--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the West we have a tendency to be…" description: "\"“In the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in being more and mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/mother-teresa-196_love_in-the-west-we-have-a-tendency-to-be-pro_2792005.jpg" --- # In the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented… ![“In the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in being more and more active to generate results. In the East -- especially in India -- I find that people are more content to just be, to just sit around under a…” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/mother-teresa-196_love_in-the-west-we-have-a-tendency-to-be-pro_2792005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/mother-teresa-196_love_in-the-west-we-have-a-tendency-to-be-pro_2792005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/911/mother-teresa-196_love_in-the-west-we-have-a-tendency-to-be-pro_2792005.jpg) > ““In the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in being more and more active to generate results. In the East -- especially in India -- I find that people are more content to just be, to just sit around under a banyan tree for half a day chatting to each other. We Westerners would probably call that wasting time. But there is value to it. Being with someone, listening wihtout a clock and without anticipation of results, teaches us about love. The success of love is in the loving -- it is not in the result of loving. These words, taken from the book A Simple Path, are the words of one of the Missionaries of Charity Sisters, not of Mother Teresa. ”” [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrasts Western productivity focus with Eastern contemplative practices, highlighting love’s value beyond results. **In simple terms:** Being present and listening teaches love, not achievement. Key Takeaway Practice mindful presence without expecting outcomes. Themes culture mindfulness love productivity values Mood reflective contemplative Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - personal retreats - community gatherings - therapy sessions Key Concepts Eastern philosophy Western work ethic spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does “wasting time” teach us? - How can we balance action and stillness? A Different Perspective Western focus on results may undervalue relational depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chatting Westerners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chatting-westerners-1805537/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-success-539255/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Misattributed-to-mother-teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misattributed-to-mother-teresa-123159/) [Profit Oriented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-oriented-449457/) [Success Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-love-413492/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [In the West we have a tendency to be profit-oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/in-the-west-we-have-a-tendency-to-be-profit-oriented-where-everything/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Love The success of love is in the loving; it is not in the result of loving. 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If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-paradoxical-commandments-people-are-illogical-unreasonable-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-success-of-love-is-in-the-loving-it-is-not-in-the-result-of-loving/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The thing is, people can't complain about profit-oriented moves if they're only interested in profit themselves. You can't have it both ways. If they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/the-thing-is-people-can-t-complain-about-profit-oriented-moves-if/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [A commercial civilization is money-oriented, profit-oriented. 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Success would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/there-s-a-spectrum-of-those-moments-of-connection-and-the-moments-we/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) ## More by Mother Teresa > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [All works of love are works of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/all-works-of-love-are-works-of-peace/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. 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Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Recovering in a Calcutta, India hospital. I think I'm more difficult than critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/recovering-in-a-calcutta-india-hospital-i-think-i-m-more-difficult/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The more we empty ourselves, the more room we give God to fill us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-more-we-empty-ourselves-the-more-room-we-give-god-to-fill-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-prayer-joy-is-strength-joy-is-love-joy-is-a-net-of-love-by/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More Love quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. 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