--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Botha swimmer and a drowned man are in…" description: "\"Botha swimmer and a drowned man are in the water; the latter is borne by the water and controlled by it, while the swimmer is borne along by his own po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/rumi-56_before-death_botha-swimmer-and-a-drowned-man-are-in-t_2642223.jpg" --- # Botha swimmer and a drowned man are in the water; the… ![“Botha swimmer and a drowned man are in the water; the latter is borne by the water and controlled by it, while the swimmer is borne along by his own power and of his own volition. Every movement made by the drowned man - indeed, every act and word that issue from him - comes from the water, not…” quote by Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/rumi-56_before-death_botha-swimmer-and-a-drowned-man-are-in-t_2642223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/rumi-56_before-death_botha-swimmer-and-a-drowned-man-are-in-t_2642223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/478/rumi-56_before-death_botha-swimmer-and-a-drowned-man-are-in-t_2642223.jpg) > “Botha swimmer and a drowned man are in the water; the latter is borne by the water and controlled by it, while the swimmer is borne along by his own power and of his own volition. Every movement made by the drowned man - indeed, every act and word that issue from him - comes from the water, not from him... The saints are like this. They have died before death.” [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts passive surrender to circumstances with active self‑direction, likening saints to those who live by inner will rather than external forces. **In simple terms:** Passive vs active living; inner power matters. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner agency. Themes spirituality self‑determination control faith agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - leadership - overcoming adversity Key Concepts Sufism free will inner strength Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain inner direction under pressure? - What habits reinforce self‑governance? A Different Perspective Even saints can be swayed by external pressures if they lose inner focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Before death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before-death/) [Islamic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islamic/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Swimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimmer/) [Volition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volition/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Before death takes away what you are given, give away what there is to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/before-death-takes-away-what-you-are-given-give-away-what-there-is-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [And from that time on I bathed in the Poem Of the Sea, star-infused and churned into milk, Devouring the green azures; where, entranced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/and-from-that-time-on-i-bathed-in-the-poem-of-the-sea-star-infused/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“When I lost you, it was as if all the solid ground dissolved from under my feet. Look at me; I'm a half-drowned man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-i-lost-you-it-was-as-if-all-the-solid-ground-dissolved-from/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“As he strode across the strand, a drowned man returning from a call of nature stumbled into him in the darkness. “Damphair,” he murmured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/as-he-strode-across-the-strand-a-drowned-man-returning-from-a-call-of/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [If a piece ofknotted string can unleash the wind and if a drowned man can awaken... then I believe a broken man can heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-proulx/if-a-piece-ofknotted-string-can-unleash-the-wind-and-if-a-drowned-man/) [Annie Proulx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-proulx/) > [“They did not even have to clean off his face to know that the dead man was a stranger. The village was made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/they-did-not-even-have-to-clean-off-his-face-to-know-that-the-dead/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“The water can't turn back and choose another bed, just as promises now cannot be kept. No drowned man comes up again asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sa-a-stani-i/the-water-can-t-turn-back-and-choose-another-bed-just-as-promises-now/) [Saša Stanišić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sa-a-stani-i/) > [A man or a woman is said to be absorbed when the water has total control of him, and he no control of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/a-man-or-a-woman-is-said-to-be-absorbed-when-the-water-has-total/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I inhabited a territory of loneliness which resembles the place where the dying spend their time before death, and from where those who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/i-inhabited-a-territory-of-loneliness-which-resembles-the-place-where/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [The word ‘holiday’ comes from ‘holy day’ and holy means ‘exalted and worthy of complete devotion.’ By that definition, all days are holy. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-word-holiday-comes-from-holy-day-and-holy-means-exalted-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Death is an inevitable cycle. But sickness before death is a symptom of resistance. Most people think they've got to get sick to die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/death-is-an-inevitable-cycle-but-sickness-before-death-is-a-symptom/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [A silence is needed before death, before life, before love. If you love a person you sit silently with the person. You would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-silence-is-needed-before-death-before-life-before-love-if-you-love/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Everybody says they're opposed to torture. But everyone would do it personally if they knew it could save the life of a kidnapped child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/everybody-says-they-re-opposed-to-torture-but-everyone-would-do-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I want people to emphasize life before death as opposed to life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-want-people-to-emphasize-life-before-death-as-opposed-to-life-after/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-re-already-naked-there-is-no-reason-not-to-follow-your-heart/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## More by Rumi > [The love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-a-morning-inside-you-waiting-to-burst-open-into-light/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. 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Love is our mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-are-born-of-love-love-is-our-mother/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what's hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/water-stories-the-body-all-the-things-we-do-are-mediums-that-hid-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) [Explore all 1,818 Rumi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More Before death quotes > [You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-re-already-naked-there-is-no-reason-not-to-follow-your-heart/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I want people to emphasize life before death as opposed to life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-want-people-to-emphasize-life-before-death-as-opposed-to-life-after/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [Everybody says they're opposed to torture. But everyone would do it personally if they knew it could save the life of a kidnapped child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/everybody-says-they-re-opposed-to-torture-but-everyone-would-do-it/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [A silence is needed before death, before life, before love. If you love a person you sit silently with the person. You would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-silence-is-needed-before-death-before-life-before-love-if-you-love/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Death is an inevitable cycle. But sickness before death is a symptom of resistance. Most people think they've got to get sick to die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/death-is-an-inevitable-cycle-but-sickness-before-death-is-a-symptom/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [The word ‘holiday’ comes from ‘holy day’ and holy means ‘exalted and worthy of complete devotion.’ By that definition, all days are holy. Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-word-holiday-comes-from-holy-day-and-holy-means-exalted-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I inhabited a territory of loneliness which resembles the place where the dying spend their time before death, and from where those who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/i-inhabited-a-territory-of-loneliness-which-resembles-the-place-where/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [Mine is a most peaceable disposition. My wishes are: a humble cottage with a thatched roof, but a good bed, good food, the freshest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/mine-is-a-most-peaceable-disposition-my-wishes-are-a-humble-cottage/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [Don't depend on death to liberate you from your imperfections. You are exactly the same after death as you were before. Nothing changes; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/don-t-depend-on-death-to-liberate-you-from-your-imperfections-you-are/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I like to joke that you usually write more books before death than after death, so that's why I'm doing it. But really, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-c-boyle/i-like-to-joke-that-you-usually-write-more-books-before-death-than/) [T.C. Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-c-boyle/) > [The real question is not whether life exists after death. The real question is whether you are alive before death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-question-is-not-whether-life-exists-after-death-the-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Personally, I always wondered about authors and celebrities who loudly declared there was no God. It was usually when they were healthy and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/personally-i-always-wondered-about-authors-and-celebrities-who-loudly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I have no fear of death whatsoever. I suspect that few people do, what they all fear is what might happen in the years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-have-no-fear-of-death-whatsoever-i-suspect-that-few-people-do-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Life before Death. Strength before Weakness. 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