--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...but since I realised that peace and…" description: "\"“...but since I realised that peace and freedom were unattainable on earth, my spirit aspired aloft, and everything that my chosen path required ceased..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png" --- # ...but since I realised that peace and freedom were… ![“...but since I realised that peace and freedom were unattainable on earth, my spirit aspired aloft, and everything that my chosen path required ceased to conflict with my conscience, because my conscience was calling me out into space, and was not much interested in what was happening on earth.” quote by Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png) > ““...but since I realised that peace and freedom were unattainable on earth, my spirit aspired aloft, and everything that my chosen path required ceased to conflict with my conscience, because my conscience was calling me out into space, and was not much interested in what was happening on earth.”” [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects a realization that earthly peace and freedom are unattainable, leading the spirit to seek higher, non‑earthly purpose, aligning conscience with a cosmic calling. **In simple terms:** Earthly peace is impossible; the spirit seeks higher purpose. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond material constraints. Themes spiritual yearning disillusionment freedom conscience cosmic purpose Mood contemplative melancholic hopeful Type philosophical poetic reflective When to use this quote - personal transformation - philosophical contemplation - creative work - social activism Key Concepts Existentialism spiritual transcendence inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - What does “space” symbolize for you? - How can one balance earthly duties with higher aspirations? A Different Perspective May overlook practical responsibilities on earth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chosen path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen-path/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [When you forgive people who don't deserve your forgiveness, you leave them in conflict with their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-forgive-people-who-don-t-deserve-your-forgiveness-you-leave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the desert I had found a freedom unattainable in civilization; a life unhampered by possessions, since everything that was not a necessity was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-thesiger/in-the-desert-i-had-found-a-freedom-unattainable-in-civilization-a/) [Wilfred Thesiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-thesiger/) > [ Love is as necessary to human beings as food and shelter; \[but\] without intelligence, ... love is impotent and freedom unattainable. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/love-is-as-necessary-to-human-beings-as-food-and-shelter-but-without/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I'm never going to complain about receiving free early copies of books, because clearly there's nothing to complain about, but it does introduce a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-never-going-to-complain-about-receiving-free-early-copies-of/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Journey freely along your chosen path, in a manner of your own choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleesha/journey-freely-along-your-chosen-path-in-a-manner-of-your-own-choosing/) [Eleesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleesha/) > [“Your own chosen paths can never be wrong. It is just the intensity of your curiosity in you which is pretty low.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shivam-chaudhary/your-own-chosen-paths-can-never-be-wrong-it-is-just-the-intensity-of/) [Shivam Chaudhary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shivam-chaudhary/) > [How do we not rue the many unchosen paths in life? A blessed lack of imagination. There are enough real glories along any path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rossio/how-do-we-not-rue-the-many-unchosen-paths-in-life-a-blessed-lack-of/) [Terry Rossio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rossio/) > [“Even when we do not actively participate in our destiny, we are still on a chosen path. Life has a way of making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-guilbeau/even-when-we-do-not-actively-participate-in-our-destiny-we-are-still/) [Nina Guilbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-guilbeau/) > [“I just like the idea of looking back at my life and feeling like I made different choices than everyone else, you know? Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaux-froley/i-just-like-the-idea-of-looking-back-at-my-life-and-feeling-like-i/) Margaux Froley > [Connecting is vital for any person who wants to achieve success. It is essential for anyone who wants to build great relationships. You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/connecting-is-vital-for-any-person-who-wants-to-achieve-success-it-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [When you look to the past, don't sit and dwell on your regrets. Instead, focus on the things you learned from each experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/when-you-look-to-the-past-don-t-sit-and-dwell-on-your-regrets-instead/) [Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/) > [“Along our chosen paths, we all meet up with demons. We must meet them, and battle them, even when they are nothing but mist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/along-our-chosen-paths-we-all-meet-up-with-demons-we-must-meet-them/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [We've chosen the path to equality, don't let them turn us around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/we-ve-chosen-the-path-to-equality-don-t-let-them-turn-us-around/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [“A Warrior of the Light makes decisions. His soul is as free as the clouds in the sky, but he is committed to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-of-the-light-makes-decisions-his-soul-is-as-free-as-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Enthusiasm is contagious, so surround yourself with others who are passionate about their life's work. Enthusiastic friends motivate and encourage us to continue on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enthusiasm-is-contagious-so-surround-yourself-with-others-who-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Victor Pelevin > [There's a scientific hypothesis that every person's name is a primary suggestive command that contains the entire script of their life in highly concentrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/there-s-a-scientific-hypothesis-that-every-person-s-name-is-a-primary/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“Right in the centre was a tall bell tower of white stone, from which long ago some princess had leapt onto the stones below,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/right-in-the-centre-was-a-tall-bell-tower-of-white-stone-from-which/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“I think the first glimpse of my true personality was the moment when I realised I could aspire beyond the thin blue film of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/i-think-the-first-glimpse-of-my-true-personality-was-the-moment-when/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [How can non-existence get sick of itself? Everytime you wake up, you appear again out of nowhere. And so does everything else. Death just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/how-can-non-existence-get-sick-of-itself-everytime-you-wake-up-you/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“In itself a wall on which a panoramic view of a non-existent world is drawn does not change. But for a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/in-itself-a-wall-on-which-a-panoramic-view-of-a-non-existent-world-is/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“Comrades in the struggle! The position of modern man is not merely lamentable; one might even say that there is no condition, because man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/comrades-in-the-struggle-the-position-of-modern-man-is-not-merely/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [I am closest of all to happiness—although I won’t attempt to define just what it is—when I turn away from the window and am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/i-am-closest-of-all-to-happiness-although-i-won-t-attempt-to-define/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“I and this entire world are nothing but a thought someone is thinking,” the bear said in a quiet voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/i-and-this-entire-world-are-nothing-but-a-thought-someone-is-thinking/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“My youthful dreams of the future were born from the gentle sadness of those evenings, far removed from the rest of life, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/my-youthful-dreams-of-the-future-were-born-from-the-gentle-sadness-of/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [There are no philosophical problems, there is only a suite of interconnected linguistic cul de sacs created by language's inability to reflect the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/there-are-no-philosophical-problems-there-is-only-a-suite-of/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“Of course, you don't turn into a shit just because you buy a Mercedes-600. It's the other way round: the reason you can afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/of-course-you-don-t-turn-into-a-shit-just-because-you-buy-a-mercedes/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“...what are they but the voice of history multiplied by millions of televisions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/what-are-they-but-the-voice-of-history-multiplied-by-millions-of/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [The author's opinions do not necessarily coincide with his point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/the-author-s-opinions-do-not-necessarily-coincide-with-his-point-of/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“I was aware that I was on the moon, but the immense distance separating me from the earth was a pure abstraction for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/i-was-aware-that-i-was-on-the-moon-but-the-immense-distance/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) > [“The USSR, which they'd begun to renovate and improve at about the time when Tatarsky decided to change his profession, improved so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/the-ussr-which-they-d-begun-to-renovate-and-improve-at-about-the-time/) [Victor Pelevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) [Explore all 28 Victor Pelevin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/) ## More Chosen path quotes > [Enthusiasm is contagious, so surround yourself with others who are passionate about their life's work. Enthusiastic friends motivate and encourage us to continue on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enthusiasm-is-contagious-so-surround-yourself-with-others-who-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A Warrior of the Light makes decisions. His soul is as free as the clouds in the sky, but he is committed to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-of-the-light-makes-decisions-his-soul-is-as-free-as-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We've chosen the path to equality, don't let them turn us around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/we-ve-chosen-the-path-to-equality-don-t-let-them-turn-us-around/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [“Along our chosen paths, we all meet up with demons. We must meet them, and battle them, even when they are nothing but mist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/along-our-chosen-paths-we-all-meet-up-with-demons-we-must-meet-them/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [When you look to the past, don't sit and dwell on your regrets. Instead, focus on the things you learned from each experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/when-you-look-to-the-past-don-t-sit-and-dwell-on-your-regrets-instead/) [Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/) > [Connecting is vital for any person who wants to achieve success. It is essential for anyone who wants to build great relationships. You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/connecting-is-vital-for-any-person-who-wants-to-achieve-success-it-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“I just like the idea of looking back at my life and feeling like I made different choices than everyone else, you know? Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaux-froley/i-just-like-the-idea-of-looking-back-at-my-life-and-feeling-like-i/) Margaux Froley > [“Even when we do not actively participate in our destiny, we are still on a chosen path. Life has a way of making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-guilbeau/even-when-we-do-not-actively-participate-in-our-destiny-we-are-still/) [Nina Guilbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-guilbeau/) > [How do we not rue the many unchosen paths in life? A blessed lack of imagination. There are enough real glories along any path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rossio/how-do-we-not-rue-the-many-unchosen-paths-in-life-a-blessed-lack-of/) [Terry Rossio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rossio/) > [“Your own chosen paths can never be wrong. It is just the intensity of your curiosity in you which is pretty low.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shivam-chaudhary/your-own-chosen-paths-can-never-be-wrong-it-is-just-the-intensity-of/) [Shivam Chaudhary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shivam-chaudhary/) > [“Journey freely along your chosen path, in a manner of your own choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleesha/journey-freely-along-your-chosen-path-in-a-manner-of-your-own-choosing/) [Eleesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleesha/) > [“I'm never going to complain about receiving free early copies of books, because clearly there's nothing to complain about, but it does introduce a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-m-never-going-to-complain-about-receiving-free-early-copies-of/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Spirituality on the other hand, is a chosen path of developing intimate relationships with God. It's chosen, it's nurtured, and it's optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/spirituality-on-the-other-hand-is-a-chosen-path-of-developing/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Even if you strive diligently on your chosen path day after day, if your heart is not in accord with it, then even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-if-you-strive-diligently-on-your-chosen-path-day-after-day-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I guess destiny isn't the path chosen for us, but the path we chose for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-guess-destiny-isn-t-the-path-chosen-for-us-but-the-path-we-chose/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) [Browse all 36 Chosen path quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen-path/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...but since I realised that peace and freedom were unattainable on earth, my spirit aspired aloft, and everything that my chosen path required ceased to conflict with my conscience, because my conscience was calling me out into space, and was not much interested in what was happening on earth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victor Pelevin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-freedom-were-unattainable-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chosen path" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-freedom-were-unattainable-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/541/victor-pelevin-18013_chosen-path_but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-free_1517939.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...but since I realised that peace and freedom were unattainable on earth, my spirit aspired aloft, and…” — Victor Pelevin", "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": "Victor Pelevin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-pelevin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...but since I realised that peace...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-freedom-were-unattainable-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-pelevin/but-since-i-realised-that-peace-and-freedom-were-unattainable-on/#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 } } ] } ```