--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Integrity requires that I discern what is…" description: "\"Integrity requires that I discern what is integral to my selfhood, what fits and what does not-and that I choose life-giving ways of relating to the fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/parker-j-palmer-2983_becoming_integrity-requires-that-i-discern-what-i_2969059.jpg" --- # Integrity requires that I discern what is integral to my… ![“Integrity requires that I discern what is integral to my selfhood, what fits and what does not-and that I choose life-giving ways of relating to the forces that converge within me: Do I welcome them or fear them, embrace them or reject them, move with them or against them? By choosing integrity, I…” quote by Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/parker-j-palmer-2983_becoming_integrity-requires-that-i-discern-what-i_2969059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/parker-j-palmer-2983_becoming_integrity-requires-that-i-discern-what-i_2969059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/parker-j-palmer-2983_becoming_integrity-requires-that-i-discern-what-i_2969059.jpg) > “Integrity requires that I discern what is integral to my selfhood, what fits and what does not-and that I choose life-giving ways of relating to the forces that converge within me: Do I welcome them or fear them, embrace them or reject them, move with them or against them? By choosing integrity, I become more whole, but wholeness does not mean perfection. It means becoming more real by acknowledging the whole of who I am.” [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Integrity means recognizing what aligns with one's true self and choosing life‑affirming actions, acknowledging imperfection while becoming more authentic. **In simple terms:** Live true to yourself, accepting flaws. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity over perfection. Themes self‑knowledge integrity wholeness Mood introspective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy - leadership - personal development - decision making Key Concepts personal growth authenticity self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of yourself need more honesty? - How does embracing imperfection empower you? A Different Perspective Integrity alone does not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-life/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-way/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) [Wholeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholeness/) ## Related quotes > [By choosing integrity, I become more whole, but wholeness does not mean perfection. It means becoming more real by acknowledging the whole of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/by-choosing-integrity-i-become-more-whole-but-wholeness-does-not-mean/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life. Knowing this gives me hope that human wholeness -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/wholeness-does-not-mean-perfection-it-means-embracing-brokenness-as-2/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Wholeness does not mean perfection: it means embracing brokenness as an integral part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/wholeness-does-not-mean-perfection-it-means-embracing-brokenness-as/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Choosing with integrity means finding ways to speak up that honor your reality, the reality of others, and your willingness to meet in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/choosing-with-integrity-means-finding-ways-to-speak-up-that-honor/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [A life of wholeness does not depend on what we experience. Wholeness depends on how we experience our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/a-life-of-wholeness-does-not-depend-on-what-we-experience-wholeness/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Let’s not forget that American democracy started with ‘We the People’ agreeing to work hard to create ‘a more perfect union.’ We’ve lost the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/let-s-not-forget-that-american-democracy-started-with-we-the-people/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Saying that, he was suddenly himself again, despite his lunatic hair and eyes: a man whose personal dignity went so deep as to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/saying-that-he-was-suddenly-himself-again-despite-his-lunatic-hair/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [A severed hand Is an ugly thing and man dissevered from the earth and stars and his history... for contemplation or in fact... Often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-severed-hand-is-an-ugly-thing-and-man-dissevered-from-the-earth-and/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“The concept behind personal integrity is wholeness. When a person is the same without as within, when what others know about him is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-backus/the-concept-behind-personal-integrity-is-wholeness-when-a-person-is/) William Backus > [ ...\[K\]now that however ugly the parts appear the whole remains beautiful. A severed hand Is an ugly thing, and man dissevered from the earth… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/k-now-that-however-ugly-the-parts-appear-the-whole-remains-beautiful/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“It was more than dignity. Integrity? Wholeness? Like a block of wood not carved. The infinite possibility, the unlimited and unqualified wholeness of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/it-was-more-than-dignity-integrity-wholeness-like-a-block-of-wood-not/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [The spiritual life is about becoming more at home in your own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/the-spiritual-life-is-about-becoming-more-at-home-in-your-own-skin/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [“GIVING IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET BETTER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naira-abeokute/giving-is-the-only-way-to-get-better/) NAIRA ABEOKUTE > [Lean on principles, one day they'll end up giving way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/lean-on-principles-one-day-they-ll-end-up-giving-way/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost-given-to-us-when-we-are-confirmed-gives-us/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) ## More by Parker J. Palmer > [“The God I know is the source of reality, rather than morality; the source of 'what is' rather than the source of 'what ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/the-god-i-know-is-the-source-of-reality-rather-than-morality-the/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [One of the hardest things we must do sometimes is to be present to another person's pain without trying to "fix" it, to simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/one-of-the-hardest-things-we-must-do-sometimes-is-to-be-present-to/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Opposing what's wrong is a halfway measure at best. A rebel must also have a vision for something better, a strategy for moving toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/opposing-what-s-wrong-is-a-halfway-measure-at-best-a-rebel-must-also/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Teaching, like any truly human activity, emerges from one's inwardness, for better or worse. As I teach I project the condition of my soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/teaching-like-any-truly-human-activity-emerges-from-one-s-inwardness/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. It tends to get marginalized in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/if-my-life-is-any-example-the-work-that-youth-workers-are-doing-is/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Self-care is never a selfish act - it is only good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/self-care-is-never-a-selfish-act-it-is-only-good-stewardship-of-the/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [The spiritual life is about becoming more at home in your own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/the-spiritual-life-is-about-becoming-more-at-home-in-your-own-skin/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [“Formation may be the best name for what happens in a circle of trust, because the word refers, historically, to soul work done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/formation-may-be-the-best-name-for-what-happens-in-a-circle-of-trust/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Don't let anyone or anything rob you of the beauty and meaning at the heart of life. It's your birthright gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/don-t-let-anyone-or-anything-rob-you-of-the-beauty-and-meaning-at-the/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [“Citizenship is a way of being in the world rooted in the knowledge that I am a member of a vast community of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/citizenship-is-a-way-of-being-in-the-world-rooted-in-the-knowledge/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [I think the church needs to be much more countercultural than that and invite people into slowing down, into a "Be-still-and-know-that-I-am-God" mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/i-think-the-church-needs-to-be-much-more-countercultural-than-that/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [My high school, like most high schools, had a pretty rigid stratification system. Kids were clustered into groups - the studious ones, the athletes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/my-high-school-like-most-high-schools-had-a-pretty-rigid/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Death in various forms is sometimes comforting, while resurrection and new life can be demanding and threatening. If I lived as if resurrection were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/death-in-various-forms-is-sometimes-comforting-while-resurrection-and/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already posses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/discovering-vocation-does-not-mean-scrambling-toward-some-prize-just-2/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [It is because as we are, our hearts are closed, and we cannot place the holy words in our hearts. So we place them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/it-is-because-as-we-are-our-hearts-are-closed-and-we-cannot-place-the/) [Parker J. 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