--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As human beings, not only do we seek…" description: "\"As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg" --- # As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we… ![“As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don't deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright, which is the middle way, an open…” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg) > “As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don't deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright, which is the middle way, an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People crave definitive answers, yet true freedom lies in embracing uncertainty and the middle path beyond binary outcomes. **In simple terms:** Accept ambiguity for deeper peace. Key Takeaway Embrace the middle way. Themes uncertainty resolution middle way Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - conflict resolution - decision making - creative brainstorming - personal grief - spiritual practice Key Concepts paradox non‑attachment mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you sit with unresolved tension? - What does the “middle way” look like in your life? A Different Perspective Seeking certainty can cause anxiety and rigidity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambiguity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguity/) [Birthright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthright/) [Deserve better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve-better/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Middle way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-way/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-better/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) ## Related quotes > [Instead of making others right or wrong, or bottling up right and wrong in ourselves, there's a middle way, a very powerful middle way……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/instead-of-making-others-right-or-wrong-or-bottling-up-right-and/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's very painful for us to feel we deserve a life. That's the toughest thing. That we deserve to have a life. That can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/it-s-very-painful-for-us-to-feel-we-deserve-a-life-that-s-the/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [Unless I write every day, I don't feel I deserve my dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/unless-i-write-every-day-i-don-t-feel-i-deserve-my-dinner/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Do not allow to make you feel that you do not deserve the success you want,Every success is within your reach, it is matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/do-not-allow-to-make-you-feel-that-you-do-not-deserve-the-success-you/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Your actions reflect what you want for yourself and how much you love and value yourself. Your actions reflect how you see yourself, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-gibson/your-actions-reflect-what-you-want-for-yourself-and-how-much-you-love/) [Tyrese Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-gibson/) > [Don't let anybody make you feel you do not deserve what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuela/don-t-let-anybody-make-you-feel-you-do-not-deserve-what-you-want/) Emmanuela > [“Today the population of non-scientists legitimately feel they deserve a say in how far man should take for granted that the Earth is 'his'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-malden/today-the-population-of-non-scientists-legitimately-feel-they-deserve/) Christopher Malden > [I havent lived a perfect life but I dont feel I deserve to go to hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-havent-lived-a-perfect-life-but-i-dont-feel-i-deserve-to-go-to-hell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The problem is that kind of thinking means you’re going to punish yourself forever. You think you don’t deserve happiness or love or acceptance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-novak/the-problem-is-that-kind-of-thinking-means-you-re-going-to-punish/) Genevieve Novak > [In the world,you may be judged according to subjective standards. You may be given a C when you feel you deserve an A. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/in-the-world-you-may-be-judged-according-to-subjective-standards-you/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [I'll never Knock the next persons Hustle because I know its not easy out here. Everybody's trying to go get it, we all feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-never-knock-the-next-persons-hustle-because-i-know-its-not-easy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are some people who feel that they deserve a particular award or recognition, but I don't fall in that category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithali-raj/there-are-some-people-who-feel-that-they-deserve-a-particular-award/) [Mithali Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithali-raj/) > [I don't really feel I deserve something if I haven't had to fight for it. It's not a conscious attitude, and it's stupid and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-don-t-really-feel-i-deserve-something-if-i-haven-t-had-to-fight-for/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [Fuck what your heart says, do what you feel you deserve !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fuck-what-your-heart-says-do-what-you-feel-you-deserve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/god-s-love-is-there-for-you-whether-or-not-you-feel-you-deserve-love/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Ambiguity quotes > [The position is clear - there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein's position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-position-is-clear-there-is-no-ambiguity-in-sinn-fein-s-position/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Ambiguity is necessary in some of my stories, not in all. In those, it certainly contributes to the richness of the story. I doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/ambiguity-is-necessary-in-some-of-my-stories-not-in-all-in-those-it/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/during-the-cold-war-we-lived-in-coded-times-when-it-wasn-t-easy-and/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I blame my grandfather 100 percent for his oldest son's death. I don't think there's any ambiguity there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/i-blame-my-grandfather-100-percent-for-his-oldest-son-s-death-i-don-t/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [I think the relationship between social-dominance orientation in people and the extent to which they're made uncomfortable by ambiguity and novelty is really important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-think-the-relationship-between-social-dominance-orientation-in/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Yet again, an ancient answer echoes across the centuries: Listen! Listen to stories! For what stories do, above all else, is hold up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-kurtz/yet-again-an-ancient-answer-echoes-across-the-centuries-listen-listen/) [Ernest Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-kurtz/) > [My path to wisdom began when I stopped pretending to know things I didn't know. When I explicitly admitted to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/my-path-to-wisdom-began-when-i-stopped-pretending-to-know-things-i/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [If there is a single tragic flaw that mars our biggest enterprises, it is conservatism - the failure to fail, and fail big, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-there-is-a-single-tragic-flaw-that-mars-our-biggest-enterprises-it/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [In order to be as free as I possibly can, in my own imagination, I can't take positions that are closed. Everything I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-order-to-be-as-free-as-i-possibly-can-in-my-own-imagination-i-can/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I've always been drawn to ambiguity in pop music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-ambiguity-in-pop-music/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I believe that we can still have a genre of scientific books suitable for and accessible alike to professionals and interested laypeople. The concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-believe-that-we-can-still-have-a-genre-of-scientific-books-suitable/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I am in the utmost perplexity, yand have wished a hundred times, that if there is a A God, nature would manifest him without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-am-in-the-utmost-perplexity-yand-have-wished-a-hundred-times-that/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [There's a lot of ambiguity in life, and so often, our art is very neatly wrapped up at the end, when our lives never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/there-s-a-lot-of-ambiguity-in-life-and-so-often-our-art-is-very/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [“Man must not attempt to dispel the ambiguity of his being but, on the contrary, accept the task of realizing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/man-must-not-attempt-to-dispel-the-ambiguity-of-his-being-but-on-the/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) [Browse all 431 Ambiguity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambiguity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don't deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright, which is the middle way, an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chodron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-resolution-but-we-also-feel-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambiguity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-resolution-but-we-also-feel-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a0/pema-ch-dr-n-327_ambiguity_as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-reso_1756934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not…” — Pema Chodron", "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": "Pema Chodron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As human beings, not only do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-resolution-but-we-also-feel-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-human-beings-not-only-do-we-seek-resolution-but-we-also-feel-that/#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 } } ] } ```