--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Awareness by itself is not enough: it…" description: "\"Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. We need gradually to develop a steering ability to keep ourselves from slipping mechan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/piero-ferrucci-22893_ability_awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-mus_2266580.png" --- # Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by… ![“Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. We need gradually to develop a steering ability to keep ourselves from slipping mechanically into this or that sub-personality. Thus we become able to identify with each part of our being as we wish. We can have more choice. It is…” quote by Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/piero-ferrucci-22893_ability_awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-mus_2266580.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/piero-ferrucci-22893_ability_awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-mus_2266580.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/piero-ferrucci-22893_ability_awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-mus_2266580.png) > “Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. We need gradually to develop a steering ability to keep ourselves from slipping mechanically into this or that sub-personality. Thus we become able to identify with each part of our being as we wish. We can have more choice. It is the difference between being impotently transported by a roller coaster and, instead, driving a car and being able to choose which way to go and for what purpose to make the journey.” [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness must be paired with skillful control to avoid being driven by unconscious habits; it enables intentional direction of one’s life. **In simple terms:** Awareness plus mastery gives choice over actions. Key Takeaway Develop mastery to steer your inner selves. Themes self‑awareness mastery personal agency Mood introspective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - habit change - emotional regulation - career planning - creative projects Key Concepts psychology mindfulness self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What habits do you need to master for better control? - How can you practice steering your inner choices? A Different Perspective Mastery is hard to achieve and may require sustained effort and guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Driving A Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving-a-car/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Roller coaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roller-coaster/) [Which way to go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which-way-to-go/) [Will power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-power/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“My way of life is to dare to imagine the truest, most beautiful life, family and world - and to then conjure up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle/my-way-of-life-is-to-dare-to-imagine-the-truest-most-beautiful-life/) [Glennon Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle/) > [And so he who looks down at his feet will not know the truth, but he who discerns by the sun which way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-so-he-who-looks-down-at-his-feet-will-not-know-the-truth-but-he/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/would-you-tell-me-please-which-way-i-ought-to-go-from-here/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You need to be moving if you want God to show you which way to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-need-to-be-moving-if-you-want-god-to-show-you-which-way-to-go/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-may-be-that-when-we-no-longer-know-what-to-do-we-have-come-to-our/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Let me hear the music. I'ma let the music instruct me on which way to go. Forwards, backwards, left, right. It's like boxing. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gates/let-me-hear-the-music-i-ma-let-the-music-instruct-me-on-which-way-to/) [Kevin Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gates/) > [Do you struggle with confusion? Not knowing which way to go? Here's why: We turn to means (help of creation, our own mind) before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/do-you-struggle-with-confusion-not-knowing-which-way-to-go-here-s-why/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [It may be that when we no longer know... which way to go we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-may-be-that-when-we-no-longer-know-which-way-to-go-we-have-begun/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I get more choices of things, projects, which is a blessing and a curse. I can only do one at a time. Sometimes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/i-get-more-choices-of-things-projects-which-is-a-blessing-and-a-curse/) [Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/) > [Back in the twentieth century, we thought that robots would have taken over by this time, and, in a way, they have. But robots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-norris/back-in-the-twentieth-century-we-thought-that-robots-would-have-taken/) [Mary Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-norris/) > [IT'S PRETTY HARD for the Lord TO GUIDE YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE UP YOUR MIND WHICH WAY TO GO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/it-s-pretty-hard-for-the-lord-to-guide-you-if-you-haven-t-made-up/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [In any organization there ought to be the possibility of discussion... fence sitting is an art, and it's difficult, and it's important to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/in-any-organization-there-ought-to-be-the-possibility-of-discussion/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the cross-roads of history and must choose which way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lal-bahadur-shastri/there-comes-a-time-in-the-life-of-every-nation-when-it-stands-at-the/) [Lal Bahadur Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lal-bahadur-shastri/) > [All I can do is say I smell a rat. I don't know where it is or what kind of rat it is, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/all-i-can-do-is-say-i-smell-a-rat-i-don-t-know-where-it-is-or-what/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [And I think my spaceship knows which way to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/and-i-think-my-spaceship-knows-which-way-to-go/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## More by Piero Ferrucci > [Psychosynthesis brings the matter to a point of extreme simplicity, seeing the self as the most elementary and distinctive part of our beings -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/psychosynthesis-brings-the-matter-to-a-point-of-extreme-simplicity/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Being kind is the simplest way to become who we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/being-kind-is-the-simplest-way-to-become-who-we-really-are/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [How often-even before we began-have we declared a task 'impossible'? And how often have we construed a picture of ourselves as being inadequate?...A great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/how-often-even-before-we-began-have-we-declared-a-task-impossible-and/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The transition from rebellion to acceptance has an extremely important consequence. . . in which we start seeing life as a training school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-transition-from-rebellion-to-acceptance-has-an-extremely/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Something similar happens on the other side of the equation: Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it. . . . The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/something-similar-happens-on-the-other-side-of-the-equation-giving/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The factors that contributed to my growth were many - finding someone who understood me, exploring the unconscious, awakening my latent love . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-factors-that-contributed-to-my-growth-were-many-finding-someone/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/eliminate-something-superfluous-from-your-life-break-a-habit-do/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [To act honestly- even at the risk of saying the unpleasant truth, or of saying no and causing distress to others- if done with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/to-act-honestly-even-at-the-risk-of-saying-the-unpleasant-truth-or-of/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We can proceed according to the planned itinerary, strenuously trying to make life conform to our needs, or we can adapt to whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-can-proceed-according-to-the-planned-itinerary-strenuously-trying/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Inspiration comes whenever it wants, even at the most unlikely times and in the most inappropriate situations. Often it arrives bit by bit. Therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/inspiration-comes-whenever-it-wants-even-at-the-most-unlikely-times/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [In trusting, we let ourselves go. We know that all kinds of unexpected events may come our way. Our tension eases, our mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/in-trusting-we-let-ourselves-go-we-know-that-all-kinds-of-unexpected/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The word humility (also human) is derived from the Latin humus, meaning the soil. Perhaps this is not simply because it entails stooping and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-word-humility-also-human-is-derived-from-the-latin-humus-meaning/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We are used to thinking in terms of what we can teach our children. Maybe we need to ask ourselves what we may learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-are-used-to-thinking-in-terms-of-what-we-can-teach-our-children/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. It is labored courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it-is-no-longer-kindness-it-is/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) [Explore all 26 Piero Ferrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. 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