---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ultimately, as individuals we each have…"
description: "\"Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves to be courageous and apply certain principles.\" — Sakyong Mipham"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg"
---

#  Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves…

![“Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves to be courageous and apply certain principles.” quote by Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg)

> “Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves to be courageous and apply certain principles.”

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

## About This Quote

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

Each person must summon personal courage and apply guiding principles to live authentically.

**In simple terms:** Be courageous and follow core principles.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate courage and live by your values.

Themes

courage principles authenticity

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

spiritual motivational

When to use this quote

- daily decision‑making
- ethical dilemmas
- leadership challenges
- personal setbacks

Key Concepts

spirituality personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What principle guides you most?
- How do you act courageously in fear?

A Different Perspective

Courage can be hindered by fear and external pressure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/)

## Related quotes

> [Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers. Be open to wonder and at the same time subject all claims to knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/ask-courageous-questions-do-not-be-satisfied-with-superficial-answers/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [Ask courageous questions. Do not be satisfied with superficial answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/ask-courageous-questions-do-not-be-satisfied-with-superficial-answers-2/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [People can be trained in certain principles, but then they actually have to apply them and try them out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/people-can-be-trained-in-certain-principles-but-then-they-actually/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-feel-that-it-is-our-moral-obligation-to-stand-and-to-be-courageous/)

[Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/)

> [You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-can-practice-any-virtue-erratically-but-nothing-consistently/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Stand up for your values, be courageous and humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/stand-up-for-your-values-be-courageous-and-humble/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [Always be courageous and strong, &amp; don't fear. You've got to be confident when you're competing. You've got to be a beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/always-be-courageous-and-strong-don-t-fear-you-ve-got-to-be-confident/)

[Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/)

> [There are a group of people who would like to silence everybody and have everyone go along to get along, but that’s not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/there-are-a-group-of-people-who-would-like-to-silence-everybody-and/)

[Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/)

> [I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-encourage-you-to-live-with-life-be-courageous-adventurous-give-us-a/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Life is a mystery, and there is nothing to explain everything is just open, it is in front of you. Encounter it! Meet it!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-is-a-mystery-and-there-is-nothing-to-explain-everything-is-just/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Everyone say to himself: 'When was the last time I went to confession?' And if it has been a long time, don't lose another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/everyone-say-to-himself-when-was-the-last-time-i-went-to-confession/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [I don't have to research humanity, I just have to be courageous enough to share that part of myself with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-don-t-have-to-research-humanity-i-just-have-to-be-courageous-enough/)

[Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/)

> [If you don’t learn how to cry, you cannot be a good Christian. When they posed this question to us – why children suffer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/if-you-don-t-learn-how-to-cry-you-cannot-be-a-good-christian-when/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> ["Be courageous and keep moving forward"... that's kind of the mantra that I've tried to keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-brock/be-courageous-and-keep-moving-forward-that-s-kind-of-the-mantra-that/)

Jesse Brock

> [The more creative you are the more trouble you're in. You have to be courageous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/the-more-creative-you-are-the-more-trouble-you-re-in-you-have-to-be/)

[George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/)

## More by Sakyong Mipham

> [If we do not appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the human heart, how can we appreciate the sensitivity and subtlety of the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/if-we-do-not-appreciate-the-sensitivity-and-subtlety-of-the-human/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [“Thus the mind is more present and at peace. So the clarity and peace of mind we feel after running is mostly because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/thus-the-mind-is-more-present-and-at-peace-so-the-clarity-and-peace/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [If we cut speed and relax with what’s going on in our life right now, kindness and patience will naturally come about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/if-we-cut-speed-and-relax-with-what-s-going-on-in-our-life-right-now/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [A lot of people do their practice. They meditate on compassion. Then they yell at people afterwards. That is not quite working. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/a-lot-of-people-do-their-practice-they-meditate-on-compassion-then/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [Our root fantasy is that "I" am real and that it's possible for "me" to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/our-root-fantasy-is-that-i-am-real-and-that-it-s-possible-for-me-to/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [If we do not push ourselves enough, we do not grow, but if we push ourselves too much, we regress. What is enough will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/if-we-do-not-push-ourselves-enough-we-do-not-grow-but-if-we-push/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [Shambhala teachings say we all have the potential to accomplish our enlightened nature - our basic goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/shambhala-teachings-say-we-all-have-the-potential-to-accomplish-our/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [True happiness is always available to us, but first we have to create the environment for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/true-happiness-is-always-available-to-us-but-first-we-have-to-create/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [Auspicious coincidence is the right thing happening at the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/auspicious-coincidence-is-the-right-thing-happening-at-the-right-time/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [A lot of times people do spiritual practice just for themselves. I try to turn that a little bit. I try to make spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/a-lot-of-times-people-do-spiritual-practice-just-for-themselves-i-try/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [Enlightened Society is all about nurturing the human spirit - waking up to the goodness, kindness and strength that we already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/enlightened-society-is-all-about-nurturing-the-human-spirit-waking-up/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [After you run, there's a sense of accomplishment; you feel like your life is meaningful. It's a moment of clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/after-you-run-there-s-a-sense-of-accomplishment-you-feel-like-your/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [“Gentleness can be developed with simple thoughts. First, appreciate who you are and make friends with yourself. Look at what you can do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/gentleness-can-be-developed-with-simple-thoughts-first-appreciate-who/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [You have people who are good at English but don't have the training in Buddhism or Shambhala, or they have the training but are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/you-have-people-who-are-good-at-english-but-don-t-have-the-training/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [“Past events are already gone, and the future is yet to happen. It is only in the present that we can be in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/past-events-are-already-gone-and-the-future-is-yet-to-happen-it-is/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

[Explore all 147 Sakyong Mipham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

## More Asks quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/)

[Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/)

> [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

> [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/)

[Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/)

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

> [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/)

[Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/)

Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves to be courageous and apply certain principles.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sakyong Mipham"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-to-ask-ourselves-to-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asks"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-to-ask-ourselves-to-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/sakyong-mipham-2871_asks_ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-t_2814355.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ultimately, as individuals we each have to ask ourselves to be courageous and apply certain principles.” — Sakyong Mipham",
                "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": "Sakyong Mipham",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ultimately, as individuals we each have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-to-ask-ourselves-to-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/ultimately-as-individuals-we-each-have-to-ask-ourselves-to-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
