--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think that the point is to pass the…" description: "\"We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall_we-think-that-the-point-is-to-pass-the-t_1341212.jpg" --- # We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome… ![“We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall_we-think-that-the-point-is-to-pass-the-t_1341212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall_we-think-that-the-point-is-to-pass-the-t_1341212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/pema-ch-dr-n-327_fall_we-think-that-the-point-is-to-pass-the-t_1341212.jpg) > “We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart.” [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. Attempts to solve problems often end with temporary fixes; underlying issues persist and re‑emerge. **In simple terms:** Solutions are often temporary, not permanent. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence, seek deeper understanding. Themes impermanence problem solving resilience Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - work projects - personal growth - social movements Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What deeper patterns repeat in your challenges? - How can you address underlying causes? A Different Perspective Quick fixes ignore root causes, leading to repeated cycles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/we-think-that-the-point-is-to-pass-the-test-or-overcome-the-problem/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/things-falling-apart-is-a-kind-of-testing-and-also-a-kind-of-healing/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every fight is a test I have to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/every-fight-is-a-test-i-have-to-overcome/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [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/) > [When Things Fall Apart” and I quote “Life is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-things-fall-apart-and-i-quote-life-is-a-good-teacher-and-a-good/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [You're the only one who knows when you're using things to protect yourself and keep your ego together and when you're opening and letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/you-re-the-only-one-who-knows-when-you-re-using-things-to-protect/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“when we’re in emotional pain, we think it’s a mistake, something that needs to be remedied. ‘We think that the point is to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/when-we-re-in-emotional-pain-we-think-it-s-a-mistake-something-that/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“With positive attitude, you can overcome any problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/with-positive-attitude-you-can-overcome-any-problem/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Do we have a brain? Than use it. It's all you need to overcome a problem. That's the secret. That's my simple but powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/do-we-have-a-brain-than-use-it-it-s-all-you-need-to-overcome-a/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“Your smile is my world's biggest problem because it helped me to overcome my last problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/your-smile-is-my-world-s-biggest-problem-because-it-helped-me-to/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [Every major opportunity is always presented with a problem.It's to test to make sure that you are committed to your idea. Many fail to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/every-major-opportunity-is-always-presented-with-a-problem-it-s-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You can't achieve anything in life if you keep running from the problems. You have to face the challenges in order to overcome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/you-can-t-achieve-anything-in-life-if-you-keep-running-from-the/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“He'd never been an optimist. He saw the world as it was, or he tried to. That was a problem, though, when the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/he-d-never-been-an-optimist-he-saw-the-world-as-it-was-or-he-tried-to/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [To a poet the mere making of a poem can seem to solve the problem of truth…but only a problem of art is solved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/to-a-poet-the-mere-making-of-a-poem-can-seem-to-solve-the-problem-of/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [“But if the system is the problem, the truth is that there will not be satisfactory answers in the here and now for lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/but-if-the-system-is-the-problem-the-truth-is-that-there-will-not-be/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) ## 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 Fall quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [My life is a crystal teardrop. There are snowflakes falling in the teardrop and little figures trudging in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/my-life-is-a-crystal-teardrop-there-are-snowflakes-falling-in-the/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [Life will knock you down & it's tough, but you are strong enough. Get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-will-knock-you-down-it-s-tough-but-you-are-strong-enough-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) Kelseigh Ashton > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) Browse all 13,401 Fall quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. 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