--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That which we are, we shall teach, not…" description: "\"“That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily. Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_compulsion_that-which-we-are-we-shall-teach-not-vol_2639505.png" --- # That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but… ![“That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily. Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts go out of our minds through avenues which we never voluntarily opened.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_compulsion_that-which-we-are-we-shall-teach-not-vol_2639505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_compulsion_that-which-we-are-we-shall-teach-not-vol_2639505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_compulsion_that-which-we-are-we-shall-teach-not-vol_2639505.png) > ““That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily. Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts go out of our minds through avenues which we never voluntarily opened.”” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts arise from unconscious pathways; we teach ourselves involuntarily through exposure. **In simple terms:** Thoughts come from unseen influences. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden mental influences. Themes psychology self‑awareness learning Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - personal development - creative work - habit formation Key Concepts unconscious bias mental pathways Questions to Reflect On - What unseen influences shape your thoughts? - How can you open new mental avenues? A Different Perspective Changing hidden pathways is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Involuntarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involuntarily-1460633/) [Involuntarily Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involuntarily-thoughts-2257787/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Nurture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurture/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Teach Voluntarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-voluntarily-2257789/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Thoughts Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-come/) [Voluntarily Involuntarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voluntarily-involuntarily-2257788/) ## Related quotes > [That which we are, we are all the while teaching, not voluntarily, but involuntarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/that-which-we-are-we-are-all-the-while-teaching-not-voluntarily-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Our best thoughts come from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/our-best-thoughts-come-from-others/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Look sharply after your own thoughts. They come unlooked for, like a new bird seen on your trees, and, if you turn to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/look-sharply-after-your-own-thoughts-they-come-unlooked-for-like-a/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts go out of our minds through avenues which we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/thoughts-come-into-our-minds-by-avenues-which-we-never-left-open-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-every-work-of-genius-we-recognize-our-own-rejected-thoughts-they-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Others can get in your way temporarily, but only you can get out of your way permanently. Our best thoughts come from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/others-can-get-in-your-way-temporarily-but-only-you-can-get-out-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The momentum of the mind can be vexingly, involuntarily capricious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-momentum-of-the-mind-can-be-vexingly-involuntarily-capricious/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [It seems to me that the only way one can be helpful is to extend one's hand to someone else involuntarily, and without ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/it-seems-to-me-that-the-only-way-one-can-be-helpful-is-to-extend-one/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Each of us visits this Earth involuntarily, and without an invitation. For me, it is enough to wonder at the secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/each-of-us-visits-this-earth-involuntarily-and-without-an-invitation/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“awkwardly in her lap. Her fingers twitched involuntarily, and it occurred to her that she should pretend she was still out. Where”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-t-vargus/awkwardly-in-her-lap-her-fingers-twitched-involuntarily-and-it/) [L.T. Vargus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-t-vargus/) > [“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily,often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul"-- Joyce Carole Oates”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reading-is-the-sole-means-by-which-we-slip-involuntarily-often-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The silence of two people is deeper than the silence of one. Involuntarily”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-silence-of-two-people-is-deeper-than-the-silence-of-one/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/reading-is-the-sole-means-by-which-we-slip-involuntarily-often/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“Involuntarily, I reached out, as though I might heal him with a touch and erase the marks with my fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/involuntarily-i-reached-out-as-though-i-might-heal-him-with-a-touch/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Often, even after years, mental states once present in consciousness return to it with apparent spontaneity and without any act of the will; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-ebbinghaus/often-even-after-years-mental-states-once-present-in-consciousness/) [Hermann Ebbinghaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-ebbinghaus/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Compulsion quotes > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Why am I always at war with myself? Why have I told, as if upon compulsion, what I knew all along I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/why-am-i-always-at-war-with-myself-why-have-i-told-as-if-upon/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started off like everyone else does, slogging but having a compulsion to put words on paper. 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Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [When you are dealing with a serious compulsion or addictive pattern, then by definition self-will, self-discipline, and any other machinations of the conscious mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-serious-compulsion-or-addictive-pattern/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 513 Compulsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily. 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