--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot drop the ego. Once you start…" description: "\"You cannot drop the ego. Once you start trying to drop the ego you will get in a very deep mess; you will become more and more worried and puzzled. And..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/rajneesh-54_ego_you-cannot-drop-the-ego-once-you-start-t_701780.jpg" --- # You cannot drop the ego. Once you start trying to drop the… ![“You cannot drop the ego. Once you start trying to drop the ego you will get in a very deep mess; you will become more and more worried and puzzled. And this is not the way to get rid of the ego. The only way to get rid of the ego is to look at it.” quote by Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/rajneesh-54_ego_you-cannot-drop-the-ego-once-you-start-t_701780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/rajneesh-54_ego_you-cannot-drop-the-ego-once-you-start-t_701780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/928/rajneesh-54_ego_you-cannot-drop-the-ego-once-you-start-t_701780.jpg) > “You cannot drop the ego. Once you start trying to drop the ego you will get in a very deep mess; you will become more and more worried and puzzled. And this is not the way to get rid of the ego. The only way to get rid of the ego is to look at it.” [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to suppress the ego creates confusion; true insight comes from observing it without judgment. **In simple terms:** Suppressing ego causes mess; observe it instead. Key Takeaway Watch the ego, don’t fight it. Themes self-awareness mindfulness ego psychology Mood reflective calm inquisitive Type advice philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal growth - meditation practice - therapy sessions - conflict resolution Key Concepts non‑attachment self‑observation consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How can you observe your ego without judgment? - What patterns emerge when you stop trying to eliminate it? 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Then a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-guru-is-just-trying-to-help-you-to-bring-you-to-a-point-where-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I would like you to drop the ego, to dissolve, to disappear, because only then is there fulfillment. The ego knows only emptiness; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-would-like-you-to-drop-the-ego-to-dissolve-to-disappear-because/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you drop the ego, you drop a whole world that you have created around it. For the first time you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-you-drop-the-ego-you-drop-a-whole-world-that-you-have-created/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The second thing: nobody has ever been able to drop the ego because ego is not a reality that you can drop; anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-second-thing-nobody-has-ever-been-able-to-drop-the-ego-because/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > ['I am' is nothing but another name for the ego. Now you will be getting into trouble. If the ego is convinced that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-is-nothing-but-another-name-for-the-ego-now-you-will-be-getting/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It only takes 2 ego's to start clashin an bullits start flying and the blood to start splashin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-walter-of-kent/it-only-takes-2-ego-s-to-start-clashin-an-bullits-start-flying-and/) [Jimmie Walter Of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-walter-of-kent/) > [“It comes over me that I had then a strange alter ego deep down somewhere inside me, as the full-blown flower is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-comes-over-me-that-i-had-then-a-strange-alter-ego-deep-down/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“It's one of those important things you learn in your life, which is, your ego can start believing it is only you... and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/it-s-one-of-those-important-things-you-learn-in-your-life-which-is/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [When you cage your ego and look at the situation from the other persons point of view, you can almost always find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/when-you-cage-your-ego-and-look-at-the-situation-from-the-other/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [You look the conflict with your ego & i look the same conflict with thought.Your ego never gives me a second chance..we are left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopichand-lagadapati/you-look-the-conflict-with-your-ego-i-look-the-same-conflict-with/) [Gopichand Lagadapati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopichand-lagadapati/) > [“If I can’t quite figure out what an ego is, all I have to do is look for the thing that’s killing itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-can-t-quite-figure-out-what-an-ego-is-all-i-have-to-do-is-look/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [A drop of lemon juice spoil gallons of milk, similarly a drop of ego can destroy the beauty of virtues. so leave EGO, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/a-drop-of-lemon-juice-spoil-gallons-of-milk-similarly-a-drop-of-ego/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [A willingness to drop your ego and let yourself look foolish. You almost have to enjoy looking vulnerable. You'd be surprised how many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/a-willingness-to-drop-your-ego-and-let-yourself-look-foolish-you/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Life is not a contest of who is better than who. When you drop the ego, you will see that we are all on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-a-contest-of-who-is-better-than-who-when-you-drop-the-ego/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Rajneesh > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Marriage is going to disappear, should disappear. And now the point is coming in the history of humanity where it becomes possible that marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/marriage-is-going-to-disappear-should-disappear-and-now-the-point-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A mature mind is one who understands the impossibility of knowing the ultimate, and with this understanding there is a new dimension: the dimension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-mature-mind-is-one-who-understands-the-impossibility-of-knowing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The word religion comes from an origin which means "coming together." But priesthood has been doing just the opposite, it has created splits in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-word-religion-comes-from-an-origin-which-means-coming-together/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Love and laughter go together; and laughter is one of the greatest medicines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/love-and-laughter-go-together-and-laughter-is-one-of-the-greatest/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [There are people who want to become rich; they become rich. If you persist you can fulfill any kind of stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-are-people-who-want-to-become-rich-they-become-rich-if-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [So your life becomes a vital celebration, your relationship becomes a festive thing. Whatsoever you do, every moment is a festival. You eat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-your-life-becomes-a-vital-celebration-your-relationship-becomes-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > ["Serenity" is the flavor of meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/serenity-is-the-flavor-of-meditation/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) [Explore all 1,885 Rajneesh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More Ego quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I love playing ego and insecurity combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-love-playing-ego-and-insecurity-combined/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I'm a straight shooter, and most of the time my ego doesn't interrupt my relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-macht/i-m-a-straight-shooter-and-most-of-the-time-my-ego-doesn-t-interrupt/) [Gabriel Macht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-macht/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [The man of wisdom is devoid of ego even though he may appear to use it. His vacant or fasting mind is neither doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-s-balsekar/the-man-of-wisdom-is-devoid-of-ego-even-though-he-may-appear-to-use/) [Ramesh S Balsekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-s-balsekar/) > [Show me success without ego!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivana-trump/show-me-success-without-ego/) [Ivana Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivana-trump/) [Browse all 3,462 Ego quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot drop the ego. 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