--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tradition is an aspiration to connect the…" description: "\"Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the Other. One \"internalizes\" the Other as one acquires a sense of what one's own tradition is, wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg" --- # Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the… ![“Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the Other. One "internalizes" the Other as one acquires a sense of what one's own tradition is, what one belongs to and what gives valid shape to one's life.” quote by Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg) > “Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the Other. One "internalizes" the Other as one acquires a sense of what one's own tradition is, what one belongs to and what gives valid shape to one's life.” [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tradition shapes identity by integrating the self with external cultural influences, giving life meaning and direction. **In simple terms:** Tradition connects personal identity with broader culture. Key Takeaway Explore how traditions influence your sense of self. Themes identity culture tradition meaning Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - cultural festivals - family rituals - education - community events Key Concepts social theory anthropology self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does your tradition support you? - When might it hinder you? A Different Perspective Rigid traditions can limit personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Internalizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internalizes-2652434/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Internalizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-internalizes-5990202/) [Sense Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-tradition-3956108/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-aspiration-5990201/) [Tradition Belongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-belongs-5990200/) ## Related quotes > [Italian style for me is to have a sense of tradition, respect for one's roots, and a sartorial approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-dolce/italian-style-for-me-is-to-have-a-sense-of-tradition-respect-for-one/) [Domenico Dolce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-dolce/) > [She who looks back, and she looks away, She internalizes the motion wave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/she-who-looks-back-and-she-looks-away-she-internalizes-the-motion-wave/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [You can't know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-can-t-know-it-all-no-matter-how-smart-you-are-no-matter-how/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) [Peter Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-martins/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? Didn't Milosevic go to the Hague? All true. But Stalin survived. Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) ## More by Talal Asad > [The propensity to intellectualize is itself both essential and dangerous. I think in our modern world we are much more aware of its essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/the-propensity-to-intellectualize-is-itself-both-essential-and/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [Certainly in order to understand the natural world one needs clarity, logic, and the capacity for theory building. But that understanding tends to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/certainly-in-order-to-understand-the-natural-world-one-needs-clarity/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [I think the approach to Islam as a tradition is helpful. Tradition helps us to focus on questions about authority and temporality, and about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/i-think-the-approach-to-islam-as-a-tradition-is-helpful-tradition/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [Language has multiple uses, and is embedded in different forms of life. It is not necessary to have this grand concept of "humanity" in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/language-has-multiple-uses-and-is-embedded-in-different-forms-of-life/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [Believers are often thought of as people who have some kind of private conviction or repudiation of something, whereas "the faithful" refers to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/believers-are-often-thought-of-as-people-who-have-some-kind-of/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [You do not need intellectuality for deep faith. You do not need it for behaving humanely towards people whether fellow Muslims or non-Muslims. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/you-do-not-need-intellectuality-for-deep-faith-you-do-not-need-it-for/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [The Genealogical Science is a wonderful account of how old-fashioned race science has come to be re-defined by resort to the most recent developments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/the-genealogical-science-is-a-wonderful-account-of-how-old-fashioned/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [In liberal society we claim that freedom of speech is sacred and therefore has an absolute character. But we know (or should know) that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/in-liberal-society-we-claim-that-freedom-of-speech-is-sacred-and/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [“The construction of civilizational difference is not exclusive in any simple sense. The de-essentialization of Islam is paradigmatic for all thinking about the assimilation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/the-construction-of-civilizational-difference-is-not-exclusive-in-any/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [For the law, the clarity of language and the finality of judgment is crucial, because you have to decide a case one way or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/for-the-law-the-clarity-of-language-and-the-finality-of-judgment-is/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [You should never employ your intellect but only that it is not essential to exercise it in order to live a humane life. Language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/you-should-never-employ-your-intellect-but-only-that-it-is-not/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [The notion of "humanity" as a form of transcendence derives, I think, from the conviction that intellectuality possesses an absolute power, from the demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/the-notion-of-humanity-as-a-form-of-transcendence-derives-i-think/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [I do not think there is such a thing as a "clash of civilizations." When I say that Muslims as Muslims cannot be represented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/i-do-not-think-there-is-such-a-thing-as-a-clash-of-civilizations-when/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [Why is it that aggression in the name of God shocks secular liberal sensibilities, whereas the act of killing in the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/why-is-it-that-aggression-in-the-name-of-god-shocks-secular-liberal/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) > [I do not criticize religion as such, but I criticize the concept and the definition of "religion" - as I said in Genealogies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/i-do-not-criticize-religion-as-such-but-i-criticize-the-concept-and/) [Talal Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) [Explore all 23 Talal Asad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/) ## More Acquire quotes > [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? Didn't Milosevic go to the Hague? All true. But Stalin survived. Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) [Peter Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-martins/) > [You can't know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-can-t-know-it-all-no-matter-how-smart-you-are-no-matter-how/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [Shamanism is a path of knowledge, not of faith, and that knowledge cannot come from me or anyone else in this reality. To acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harner/shamanism-is-a-path-of-knowledge-not-of-faith-and-that-knowledge/) [Michael Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harner/) [Browse all 1,020 Acquire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the Other. One \"internalizes\" the Other as one acquires a sense of what one's own tradition is, what one belongs to and what gives valid shape to one's life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Talal Asad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-the-self-with-the-other-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-the-self-with-the-other-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/talal-asad-25475_acquire_tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-th_1584187.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tradition is an aspiration to connect the Self with the Other. One \"internalizes\" the Other as one acquires…” — Talal Asad", "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": "Talal Asad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talal-asad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Tradition is an aspiration to connect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-the-self-with-the-other-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talal-asad/tradition-is-an-aspiration-to-connect-the-self-with-the-other-one/#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 } } ] } ```