--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each of us must make our own true way…" description: "\"Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.\" — Shunryu Suzuki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png" --- # Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do… ![“Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.” quote by Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png) > “Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.” [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding a personal path aligns individual behavior with broader universal principles. **In simple terms:** Your true path reflects a larger truth. Key Takeaway Follow your authentic path. Themes self‑discovery universality authenticity Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical spiritual motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - spiritual practice - creative projects - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Zen Buddhism personal truth interconnectedness Questions to Reflect On - What does your authentic path look like? - How does personal authenticity affect others? A Different Perspective May ignore that or may lead to inauthentic actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-one-of-us-must-make-his-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [I've always felt as a coach that the best thing for the game in our country is to have a universal way it's played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-donovan/i-ve-always-felt-as-a-coach-that-the-best-thing-for-the-game-in-our/) [Billy Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-donovan/) > [I definitely think an on-screen experience is universal, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-syms/i-definitely-think-an-on-screen-experience-is-universal-in-a-way/) [Martine Syms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-syms/) > [You must be true to your own way until at last you actually come to the point where you see it is necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/you-must-be-true-to-your-own-way-until-at-last-you-actually-come-to/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Those who sit perfectly physically usually take more time to obtain the true way of Zen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/those-who-sit-perfectly-physically-usually-take-more-time-to-obtain/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingalls-wilder/the-true-way-to-live-is-to-enjoy-every-moment-as-it-passes-and-surely/) [Laura Ingalls Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingalls-wilder/) > [It is very true, that the way you think creates reality for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/it-is-very-true-that-the-way-you-think-creates-reality-for-yourself/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There’s no such thing as 'one, true way’; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/there-s-no-such-thing-as-one-true-way-the-only-answers-worth-having/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [The true way to gain much is never to desire to gain too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-beaumont/the-true-way-to-gain-much-is-never-to-desire-to-gain-too-much/) [Francis Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-beaumont/) > [The true "Way" cannot be used to look into the heart of another, and can only be appreciated and found on one's own. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chang/the-true-way-cannot-be-used-to-look-into-the-heart-of-another-and-can/) [Henry Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chang/) > [Those who seek the easy way do not seek the true way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/those-who-seek-the-easy-way-do-not-seek-the-true-way/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [I think that you have to present an image that is... true to you, and... the way you would like to be perceived, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristanna-loken/i-think-that-you-have-to-present-an-image-that-is-true-to-you-and-the/) [Kristanna Loken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristanna-loken/) > [The true way goes over a rope which is not stretched at any great height but just above the ground. It seems more designed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-rope-which-is-not-stretched-at-any-great/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Education is a process that goes on 'til death. The moment you see someone who knows she has found the one true way, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/education-is-a-process-that-goes-on-til-death-the-moment-you-see/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The true way goes over a line that, rather than spanning heights, is hardly above the ground. It appears more decidedly to make one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-line-that-rather-than-spanning-heights-is/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## More by Shunryu Suzuki > [The point we emphasize is strong confidence in our original nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-point-we-emphasize-is-strong-confidence-in-our-original-nature/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [If you continue this simple practice every day, you will obtain some wonderful power. Before you attain it, it is something wonderful, but after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/if-you-continue-this-simple-practice-every-day-you-will-obtain-some/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [You want to eliminate your evil desires in order to reveal your Buddha nature, but where will you throw them away?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/you-want-to-eliminate-your-evil-desires-in-order-to-reveal-your/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Ego is a social institution with no physical reality. The ego is simply your symbol of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/ego-is-a-social-institution-with-no-physical-reality-the-ego-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the experts mind, there are few.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-are-many-possibilities-in-the-experts/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The seed has no idea of being some particular plant, but it has its own form and is in perfect harmony with the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-seed-has-no-idea-of-being-some-particular-plant-but-it-has-its/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Whereever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/whereever-you-are-you-are-one-with-the-clouds-and-one-with-the-sun/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [When we become truly ourselves, we just become a swinging door, and we are purely independent of, and at the same time, dependent upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/when-we-become-truly-ourselves-we-just-become-a-swinging-door-and-we/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“Zen is not some fancy, special art of living. Our teaching is just to live, always in reality, in its exact sense. To make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/zen-is-not-some-fancy-special-art-of-living-our-teaching-is-just-to/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [So the secret is just to say 'Yes!' and jump off from here. Then there is no problem. It means to be yourself, always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/so-the-secret-is-just-to-say-yes-and-jump-off-from-here-then-there-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Our tendency is to be interested in something that is growing in the garden, not in the bare soil itself. But if you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/our-tendency-is-to-be-interested-in-something-that-is-growing-in-the/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The world is its own magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-world-is-its-own-magic/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [People say that practicing Zen is difficult, but there is a misunderstanding as to why. It is not difficult because it is hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/people-say-that-practicing-zen-is-difficult-but-there-is-a/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-one-of-us-must-make-his-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The purpose of our practice is just to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-purpose-of-our-practice-is-just-to-be-yourself/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) [Explore all 262 Shunryu Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) ## More Individuality quotes > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [You are no mistake. What makes you different is what makes you special, unique, original. You are a MASTERPIECE, a PIECE of the MASTER!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/you-are-no-mistake-what-makes-you-different-is-what-makes-you-special/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [There is a way in which the collective knowledge of mankind expresses itself, for the finite individual, through mere daily living . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/there-is-a-way-in-which-the-collective-knowledge-of-mankind-expresses/) [Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Let your mind be its own and enjoy what you can not all things in life are in need of a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/let-your-mind-be-its-own-and-enjoy-what-you-can-not-all-things-in/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [My philosophy is TRUTH unto me. Through expressing my individuality I become free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/my-philosophy-is-truth-unto-me-through-expressing-my-individuality-i/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [Every fact of science was once Damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/every-fact-of-science-was-once-damned-every-invention-was-considered/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“You will not reap the fruit of individuality in your children if you clone their education.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-howshall/you-will-not-reap-the-fruit-of-individuality-in-your-children-if-you/) Marilyn Howshall > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Accepting your teen's individuality and natural evolution is one of the most difficult challenges you'll face as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mogel/accepting-your-teen-s-individuality-and-natural-evolution-is-one-of/) [Wendy Mogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mogel/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/if-every-person-has-the-right-to-defend-even-by-force-his-person-his/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I regard individuality as the most precious trait we have, because without it there is no creativity, there is no consciousness, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-regard-individuality-as-the-most-precious-trait-we-have-because/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) [Browse all 1,709 Individuality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shunryu Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Individuality" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ee/shunryu-suzuki-1280_individuality_each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-an_1806442.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Each of us must make our own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way.” — Shunryu Suzuki", "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": "Shunryu Suzuki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Each of us must make our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/each-of-us-must-make-our-own-true-way-and-when-we-do-that-way-will/#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 } } ] } ```