--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ancestor of every action is thought…" description: "\"The ancestor of every action is thought; when we understand that we begin to comprehend that our world is governed by thought and that everything witho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg" --- # The ancestor of every action is thought; when we… ![“The ancestor of every action is thought; when we understand that we begin to comprehend that our world is governed by thought and that everything without had its counterpart originally within the mind.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg) > “The ancestor of every action is thought; when we understand that we begin to comprehend that our world is governed by thought and that everything without had its counterpart originally within the mind.” [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. Thought precedes action; understanding thoughts reveals the mind's governing role over reality. **In simple terms:** Thought drives action. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindful thinking. Themes thought action mind reality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - creative work - problem solving - personal development Key Concepts philosophy cognition Questions to Reflect On - How do your thoughts shape your world? - Can you observe thoughts without judgment? A Different Perspective Thoughts can be misleading or biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Our world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-world/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The ancestor of every action is a thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-a-thought/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My movies, in general, I have the impression that when they finish of course they're never originally what you had in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-amenabar/my-movies-in-general-i-have-the-impression-that-when-they-finish-of/) [Alejandro Amenabar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-amenabar/) > [The only reason we try to have no thought is to understand the universe, but how often do you want to understand the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chang/the-only-reason-we-try-to-have-no-thought-is-to-understand-the/) [Henry Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chang/) > [“the sense of being which in calm hours arises, we know not how, in the soul, is not diverse from things, from space, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-sense-of-being-which-in-calm-hours-arises-we-know-not-how-in-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [For, the sense of being which in calm hours rises, we know not how, in the soul, is not diverse from things, from space,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-the-sense-of-being-which-in-calm-hours-rises-we-know-not-how-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The best bribe which London offers to-day to the imagination, is, that, in such a vast variety of people and conditions, one can believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-best-bribe-which-london-offers-to-day-to-the-imagination-is-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [we sometimes forget the influence of action upon thought. ... Smile, whistle, sing, play the part you want to be until you become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hegan-rice/we-sometimes-forget-the-influence-of-action-upon-thought-smile/) [Alice Hegan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hegan-rice/) > [Once you start deliberately offering thought, then you can never offer enough action to keep up with the thought. Once you access the Energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/once-you-start-deliberately-offering-thought-then-you-can-never-offer/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Whoever makes it a rule to test action by thought, thought by action, cannot falter, and if he does, will soon find his way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whoever-makes-it-a-rule-to-test-action-by-thought-thought-by-action/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Clarity comes from action, not thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/clarity-comes-from-action-not-thought/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Experiences open up our mind and spirit to new sparks of action and thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/experiences-open-up-our-mind-and-spirit-to-new-sparks-of-action-and/) Senoraroy > [The words are meaningless except in terms of feeling. Does anyone act as the result of thought or does feeling stimulate action and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-words-are-meaningless-except-in-terms-of-feeling-does-anyone-act/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“ALL EXCUSES must be FOUGHT by taking ACTION against the THOUGHT. ~ Author Mammy Oaklee”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mammy-oaklee/all-excuses-must-be-fought-by-taking-action-against-the-thought/) Mammy Oaklee > [You would be surprised how hard it often is to translate an action into thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-would-be-surprised-how-hard-it-often-is-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“If a shift in practice, action, or thought generates more embodiment, creativity, empowerment, sweetness, clarity, astuteness, love, energy, or connection, this is probably a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-arguetty/if-a-shift-in-practice-action-or-thought-generates-more-embodiment/) Danny Arguetty ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [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/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“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/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ancestor of every action is thought; when we understand that we begin to comprehend that our world is governed by thought and that everything without had its counterpart originally within the mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought-when-we-understand-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought-when-we-understand-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_action_the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought_821493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ancestor of every action is thought; when we understand that we begin to comprehend that our world is…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ancestor of every action is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought-when-we-understand-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-ancestor-of-every-action-is-thought-when-we-understand-that-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```