--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real cycle you're working on is a…" description: "\"The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.\" — Robert M. Pirsig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/robert-m-pirsig-817_cycle_the-real-cycle-you-re-working-on-is-a-cy_1068532.png" --- # The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself. ![“The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.” quote by Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/robert-m-pirsig-817_cycle_the-real-cycle-you-re-working-on-is-a-cy_1068532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/robert-m-pirsig-817_cycle_the-real-cycle-you-re-working-on-is-a-cy_1068532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/robert-m-pirsig-817_cycle_the-real-cycle-you-re-working-on-is-a-cy_1068532.png) > “The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.” [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑identity shapes our actions; we are both the driver and the road. **In simple terms:** Your inner self creates your life’s patterns. Key Takeaway Reflect on personal responsibility. Themes identity responsibility self‑awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - habit formation Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What patterns do you repeat? - How can you change them? A Different Perspective Ignoring self‑cycle leads to stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle/) [Cycle Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle-called-2649972/) [Cycle Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle-working-2649975/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Cycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-cycle-2649976/) [Working Cycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-cycle-2649979/) ## Related quotes > [The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits-of-a-digital/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Truth is unoriginal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/truth-is-unoriginal/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I cycle, which is a healthy thing for an 80-year-old to do. I rarely go further than five miles, but in those five miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/i-cycle-which-is-a-healthy-thing-for-an-80-year-old-to-do-i-rarely-go/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [And you cycle throughout so that you do about five to six cycles throughout the night. And we spend more time in REM later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/and-you-cycle-throughout-so-that-you-do-about-five-to-six-cycles/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [The cycle of life never stops just keeps going there is no death to fear but you yourself because in the end your the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cycle-of-life-never-stops-just-keeps-going-there-is-no-death-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was in an unhealthy cycle. I was drinking too much. I wasn't eating well. And everything I thought I was doing right wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-sebastian/i-was-in-an-unhealthy-cycle-i-was-drinking-too-much-i-wasn-t-eating/) [Guy Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-sebastian/) > [Well, we promised our fans that we'd put out records faster, and that's what we're doing. We figured out a way to condense our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/well-we-promised-our-fans-that-we-d-put-out-records-faster-and-that-s/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [“When I prepare, then I become pregnant... and then I produce. When I produce, then I praise the Lord... and then I become prosperous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-i-prepare-then-i-become-pregnant-and-then-i-produce-when-i/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power. And concentration of political power gives rise to legislation that increases and accelerates the cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/concentration-of-wealth-yields-concentration-of-political-power-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [What we did ten years ago with the Playstation was a phenomenal success story for the company. That product had a ten year life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-jackson/what-we-did-ten-years-ago-with-the-playstation-was-a-phenomenal/) [Ian Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-jackson/) > [“Without death there is little innovation. Extinction - death of a species - is part and parcel of evolutionary change. In the absence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fortey/without-death-there-is-little-innovation-extinction-death-of-a/) [Richard Fortey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fortey/) > [I'm born into the cycle of giving that we're all born into, and I recognize it. So just because something is a good business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-m-born-into-the-cycle-of-giving-that-we-re-all-born-into-and-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) ## More by Robert M. Pirsig > [“And from time to time you find your “county road” takes you onto a two-rutter and then a single rutter and then into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/and-from-time-to-time-you-find-your-county-road-takes-you-onto-a-two/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-though-quality-cannot-be-defined-you-know-what-quality-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I suppose philosophy is historically not a woman's game, though that is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-suppose-philosophy-is-historically-not-a-woman-s-game-though-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Up until my first book was published, I had all this potential, people would say, and I screwed up. After it, I could say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/up-until-my-first-book-was-published-i-had-all-this-potential-people/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is a perennial classical question that asks which part of the motorcycle, which grain of sand in which pile, is the Buddha. Obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/there-is-a-perennial-classical-question-that-asks-which-part-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/of-the-value-traps-the-most-widespread-and-pernicious-is-value/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Historically mystics have claimed that for a true understanding of reality metaphysics is too “scientific”. Metaphysics is not reality. Metaphysics is names about reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/historically-mystics-have-claimed-that-for-a-true-understanding-of/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“What’s emerging from the pattern of my own life is the for belief that the crisis is being caused by the inadequacy of existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-emerging-from-the-pattern-of-my-own-life-is-the-for-belief/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Only social patterns can control biological patterns, and the instrument of conversation between society and biology is not words. The instrument of conversation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/only-social-patterns-can-control-biological-patterns-and-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-in-the-presence-of-others-he-was-completely-alone/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Explore all 351 Robert M. Pirsig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## More Cycle quotes > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [I'm born into the cycle of giving that we're all born into, and I recognize it. So just because something is a good business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-m-born-into-the-cycle-of-giving-that-we-re-all-born-into-and-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [“Without death there is little innovation. Extinction - death of a species - is part and parcel of evolutionary change. In the absence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fortey/without-death-there-is-little-innovation-extinction-death-of-a/) [Richard Fortey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fortey/) > [What we did ten years ago with the Playstation was a phenomenal success story for the company. That product had a ten year life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-jackson/what-we-did-ten-years-ago-with-the-playstation-was-a-phenomenal/) [Ian Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-jackson/) > [Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power. And concentration of political power gives rise to legislation that increases and accelerates the cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/concentration-of-wealth-yields-concentration-of-political-power-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“When I prepare, then I become pregnant... and then I produce. When I produce, then I praise the Lord... and then I become prosperous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-i-prepare-then-i-become-pregnant-and-then-i-produce-when-i/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [Well, we promised our fans that we'd put out records faster, and that's what we're doing. We figured out a way to condense our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/well-we-promised-our-fans-that-we-d-put-out-records-faster-and-that-s/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [I was in an unhealthy cycle. I was drinking too much. I wasn't eating well. And everything I thought I was doing right wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-sebastian/i-was-in-an-unhealthy-cycle-i-was-drinking-too-much-i-wasn-t-eating/) [Guy Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-sebastian/) > [The cycle of life never stops just keeps going there is no death to fear but you yourself because in the end your the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-cycle-of-life-never-stops-just-keeps-going-there-is-no-death-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And you cycle throughout so that you do about five to six cycles throughout the night. And we spend more time in REM later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-harris/and-you-cycle-throughout-so-that-you-do-about-five-to-six-cycles/) [Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-harris/) > [I cycle, which is a healthy thing for an 80-year-old to do. I rarely go further than five miles, but in those five miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/i-cycle-which-is-a-healthy-thing-for-an-80-year-old-to-do-i-rarely-go/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [I don't think all the cycle lanes in London have been designed as well as they should have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-don-t-think-all-the-cycle-lanes-in-london-have-been-designed-as/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [If you're constantly just trying to go in this win-loss cycle that MLB is pushing, you are creating bandwagon fans, and that's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/if-you-re-constantly-just-trying-to-go-in-this-win-loss-cycle-that/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) [Browse all 245 Cycle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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