, that wasn't true. God, there's been so many rumours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-was-adopting-an-ethiopian-child-that-s-not-true-my-house-was/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [I'm not sure the least educated members of the population are missing out on the advances in medical technology as much as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/i-m-not-sure-the-least-educated-members-of-the-population-are-missing/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [I have always done the opposite of what I was trained to do... Having little technical background, I became a photographer. Adopting a machine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-have-always-done-the-opposite-of-what-i-was-trained-to-do-having/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) Browse all 198 Adopting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms, which aims to make us better people, and religion. 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