--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a long time I though that one had to…" description: "\"“For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live”\" — Nils-Aslak Valkeapää" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg" --- # For a long time I though that one had to accomplish… ![“For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live” quote by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg) > ““For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live”” [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening and receiving are as valuable as active achievement; embrace passive experience **In simple terms:** Being present can be a form of accomplishment Key Takeaway Value listening and receiving Themes mindfulness presence spirituality Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - meditation - art appreciation - nature observation Key Concepts passive awareness inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance listening with doing? - When is receiving more powerful than acting? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on passivity may hinder action ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen/) [Listen Receive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-receive-1272468/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Receive Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receive-live-6023499/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Accomplish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-accomplish-1693137/) [Watch Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-listen-568931/) ## Related quotes > [Any fool can talk, but not everyone can listen, receive, and process information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/any-fool-can-talk-but-not-everyone-can-listen-receive-and-process/) [Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/) > [Watch, listen and learn. You can't know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/watch-listen-and-learn-you-can-t-know-it-all-yourself-anyone-who/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I watch but I can’t see. I listen but I can’t hear. I breathe but my heart doesn’t beat. I live but I remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mcheyzer/i-watch-but-i-can-t-see-i-listen-but-i-can-t-hear-i-breathe-but-my/) [Margaret McHeyzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mcheyzer/) > [I think people need to guard themselves in what they watch and what they listen to because I think that does affect who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colton-dixon/i-think-people-need-to-guard-themselves-in-what-they-watch-and-what/) [Colton Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colton-dixon/) > [People watch what you do more than listen to what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/people-watch-what-you-do-more-than-listen-to-what-you-say/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [You really do kind of learn a lot about a person when you watch and listen to the songs that mean something to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/you-really-do-kind-of-learn-a-lot-about-a-person-when-you-watch-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I would much rather watch myself than listen to myself. The moving is second nature, but the listening... that's the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-would-much-rather-watch-myself-than-listen-to-myself-the-moving-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I'm probably not one of the more vocal people around, but I do watch, I do listen and I try to learn from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcdermott/i-m-probably-not-one-of-the-more-vocal-people-around-but-i-do-watch-i/) [Sean McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcdermott/) > [“Most people will give you the means to persuade them if you watch and listen carefully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-diamond/most-people-will-give-you-the-means-to-persuade-them-if-you-watch-and/) [Stuart Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-diamond/) > [Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in he way of your doing it.the time will pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/don-t-let-the-fear-of-the-time-it-will-take-to-accomplish-something/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [NEVER GIVE UPON ON A DREAM JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT WILL TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH IT. THE TIME WILL PASS AWAY ANYWAY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-upon-on-a-dream-just-because-of-the-time-it-will-take-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Time is for to accomplish”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-isaaq/time-is-for-to-accomplish/) [M Isaaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-isaaq/) > [“Disabled people needed an inordinate amount of time to accomplish the same daily living tasks as able-bodied people-it was one of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/disabled-people-needed-an-inordinate-amount-of-time-to-accomplish-the/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [“Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/never-give-up-on-a-dream-because-of-the-time-it-will-take-to/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-up-on-a-dream-just-because-of-the-length-of-time-it-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää > [“I leave now to return Travel far to be close”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-leave-now-to-return-travel-far-to-be-close/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“If it's worries you want the whole world is yours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/if-it-s-worries-you-want-the-whole-world-is-yours/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [I would like to die as I have lived disappear among the tundra winds be transformed into birdsong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-would-like-to-die-as-i-have-lived-disappear-among-the-tundra-winds/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“What is it the heart wants why are the thought crying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/what-is-it-the-heart-wants-why-are-the-thought-crying/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“Everything is so beautiful I am afraid to wake up again to the hard world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/everything-is-so-beautiful-i-am-afraid-to-wake-up-again-to-the-hard/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [In blue Light nature space the whole world, wide grazing land, the open spaces wind across the land and the sky, blue, high](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/in-blue-light-nature-space-the-whole-world-wide-grazing-land-the-open/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“If I met myself after a few years would I recognize myself And these thoughts what quarrels between them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/if-i-met-myself-after-a-few-years-would-i-recognize-myself-and-these/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“Days pass by, months and even years The meaning of life is still as unclear In the evening I sit down let my eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/days-pass-by-months-and-even-years-the-meaning-of-life-is-still-as/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“I have not planned to become something and what I do is not a job I am not collecting money or property I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-have-not-planned-to-become-something-and-what-i-do-is-not-a-job-i/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“in the heart’s rain in the eye’s fog in the winter’s smoky snow in whirling snow in storms wind which wants to tear my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/in-the-heart-s-rain-in-the-eye-s-fog-in-the-winter-s-smoky-snow-in/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“Perhaps people only exist in my thoughts Perhaps the sky only exists in my mind When will I wake up and to what”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/perhaps-people-only-exist-in-my-thoughts-perhaps-the-sky-only-exists/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [The Arctic is a highway. The tree limit, the scarcity of trees, freed people to walk. Particularly in the wintertime. Which connected people physically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/the-arctic-is-a-highway-the-tree-limit-the-scarcity-of-trees-freed/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“It is already long ago so long ago How do I know that you are not an illusion of the senses an invention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/it-is-already-long-ago-so-long-ago-how-do-i-know-that-you-are-not-an/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“I leave to arrive, go away to be closer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-leave-to-arrive-go-away-to-be-closer/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [“I know that you are waiting for a dawn a wondrously beautiful future I don't want to deny you that because dreaming is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-know-that-you-are-waiting-for-a-dawn-a-wondrously-beautiful-future/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) [Explore all 17 Nils-Aslak Valkeapää quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) ## More Listen quotes > [“Listen to your heart and trust the direction you are being pulled. Something inside you already know what to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spring-washam/listen-to-your-heart-and-trust-the-direction-you-are-being-pulled/) [Spring Washam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spring-washam/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“You never know why God has you move the way He does. You should just listen when He tells you to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacinta-howard/you-never-know-why-god-has-you-move-the-way-he-does-you-should-just/) [Jacinta Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacinta-howard/) > [You shouldn't listen to my music for political messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/you-shouldn-t-listen-to-my-music-for-political-messages/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [If you're a smart writer, you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/if-you-re-a-smart-writer-you-listen/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [I love music. I listen to a lot of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-love-music-i-listen-to-a-lot-of-it/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [“I can't promise the universe is gonna tell you what to do with your life up there. But if you can keep quiet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/i-can-t-promise-the-universe-is-gonna-tell-you-what-to-do-with-your/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) > [“Our first teacher is our own heart. When we begin to tune in and listen to our heart we can bring our thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-l-white/our-first-teacher-is-our-own-heart-when-we-begin-to-tune-in-and/) [Victoria L. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-l-white/) > [Hmm, on my downtime, I take a shower or listen to the Bible on tape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/hmm-on-my-downtime-i-take-a-shower-or-listen-to-the-bible-on-tape/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I could listen to this song over and over¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/i-could-listen-to-this-song-over-and-over/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [When even your fans are writing to tell you to get a life, you know you need to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/when-even-your-fans-are-writing-to-tell-you-to-get-a-life-you-know/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Those that fight don't listen, those that listen don't fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-salomon-perls/those-that-fight-don-t-listen-those-that-listen-don-t-fight/) [Frederick Salomon Perls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-salomon-perls/) [Browse all 3,745 Listen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nils-Aslak Valkeapää" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to-accomplish-something-now-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Listen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to-accomplish-something-now-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/nils-aslak-valkeap-30397_listen_for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to_781994.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For a long time I though that one had to accomplish something Now I just watch listen receive Live” — Nils-Aslak Valkeapää", "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": "Nils-Aslak Valkeapää", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“For a long time I though...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to-accomplish-something-now-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/for-a-long-time-i-though-that-one-had-to-accomplish-something-now-i/#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 } } ] } ```