--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seek the Path, do not seek attainment…" description: "\"Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path within yourself. Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to see it, or read it in boo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/p-d-ouspensky-9110_attainment_seek-the-path-do-not-seek-attainment-see_2665071.png" --- # Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path… ![“Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path within yourself. Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to see it, or read it in books. Look for the truth in yourself, not without yourself.” quote by P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/p-d-ouspensky-9110_attainment_seek-the-path-do-not-seek-attainment-see_2665071.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/p-d-ouspensky-9110_attainment_seek-the-path-do-not-seek-attainment-see_2665071.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/p-d-ouspensky-9110_attainment_seek-the-path-do-not-seek-attainment-see_2665071.png) > “Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path within yourself. Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to see it, or read it in books. Look for the truth in yourself, not without yourself.” [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True understanding comes from inner search, not external teachings; seek the path within rather than relying on others for truth. **In simple terms:** Truth is found inside, not in external sources. Key Takeaway Practice inner reflection to discover truth. Themes spirituality self‑discovery inner work Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - journaling - personal growth - spiritual retreats Key Concepts mysticism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate inner truth from external influence? - What practices help you access inner wisdom? A Different Perspective External guidance can still be valuable for guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attainment/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Hear Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-truth/) [Look Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-truth-502808/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Seek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek/) [Seek Attainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-attainment-1728329/) [Seek Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-path-494588/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Seek the path, do not seek attainment, seek for the path within yourself. Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/seek-the-path-do-not-seek-attainment-seek-for-the-path-within/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Seek the wisdom that will untie your knot. Seek the path that demands your whole being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/seek-the-wisdom-that-will-untie-your-knot-seek-the-path-that-demands/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I shall pass Dawn on her way to earth, as I seek for a path through space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-reeve-aldrich/i-shall-pass-dawn-on-her-way-to-earth-as-i-seek-for-a-path-through/) [Anne Reeve Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-reeve-aldrich/) > [I've got better things to do than to find my individuality in that particular area. But if it's important to me, I've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-schiff/i-ve-got-better-things-to-do-than-to-find-my-individuality-in-that/) [Lewis Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-schiff/) > [“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-you-look-for-truth-you-may-find-comfort-in-the-end-if-you-look-for-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [As for what I look for, I don't know any other way to put it, but I look for truth, and honesty, because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevante-rhodes/as-for-what-i-look-for-i-don-t-know-any-other-way-to-put-it-but-i/) [Trevante Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevante-rhodes/) > [If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-look-for-truth-you-may-find-comfort-in-the-end-if-you-look-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Did you look for the truth? You can't find it, don't you. You can't find the truth, because we even creating it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicdo/did-you-look-for-the-truth-you-can-t-find-it-don-t-you-you-can-t-find/) [VicDo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicdo/) > [“Look at the truth from how it stands, not where it comes from. The truth is still the truth no matter whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/look-at-the-truth-from-how-it-stands-not-where-it-comes-from-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“it seems a shame to have to sneak to get to the truth.To make the truth such a dirty old nasty thing.You gotta sneak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/it-seems-a-shame-to-have-to-sneak-to-get-to-the-truth-to-make-the/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [I think that no one individual can look at truth. It blinds you. You look at it and you see one phase of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-think-that-no-one-individual-can-look-at-truth-it-blinds-you-you/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“But here they were shedding skins. They could imitate nothing but what they were. There was no defence but to look for the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/but-here-they-were-shedding-skins-they-could-imitate-nothing-but-what/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Honest is how I want to look. The truth doesn't glitter and shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/honest-is-how-i-want-to-look-the-truth-doesn-t-glitter-and-shine/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I can be expected to look for truth but not to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/i-can-be-expected-to-look-for-truth-but-not-to-find-it/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“Reading the article he wished for more detail ... But the media was the last place one should look for truth. A person was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mott/reading-the-article-he-wished-for-more-detail-but-the-media-was-the/) [Jason Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mott/) ## More by P.D. Ouspensky > [Art is the communication of ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/art-is-the-communication-of-ecstasy/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [I had come to the conclusion a long time ago that there was no escape from the labyrinth of contradictions in which we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/i-had-come-to-the-conclusion-a-long-time-ago-that-there-was-no-escape/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [It is only when we realize that life is taking us nowhere that it begins to have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/it-is-only-when-we-realize-that-life-is-taking-us-nowhere-that-it/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [To remember oneself means the same thing as to be aware of oneself - I am. It is not a function, not thinking, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/to-remember-oneself-means-the-same-thing-as-to-be-aware-of-oneself-i/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [In all living nature (and perhaps also in that which we consider as dead) love is the motive force which drives the creative activity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/in-all-living-nature-and-perhaps-also-in-that-which-we-consider-as/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Begin with the possible: begin with one step. There is always a limit you cannot do more than you can do. If you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/begin-with-the-possible-begin-with-one-step-there-is-always-a-limit/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [“Suddenly I began to find a strange meaning in old fairy-tales; woods, rivers, mountains, became living beings; mysterious life filled the night; with new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/suddenly-i-began-to-find-a-strange-meaning-in-old-fairy-tales-woods/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [The greatest barrier to consciousness is the belief that one is already conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/the-greatest-barrier-to-consciousness-is-the-belief-that-one-is/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Ideas by themselves cannot produce change of being; your effort must go in the right direction, and one must correspond to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/ideas-by-themselves-cannot-produce-change-of-being-your-effort-must/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Desire is when you do what you want, will is when you can do what you do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/desire-is-when-you-do-what-you-want-will-is-when-you-can-do-what-you/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Divide in yourself the mechanical from the conscious, see how little there is of the conscious, how seldom it works, and how strong is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/divide-in-yourself-the-mechanical-from-the-conscious-see-how-little/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [“The most important factor in every function is: ‘Is it under our control or not?’ So when imagination is under our control we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/the-most-important-factor-in-every-function-is-is-it-under-our/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Love is the eternally burning fire in which humanity & all the world are being purified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/love-is-the-eternally-burning-fire-in-which-humanity-all-the-world/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [a man can be given only what he can use; and he can use only that for which he has sacrificed something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/a-man-can-be-given-only-what-he-can-use-and-he-can-use-only-that-for/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [If a man gives way to all his desires, or panders to them, there will be no inner struggle in him, no 'friction,' no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/if-a-man-gives-way-to-all-his-desires-or-panders-to-them-there-will/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) [Explore all 73 P.D. Ouspensky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) ## More Attainment quotes > [Life, whether in this world or any other, is the sum of our attainment, our experience, our character. The conditions are secondary. In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/life-whether-in-this-world-or-any-other-is-the-sum-of-our-attainment/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [The Attainment of freedom, whether for a person, a nation or a world, must be in exact proportion to the attainment of nonviolence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-attainment-of-freedom-whether-for-a-person-a-nation-or-a-world/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/all-achievements-whether-in-the-business-intellectual-or-spiritual/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [In transmitting the dharma, there is neither explanation nor teaching; there is neighter hearing nor attainment. Since explanations never really explains, nor are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/in-transmitting-the-dharma-there-is-neither-explanation-nor-teaching/) [John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self. Real attainment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-mind-of-one-meditating-on-a-single-object-becomes-one-pointed-and/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Wisdom can boast no higher attainment than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/wisdom-can-boast-no-higher-attainment-than-happiness/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most important rules that I ever adopted to help me in achieving my goals were those I learned from a very successful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-most-important-rules-that-i-ever-adopted-to-help-me-in-achieving/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Like myself, all Americans have a deep concern for the well-being of Iran. With them I have watched closely your courageous efforts, your steadfastness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/like-myself-all-americans-have-a-deep-concern-for-the-well-being-of/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The ability to discriminate between that which is true and that which is false is one of the last attainments of the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-ability-to-discriminate-between-that-which-is-true-and-that-which/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [The more clearly defined and keenly desired your goals, the more of your natural creativity will be released for goal attainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-more-clearly-defined-and-keenly-desired-your-goals-the-more-of/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Every attainment, every step forward in knowledge, follows from courage, from hardness against oneself, from cleanliness in relation to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-attainment-every-step-forward-in-knowledge-follows-from-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And only the very courageous will be able to keep alive the spirit of individualism and dissent which gave birth to this nation, nourished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-only-the-very-courageous-will-be-able-to-keep-alive-the-spirit-of/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/some-read-for-style-and-some-for-argument-one-has-little-care-about/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 363 Attainment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attainment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Seek the Path, do not seek attainment, Seek for the Path within yourself. Do not expect to hear the truth from others, nor to see it, or read it in books. Look for the truth in yourself, not without yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P.D. 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