---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My work as a human being is to quiet my…"
description: "\"My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my heart and do what I can to relieve the suffering with as much wisdom, skill, whatever I got.\" — R..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png"
---

#  My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my…

![“My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my heart and do what I can to relieve the suffering with as much wisdom, skill, whatever I got.” quote by Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png)

> “My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my heart and do what I can to relieve the suffering with as much wisdom, skill, whatever I got.”

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Alleviating suffering requires a calm mind, open heart, and skillful, wise action.

**In simple terms:** Quiet mind, open heart, help others.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindfulness and compassionate service.

Themes

spirituality compassion wisdom service

Mood

peaceful empathetic

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- volunteering
- counseling
- teaching

Key Concepts

mindfulness empathy skill development

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices calm your mind?
- How can you develop skills to help others?

A Different Perspective

Skill gaps may limit effectiveness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-open/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Relieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relieve/) [Relieve Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relieve-suffering-468271/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-wisdom-577215/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-human-438434/)

## Related quotes

> [We should try our best to relieve the suffering of others in whatever way we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-should-try-our-best-to-relieve-the-suffering-of-others-in-whatever/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [Therapy is not to 'talk about' things, but to change the person's life, and to relieve suffering, such as depression, anxiety, or relationship problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/therapy-is-not-to-talk-about-things-but-to-change-the-person-s-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Reframe Your Past as a Teacher, Not a Prison. Seraphina used her painful memories as a strategic map. Do not let your history define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulson-gracie/reframe-your-past-as-a-teacher-not-a-prison-seraphina-used-her/)

[Paulson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulson-gracie/)

> [Do what you can on this plane to relieve suffering by constantly working on yourself to be an instrument for the cessation of suffering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/do-what-you-can-on-this-plane-to-relieve-suffering-by-constantly/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Compassion refers to the arising in the heart of the desire to relieve the suffering of all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/compassion-refers-to-the-arising-in-the-heart-of-the-desire-to/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I don't think too much about the future. Not because I'm hiding my head in the sand but because I figured out that whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-don-t-think-too-much-about-the-future-not-because-i-m-hiding-my/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [If I'm going to die, the best way to prepare is to quiet my mind and open my heart. If I'm going to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-i-m-going-to-die-the-best-way-to-prepare-is-to-quiet-my-mind-and/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [And once we have the condition of peace and joy in us, we can afford to be in any situation. Even in the situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/and-once-we-have-the-condition-of-peace-and-joy-in-us-we-can-afford/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

> [“I wanted to be able to live in the world so that I could live with myself. I wanted to do something practical to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-orbinski/i-wanted-to-be-able-to-live-in-the-world-so-that-i-could-live-with/)

[James Orbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-orbinski/)

> [We all need to realize that there are people out there who may be suffering and we all need to try to do our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bregman/we-all-need-to-realize-that-there-are-people-out-there-who-may-be/)

[Alex Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bregman/)

> [“Of all the remedies it has pleased almighty God to give man to relieve his suffering, none is so universal and so efficacious as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sydenham/of-all-the-remedies-it-has-pleased-almighty-god-to-give-man-to/)

[Thomas Sydenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sydenham/)

> [“We begin to realize that it will take something more powerful than we are to relieve our suffering. This is what we’ve been missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-mrotek/we-begin-to-realize-that-it-will-take-something-more-powerful-than-we/)

[Marta Mrotek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marta-mrotek/)

> [“Pain is never ennobling, only degrading. And do not be afraid, sir, that there will ever be too little of it in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gordon/pain-is-never-ennobling-only-degrading-and-do-not-be-afraid-sir-that/)

[Richard Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gordon/)

> [The whole point of Heaven is to relieve us of the suffering, pain, death and tears brought into the world by the evil of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/the-whole-point-of-heaven-is-to-relieve-us-of-the-suffering-pain/)

[David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/)

> [“No one can relieve him of his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/no-one-can-relieve-him-of-his-suffering-or-suffer-in-his-place-his/)

[Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/)

## More by Ram Dass

> [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/)

> [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Souls love. That’s what souls do. Egos don’t, but souls do. Become a soul, look around, and you’ll be amazed-all the beings around you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/souls-love-that-s-what-souls-do-egos-don-t-but-souls-do-become-a-soul/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion--and where it isn't, that's where my work lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-would-like-my-life-to-be-a-statement-of-love-and-compassion-and/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can't be organized or regulated. It isn't true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-spiritual-journey-is-individual-highly-personal-it-can-t-be/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The person who says, 'I'm enlightened' probably isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-person-who-says-i-m-enlightened-probably-isn-t/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Accidents are just from where you're looking; to the ego, it looks like it's miracles and accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/accidents-are-just-from-where-you-re-looking-to-the-ego-it-looks-like/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Fear of death only comes through the brittleness of the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/fear-of-death-only-comes-through-the-brittleness-of-the-ego/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Just because you are seeing divine light, experiencing waves of bliss, or conversing with Gods and Goddesses is no reason to not know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/just-because-you-are-seeing-divine-light-experiencing-waves-of-bliss/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Along with faith comes the requirement for dogged persistence. At first meditation may bring you mild highs or some relief from suffering. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/along-with-faith-comes-the-requirement-for-dogged-persistence-at/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I help people as a way to work on myself, and I work on myself to help people ... to me, that's what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-help-people-as-a-way-to-work-on-myself-and-i-work-on-myself-to-help/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Old age spiritualizes people naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/old-age-spiritualizes-people-naturally/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The ego is a tool. You don't separate it. It's a tool for the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-ego-is-a-tool-you-don-t-separate-it-it-s-a-tool-for-the-spirit/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [It's very hard to grow, because it's difficult to let go of the models of ourselves in which we've invested so heavily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/it-s-very-hard-to-grow-because-it-s-difficult-to-let-go-of-the-models/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [All that you seek is already within you. In Hinduism it is called the Atman, in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Christ said, 'the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/all-that-you-seek-is-already-within-you-in-hinduism-it-is-called-the/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

[Explore all 369 Ram Dass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

## More Heart quotes

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/)

[Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/)

[Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/)

> [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/)

[Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/)

> [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/)

[Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/)

> [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/)

[Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/)

> [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/)

[Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/)

[Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/)

[Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my heart and do what I can to relieve the suffering with as much wisdom, skill, whatever I got.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ram Dass"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my-mind-open-my-heart-and-do/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Heart"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my-mind-open-my-heart-and-do/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/048/ram-dass-784_heart_my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my_2694252.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My work as a human being is to quiet my mind, open my heart and do what I can to relieve the suffering with…” — Ram Dass",
                "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": "Ram Dass",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My work as a human being...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my-mind-open-my-heart-and-do/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/my-work-as-a-human-being-is-to-quiet-my-mind-open-my-heart-and-do/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
