Action Quote by Rainer Maria Rilke
“I don’t want to stand before you like a thing, shrewd, secretive. I want my own will, and I want simply to be with my will, as it goes toward action. And in the silent, sometimes hardly moving times, when something is coming near, I want to be with those who know secret things or else alone. I want to unfold. I don’t want to be folded anywhere, because where I am folded, there I am a lie.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Book of Hours", 1905
He desires authentic agency, rejecting being shaped by others, and seeks companionship with those who understand deeper truths.
In simple terms: Desires personal freedom and truth, not being shaped by others.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner will and seek authentic connections.
Themes
freedom
authenticity
self‑discovery
truth
solitude
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative work
- personal decision‑making
- seeking mentors
- quiet reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
personal agency
spiritual seeking
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to live truly with one's own will?
- How can one balance solitude with the need for community?
A Different Perspective
Complete autonomy may be unattainable; external influences persist.
