--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How then can we change being? By applying…" description: "\"How then can we change being? By applying the knowledge of the Work through self-observation to ourselves. And remember that you do not change by being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/maurice-nicoll-30544_change_how-then-can-we-change-being-by-applying_1016220.jpg" --- # How then can we change being? By applying the knowledge of… ![“How then can we change being? By applying the knowledge of the Work through self-observation to ourselves. And remember that you do not change by being told what to do. You only change through seeing what you have to do when you realize what your being is like.” quote by Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/maurice-nicoll-30544_change_how-then-can-we-change-being-by-applying_1016220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/maurice-nicoll-30544_change_how-then-can-we-change-being-by-applying_1016220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/maurice-nicoll-30544_change_how-then-can-we-change-being-by-applying_1016220.jpg) > “How then can we change being? By applying the knowledge of the Work through self-observation to ourselves. And remember that you do not change by being told what to do. You only change through seeing what you have to do when you realize what your being is like.” [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change comes from self‑observation and understanding one's nature, not from external directives. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge drives change. Key Takeaway Observe yourself to transform. Themes self‑growth philosophy autonomy Mood introspective motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - therapy - personal development - spiritual practice - coaching Key Concepts self‑reflection inner work Questions to Reflect On - What patterns do you notice in yourself? - How can you apply this insight daily? A Different Perspective Self‑observation can be difficult without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-observation/) ## Related quotes > [Association with human beings lures one into self-observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/association-with-human-beings-lures-one-into-self-observation/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Generosity is another quality which, like patience, letting go, non-judging, and trust, provides a solid foundation for mindfulness practice. You might experiment with using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/generosity-is-another-quality-which-like-patience-letting-go-non-2/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [“Whoever we are, we find ourselves, through self-observation, possessed of a certain small number of typical ways of reacting to the manifold impressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/whoever-we-are-we-find-ourselves-through-self-observation-possessed/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [The training is a set of interpersonal interactions that lead to emotional and intellectual experiences that provide a circumstance and an intrument for self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humberto-maturana/the-training-is-a-set-of-interpersonal-interactions-that-lead-to/) [Humberto Maturana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humberto-maturana/) > [Looking back at my past it is no used for me to change it. Seeing the future is a good way, But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky/looking-back-at-my-past-it-is-no-used-for-me-to-change-it-seeing-the/) Ricky > [“We can’t go very far to change our seeing without simultaneously changing our being, and vice versa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/we-can-t-go-very-far-to-change-our-seeing-without-simultaneously/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Paradigms are inseparable from character. Being is seeing in the human dimension. And what we see is highly interrelated to what we are. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/paradigms-are-inseparable-from-character-being-is-seeing-in-the-human/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“When someone in privileged circumstances gets a bit bewildered or stymied or maybe stumbles, the light he sees things in will change. But seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/when-someone-in-privileged-circumstances-gets-a-bit-bewildered-or/) [Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/) > [...it is business that can exercise the fastest degree of change by seeing the opportunity rather than the threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-huhne/it-is-business-that-can-exercise-the-fastest-degree-of-change-by/) [Chris Huhne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-huhne/) > [Self-observation is the first step of inner unfolding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/self-observation-is-the-first-step-of-inner-unfolding/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [“Without thorough training in the sense of self-observation, the days usually go by in a state of fascination with the events of daily life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belzebuub/without-thorough-training-in-the-sense-of-self-observation-the-days/) Belzebuub > [“Dialogue is about creating awareness through self-observation; it starts from the inside out, not the outside in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/dialogue-is-about-creating-awareness-through-self-observation-it/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [“The most fundamental exercise is self-observation, which is the catalyst for inner change, it will give self-knowledge and a clear mind and perception. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belsebuub/the-most-fundamental-exercise-is-self-observation-which-is-the/) [Belsebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belsebuub/) > [“Self-observation helps us to refocus within, to balance ourselves and to be in the present moment…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-ripstein/self-observation-helps-us-to-refocus-within-to-balance-ourselves-and/) [Jacqueline Ripstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-ripstein/) > [“Self observation is the first sprout of awaken mind. It surely leads to certain prosperity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gagandeep-kaushal/self-observation-is-the-first-sprout-of-awaken-mind-it-surely-leads/) Gagandeep Kaushal ## More by Maurice Nicoll > [“When a man pities himself, he feels he is owed—like the dog. If you feel that you are owed, you will never begin truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/when-a-man-pities-himself-he-feels-he-is-owed-like-the-dog-if-you/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“So we have to work in the midst of life, surrounded by all the misfortunes of life, and eventually life becomes our teacher—that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/so-we-have-to-work-in-the-midst-of-life-surrounded-by-all-the/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“will now have to divide certain centres into positive and negative divisions, first of all, and then fill in, here and there, at present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/will-now-have-to-divide-certain-centres-into-positive-and-negative/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [You have a right not to be negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/you-have-a-right-not-to-be-negative/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [I will also tell you a secret. We have to will one another: this is the beginning of conscious love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/i-will-also-tell-you-a-secret-we-have-to-will-one-another-this-is-the/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“You will remember that every psychological or inner state finds some outer representation via the moving centre—that is, it is represented in some particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/you-will-remember-that-every-psychological-or-inner-state-finds-some/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [The level above Man is called the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God in the Gospels. It has many other names in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/the-level-above-man-is-called-the-kingdom-of-heaven-or-kingdom-of-god/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [Everything you do consciously is preserved for you: everything you do mechanically, since you did not do it, is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/everything-you-do-consciously-is-preserved-for-you-everything-you-do/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“Whoever we are, we find ourselves, through self-observation, possessed of a certain small number of typical ways of reacting to the manifold impressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/whoever-we-are-we-find-ourselves-through-self-observation-possessed/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [It is like the man who became short-sighted and refused to wear glasses, saying there was nothing wrong with him, but that the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/it-is-like-the-man-who-became-short-sighted-and-refused-to-wear/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“Meaning gives force and the more meaning this work has for you the more it will affect you emotionally and the more force will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/meaning-gives-force-and-the-more-meaning-this-work-has-for-you-the/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [Humanity is regarded as unfinished, incomplete, imperfect. We have the possibility of completing ourselves, perfecting ourselves, and all that is necessary for this lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/humanity-is-regarded-as-unfinished-incomplete-imperfect-we-have-the/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [The Work is something living in our hearts and minds. Follow the path, see what changes take place within you, and what light begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/the-work-is-something-living-in-our-hearts-and-minds-follow-the-path/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [“To change one's life is not to change outer circumstances: it is to change one's reactions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/to-change-one-s-life-is-not-to-change-outer-circumstances-it-is-to/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) > [The central conception of Man in the Gospels is that he is an unfinished creation capable of reaching a higher level by a definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-nicoll/the-central-conception-of-man-in-the-gospels-is-that-he-is-an/) [Maurice Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) [Explore all 17 Maurice Nicoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-nicoll/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How then can we change being? 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