--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that it's possible to have…" description: "\"I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.\" — Paul Theroux" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg" --- # I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding… ![“I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.” quote by Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg) > “I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.” [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Travel that is overly simple lacks depth; meaningful journeys require challenge and immersion. **In simple terms:** Simple travel lacks depth. Key Takeaway Seek complexity in travel. Themes travel depth challenge immersion Mood reflective adventurous Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - backpacking - cultural immersion - adventure travel - solo journeys Key Concepts Existentialism authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does complexity add to your travel? - How can you balance simplicity and depth? A Different Perspective Complexity can increase risk and cost. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-travel-701297/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Rewarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding/) [Rewarding experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding-experience/) [Rewarding experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding-experiences/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Travel Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel-simple-5765458/) ## Related quotes > [Singing with children in the schools has been the most rewarding experience of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/singing-with-children-in-the-schools-has-been-the-most-rewarding/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [I can cook, but I also want everything to look beautiful on the plate - then I get upset when people eat it. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-can-cook-but-i-also-want-everything-to-look-beautiful-on-the-plate/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [It was a most rewarding experience! I learned and saw how with a few simple ideas and concepts the same presentation can go from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-keane/it-was-a-most-rewarding-experience-i-learned-and-saw-how-with-a-few/) [Jeff Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-keane/) > [All my life, I'd been on the receiving end of my mother's endless tenderness and vigilant care. 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In writing the new films, I've come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/building-upon-the-world-we-created-with-avatar-has-been-a-rare-and/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [It is at once the most overwhelmingly frustrating and exasperating task and the most joyous and rewarding experience to make human beings out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kurshan/it-is-at-once-the-most-overwhelmingly-frustrating-and-exasperating/) [Neil Kurshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kurshan/) > [The most rewarding experience as a musician is to know that I moved people personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/the-most-rewarding-experience-as-a-musician-is-to-know-that-i-moved/) [Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/) > [Being a part of the 'Hamilton' family has been the most thrilling and rewarding experience of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-jackson/being-a-part-of-the-hamilton-family-has-been-the-most-thrilling-and/) [Christopher Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-jackson/) > [It has been an incredibly rewarding experience to work with so many dedicated SEC staff who strive every day to protect investors and ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/it-has-been-an-incredibly-rewarding-experience-to-work-with-so-many/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) ## More by Paul Theroux > [I feel as if my mission is to write, to see, to observe, and I feel lazy if I'm not reaching conclusions. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-feel-as-if-my-mission-is-to-write-to-see-to-observe-and-i-feel-lazy/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Maine out of season is unmistakably a great destination: hospitable, good-humored, plenty of elbow room, short days, dark nights of crackling ice crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/maine-out-of-season-is-unmistakably-a-great-destination-hospitable/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [You can't write about a friend, you can only write about a former friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/you-can-t-write-about-a-friend-you-can-only-write-about-a-former/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“sightseeing, an activity that delights the truly idle because it seems so much like scholarship, gawping and eavesdropping on antiquity, flattering oneself with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/sightseeing-an-activity-that-delights-the-truly-idle-because-it-seems/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [The Australian Book of Etiquette is a very slim volume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-australian-book-of-etiquette-is-a-very-slim-volume/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Tourists who go to Africa have more of a traditional experience than Africans do. A tourist goes on safari; Africans don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/tourists-who-go-to-africa-have-more-of-a-traditional-experience-than/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [In a way, Che Guevara's fate was far worse than Simon Bolivar's. 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If you are thoroughly sick of being kept waiting at home or at work, travel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-wish-to-disappear-sends-many-travelers-away-if-you-are-thoroughly/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [To a lot of Africans, seeing an animal is a something of a rarity. So it's a paradox of this sort of parallel life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/to-a-lot-of-africans-seeing-an-animal-is-a-something-of-a-rarity-so/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [The wish to travel seems to me characteristically human: the desire to move, to satisfy your curiosity or ease your fears, to change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-wish-to-travel-seems-to-me-characteristically-human-the-desire-to/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) [Explore all 328 Paul Theroux quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Theroux" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have-a-truly-rewarding-experience/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have-a-truly-rewarding-experience/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b89/paul-theroux-913_experience_i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have_2358232.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think that it's possible to have a truly rewarding experience in travel if it's simple.” — Paul Theroux", "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": "Paul Theroux", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think that it's possible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have-a-truly-rewarding-experience/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-don-t-think-that-it-s-possible-to-have-a-truly-rewarding-experience/#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 } } ] } ```