--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know how to sacrifice ten years for a…" description: "\"We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/nhat-hanh-515_alive_we-know-how-to-sacrifice-ten-years-for-a_1041466.png" --- # We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we… ![“We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/nhat-hanh-515_alive_we-know-how-to-sacrifice-ten-years-for-a_1041466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/nhat-hanh-515_alive_we-know-how-to-sacrifice-ten-years-for-a_1041466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/nhat-hanh-515_alive_we-know-how-to-sacrifice-ten-years-for-a_1041466.png) > “We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reminds us that despite long‑term goals, true living occurs only in the present moment, urging mindfulness. **In simple terms:** We often forget to live now. Key Takeaway Practice present‑moment awareness. Themes mindfulness presence time spirituality Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - stress reduction - daily routines - meditation practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate mindfulness daily? - What distractions pull you from now? A Different Perspective Balancing future plans with present awareness can be hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Being a mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-mom/) [Diploma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diploma/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Peace is every step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-is-every-step/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Remembering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembering/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-can-smile-breathe-walk-and-eat-our-meals-in-a-way-that-allows-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/we-are-very-good-at-preparing-to-live-but-not-very-good-at-living-we/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“Living Memory I carry you with me into the world, into the smell of rain & the words that dance between people & for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/living-memory-i-carry-you-with-me-into-the-world-into-the-smell-of/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [With a practice, we can always remain alive in the present moment. With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/with-a-practice-we-can-always-remain-alive-in-the-present-moment-with/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Peace in every step. The shining red sun is my heart. Each flower smiles with me. How green, how fresh all that grows. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/peace-in-every-step-the-shining-red-sun-is-my-heart-each-flower/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [By eating meat we share responsibility for causing climate change, the destruction of our forests, and the poisoning of our air and water. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/by-eating-meat-we-share-responsibility-for-causing-climate-change-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/peace-is-present-right-here-and-now-in-ourselves-and-in-everything/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on Earth... This is the real message of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-succeed-in-loving-you-i-will-be-able-to-love-everyone-and-all/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-smile-affirms-our-awareness-and-determination-to-live-in-peace/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-you-plant-lettuce-if-it-does-not-grow-well-you-don-t-blame-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our smile will bring happiness to us and to those around us. Even if we spend a lot of money on gifts for everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-smile-will-bring-happiness-to-us-and-to-those-around-us-even-if/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I wouldn't want to sacrifice the last years that I have of being youthful in this business to have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-wouldn-t-want-to-sacrifice-the-last-years-that-i-have-of-being/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [To be able to throw one's self away for the sake of a moment, to be able to sacrifice years for a woman's smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/to-be-able-to-throw-one-s-self-away-for-the-sake-of-a-moment-to-be/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [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/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. 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