--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is of the essence of life that it does…" description: "\"“It is of the essence of life that it does not begin here or end there, or connect a point of origin with a final destination, but rather that it keeps..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/tim-ingold-64463_essence_it-is-of-the-essence-of-life-that-it-doe_446731.jpg" --- # It is of the essence of life that it does not begin here… ![“It is of the essence of life that it does not begin here or end there, or connect a point of origin with a final destination, but rather that it keeps on going, finding a way through the myriad of things that form, persist and break up in its currents. Life, in short, is a movement of opening, not…” quote by Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/tim-ingold-64463_essence_it-is-of-the-essence-of-life-that-it-doe_446731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/tim-ingold-64463_essence_it-is-of-the-essence-of-life-that-it-doe_446731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dde/tim-ingold-64463_essence_it-is-of-the-essence-of-life-that-it-doe_446731.jpg) > ““It is of the essence of life that it does not begin here or end there, or connect a point of origin with a final destination, but rather that it keeps on going, finding a way through the myriad of things that form, persist and break up in its currents. Life, in short, is a movement of opening, not of closure.”” [Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is a continuous flow, not a linear path from start to finish; it constantly adapts, transforms, and opens new possibilities. **In simple terms:** Life is a constant, open-ended flow. Key Takeaway Embrace change and keep moving forward. Themes change continuity adaptation openness Mood reflective inspired thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative projects - problem solving - relationship building Key Concepts process philosophy ecology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay open to change while honoring necessary endings? - What habits help you navigate continuous transformation? A Different Perspective It may overlook the need for closure in certain decisions or rituals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Essence of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-of-life/) [Final destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-destination/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is mastering the art of giving love freely and welcoming it with open arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-hultman/the-essence-of-life-is-mastering-the-art-of-giving-love-freely-and/) Brandon Hultman > [Clean water, the essence of life and a birthright for everyone, must become available to all people now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-cousteau/clean-water-the-essence-of-life-and-a-birthright-for-everyone-must/) [Jean-Michel Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-cousteau/) > [“The essence of life is to appreciate and value all occurrence be it good or bad, it’s a lifetime episodes, the multitude of colors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nisyah/the-essence-of-life-is-to-appreciate-and-value-all-occurrence-be-it/) Nisyah > [My friend asked me the essence of life and I smiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dolan/my-friend-asked-me-the-essence-of-life-and-i-smiled/) [Michael Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dolan/) > [“the essence of Life: a spectrum of momentums during a period of time, that brings meaning to our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ralon-isaac-ben-halom/the-essence-of-life-a-spectrum-of-momentums-during-a-period-of-time/) Sergio Ralon / ISAAC BEN-HALOM > [Business is not a spiritual matter, and my business decisions are not based on spiritual considerations. When I founded the Essence of Life, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/business-is-not-a-spiritual-matter-and-my-business-decisions-are-not/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [Change is the essence of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/change-is-the-essence-of-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of life consists in thinking, and being conscious of one's soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/the-essence-of-life-consists-in-thinking-and-being-conscious-of-one-s/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Love is the very essence of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/love-is-the-very-essence-of-life/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Love - this is the essence of life. But you will not give your life to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruslana-korshunova/love-this-is-the-essence-of-life-but-you-will-not-give-your-life-to/) [Ruslana Korshunova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruslana-korshunova/) > [“I learned (what I suppose I really knew already) that one can never go back, that one should not ever try to go back—that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-learned-what-i-suppose-i-really-knew-already-that-one-can-never-go/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [The essence of life is doing things for their own sakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-essence-of-life-is-doing-things-for-their-own-sakes/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-adventure-of-life-is-to-learn-the-purpose-of-life-is-to-grow-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Integrating the mind is the essence of life. Decide you will always say and do only what you feel is right. Then, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-nithyananda/integrating-the-mind-is-the-essence-of-life-decide-you-will-always/) [Swami Nithyananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-nithyananda/) ## More by Tim Ingold > [ “There is no division, in practice, between work and life. \[An intellectual craft\] is a practice that involves the whole person, continually drawing on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ingold/there-is-no-division-in-practice-between-work-and-life-an/) [Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) > [“Faced with an ecological crisis whose roots lie in this disengagement, in the separation of human agency and social responsibility from the sphere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ingold/faced-with-an-ecological-crisis-whose-roots-lie-in-this-disengagement/) [Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) > [“Bathed in light, submerged in sound and rapt in feeling, the sentient body, at once both perceiver and producer, traces the paths of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ingold/bathed-in-light-submerged-in-sound-and-rapt-in-feeling-the-sentient/) [Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) > [“Is it not truly extraordinary to realise that ever since men have walked, no-one has ever asked why they walk, how they walk, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ingold/is-it-not-truly-extraordinary-to-realise-that-ever-since-men-have/) [Tim Ingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) [Explore all 5 Tim Ingold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ingold/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is of the essence of life that it does not begin here or end there, or connect a point of origin with a final destination, but rather that it keeps on going, finding a way through the myriad of things that form, persist and break up in its currents. 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