---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of looking outside of ourselves…"
description: "\"Instead of looking outside of ourselves and counting potential enemies, fasting summons us to turn our glance inward, and to take the measure of our gr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/tariq-ramadan-877_challenges_instead-of-looking-outside-of-ourselves_1454183.jpg"
---

#  Instead of looking outside of ourselves and counting…

![“Instead of looking outside of ourselves and counting potential enemies, fasting summons us to turn our glance inward, and to take the measure of our greatest challenge: the self, the ego, in our own eyes and as others see us.” quote by Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/tariq-ramadan-877_challenges_instead-of-looking-outside-of-ourselves_1454183.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/tariq-ramadan-877_challenges_instead-of-looking-outside-of-ourselves_1454183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/tariq-ramadan-877_challenges_instead-of-looking-outside-of-ourselves_1454183.jpg)

> “Instead of looking outside of ourselves and counting potential enemies, fasting summons us to turn our glance inward, and to take the measure of our greatest challenge: the self, the ego, in our own eyes and as others see us.”

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

## About This Quote

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

Fasting encourages introspection, confronting the ego as our greatest obstacle.

**In simple terms:** Fasting makes us look inside.

Key Takeaway

Examine your ego during fasting.

Themes

self‑reflection spirituality personal growth

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- religious practice
- personal crisis
- therapy sessions
- meditation retreats

Key Concepts

ego introspection mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What part of yourself do you avoid?
- How can you balance inner work with outer duties?

A Different Perspective

Fasting may not address external challenges.

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[Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fasting/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/)

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