--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with the contemplative life…" description: "\"“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be transformed into..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/richard-russo-1691_contemplation_the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life_12483.png" --- # The problem with the contemplative life was that there was… ![“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be transformed into action. Contemplation was like sitting on a committee that seldom made recommendations and was ignored when it did, a committee that lacked even…” quote by Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/richard-russo-1691_contemplation_the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life_12483.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/richard-russo-1691_contemplation_the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life_12483.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/richard-russo-1691_contemplation_the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life_12483.png) > ““The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be transformed into action. Contemplation was like sitting on a committee that seldom made recommendations and was ignored when it did, a committee that lacked even the authority to disband.”” [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplation without a transition to action becomes endless and ineffective, like a powerless committee that never produces outcomes. **In simple terms:** Thought without action is futile. Key Takeaway Action is essential to give contemplation value. Themes philosophy productivity decision‑making agency purpose Mood reflective critical motivational Type aphor observation cautionary When to use this quote - strategic planning - personal growth - team meetings - creative brainstorming - policy development Key Concepts contemplation action authority efficacy Practical Applications - designing decision‑making frameworks - coaching on moving from insight to execution Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure insight leads to concrete results? - What mechanisms turn contemplation into effective action? A Different Perspective Some argue that deep reflection can be valuable even without immediate action, fostering nuanced understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Contemplation Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation-fixed-371537/) [Contemplative life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplative-life/) [End Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-contemplation-371536/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Problem Contemplative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-contemplative-371535/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time limit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-limit/) ## Related quotes > [In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidore-of-seville/in-the-active-life-all-the-vices-are-first-of-all-to-be-removed-by/) [Isidore of Seville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidore-of-seville/) > [You know, Monsieur, that, although the contemplative life is more perfect than the active life, it is not, however, more so than one which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/you-know-monsieur-that-although-the-contemplative-life-is-more/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [A contemplative life has more the appearance of a life of piety than any other; but it is the divine plan to bring faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-david-cecil/a-contemplative-life-has-more-the-appearance-of-a-life-of-piety-than/) [Lord David Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-david-cecil/) > [The contemplative life is often miserable. One must act more, think less, and not watch oneself live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contemplative-life-is-often-miserable-one-must-act-more-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In general, it can be said that no contemplative life is possible without ascetic self-discipline. One must learn to survive without the habit-forming luxuries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-general-it-can-be-said-that-no-contemplative-life-is-possible/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Necessary for a contemplative life: a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/necessary-for-a-contemplative-life-a-cup-of-understanding-a-barrel-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Even the contemplative life is only an effort, Nora my dear, to hide the body so the feet won’t stick out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djuna-barnes/even-the-contemplative-life-is-only-an-effort-nora-my-dear-to-hide/) [Djuna Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djuna-barnes/) > [“Not too long ago thousands spent their lives as recluses to find spiritual vision in the solitude of nature. Modern man need not become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-winkler/not-too-long-ago-thousands-spent-their-lives-as-recluses-to-find/) [Franz Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-winkler/) > [The bearing, rearing, feeding and educating of children; the running of a house with its thousand details; human relationships with their myriad pulls -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/the-bearing-rearing-feeding-and-educating-of-children-the-running-of/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Books are surviving in this intense, fragmented, hyper-accelerated present, and my sense and hope is that things will slow down again and people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/books-are-surviving-in-this-intense-fragmented-hyper-accelerated/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [One of the strange laws of the contemplative life is that in it you do not sit down and solve problems: you bear with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/one-of-the-strange-laws-of-the-contemplative-life-is-that-in-it-you/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Thomas Merton wrote, “there is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statues.” There is always an enormous temptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/thomas-merton-wrote-there-is-always-a-temptation-to-diddle-around-in/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I live a very secluded life, a very contemplative life and a very meditative one. That is my ideal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-live-a-very-secluded-life-a-very-contemplative-life-and-a-very/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Woman's normal occupations in general run counter to creative life, or contemplative life, or saintly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/woman-s-normal-occupations-in-general-run-counter-to-creative-life-or/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The onset of this second movement is characterized by the falling away of self and coming upon "that" which remains when it is gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/the-onset-of-this-second-movement-is-characterized-by-the-falling/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) ## More by Richard Russo > [“That, very simply, was what adulthood must be all about—acquiring the skill to bury things more deeply. Out of sight and, whenever possible, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-very-simply-was-what-adulthood-must-be-all-about-acquiring-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [That afternoon I came to understand that one of the deepest purposes of intellectual sophistication is to provide distance between us and our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-afternoon-i-came-to-understand-that-one-of-the-deepest-purposes/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Lucy, who apparently had no idea his girlfriend's father held him in such low regard, agreed with Noonan that he was pushing the envelope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/lucy-who-apparently-had-no-idea-his-girlfriend-s-father-held-him-in/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Movies have to handle time very efficiently. They're about stringing scenes together in the present. Novels aren't necessarily about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/movies-have-to-handle-time-very-efficiently-they-re-about-stringing/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [When authors who write literary fiction begin to write screenplays, everybody assumes that's the end. Here's another who's never going to write well again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/when-authors-who-write-literary-fiction-begin-to-write-screenplays/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“There was something about spending money they didn't really have that made him optimistic about more coming in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/there-was-something-about-spending-money-they-didn-t-really-have-that/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Some authors have a very hard time understanding that in order to be faithful to the spirit of the book, it's almost always impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/some-authors-have-a-very-hard-time-understanding-that-in-order-to-be/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [HBO is really famous for hiring good people and staying out of their way until they ask for help, or need it. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/hbo-is-really-famous-for-hiring-good-people-and-staying-out-of-their/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of material in the world. Or in my head. I just pray for continued good health, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-material-in-the-world-or-in-my/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Where was the middle ground between a sense of adventure and just plain sense?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/where-was-the-middle-ground-between-a-sense-of-adventure-and-just/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Non basta una vita "One life isn't enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/non-basta-una-vita-one-life-isn-t-enough/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“... Mr. Purty has cheered me up. The task he has chosen for himself, of wooing my mother with a bright red pickup truck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/mr-purty-has-cheered-me-up-the-task-he-has-chosen-for-himself-of/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“So what? Few men, Miles reflected, lived so comfortably within the confines of a two.word personal philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/so-what-few-men-miles-reflected-lived-so-comfortably-within-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Writers are people who put pen to paper every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/writers-are-people-who-put-pen-to-paper-every-day/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) [Explore all 214 Richard Russo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## More Contemplation quotes > [“Inside every pause lived a contemplation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/inside-every-pause-lived-a-contemplation/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Poetical taste is the only magician whose wand is not broken. No hand, except its own, can dissolve the fabric of beauty in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/poetical-taste-is-the-only-magician-whose-wand-is-not-broken-no-hand/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Catholicity seized on man... and the mystics, transcending all, taught him to ascend on high with the wings of contemplation the Ladder of Jacob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-donoso-cortes/catholicity-seized-on-man-and-the-mystics-transcending-all-taught-him/) [Juan Donoso Cortes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-donoso-cortes/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The whole of life is a journey toward youthful old age, toward self-contemplation, love, gaiety, and, in a fundamental sense, the most gratifying time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/the-whole-of-life-is-a-journey-toward-youthful-old-age-toward-self/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [“Yet that grief and this joy were alike outside all the ordinary conditions of life; they were loop-holes, as it were, in that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/yet-that-grief-and-this-joy-were-alike-outside-all-the-ordinary/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [We must not imitate the externals of nature with so much fidelity that the picture fails to evoke that wonderful teasing recurrence of emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/we-must-not-imitate-the-externals-of-nature-with-so-much-fidelity/) [John F. Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-carlson/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I think the church should strive to give parishioners good music. Music is as necessary for worship as a building with a beautiful altar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/i-think-the-church-should-strive-to-give-parishioners-good-music/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Gardening is a labour full of tranquility and satisfaction; natural and instructive, and as such contributes to the most serious contemplation, experience, health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-evelyn/gardening-is-a-labour-full-of-tranquility-and-satisfaction-natural/) [John Evelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-evelyn/) [Browse all 960 Contemplation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be transformed into action. 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