--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not put into this world to sit…" description: "\"We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.\" — Woodrow Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png" --- # We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we… ![“We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.” quote by Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png) > “We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.” [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human purpose is active engagement, not passive observation. **In simple terms:** We are meant to act, not just exist. Key Takeaway Take purposeful action. Themes purpose action engagement Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - community projects - activism - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What actions align with your values? - How do you balance thought and deed? A Different Perspective Action alone doesn't guarantee success; effort must be directed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“There are three types of people in this world; Those who Sit, those who Stand, and those who Run. I've never doubted which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-white/there-are-three-types-of-people-in-this-world-those-who-sit-those-who/) [Angela White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-white/) > [On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-still-sit-only-on-our-own-bottom/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“Come up in the world and sit on the throne! Sit on the throne and do the world of good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/come-up-in-the-world-and-sit-on-the-throne-sit-on-the-throne-and-do/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [Why spreading rumors about me??? can't you just sit here and get to know because I know for a fact that I'm not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetheart/why-spreading-rumors-about-me-can-t-you-just-sit-here-and-get-to-know/) [SweetHeart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetheart/) > [I may very well move in. I just don't know. I can't sit here and know what pictures I'm going to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-may-very-well-move-in-i-just-don-t-know-i-can-t-sit-here-and-know/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [Better to learn then sit there and know nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-williams/better-to-learn-then-sit-there-and-know-nothing/) [Craig Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-williams/) > [I can't stand to work out. I can't stand to do a sit up; you know, I can't stand to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/i-can-t-stand-to-work-out-i-can-t-stand-to-do-a-sit-up-you-know-i-can/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [At 87, I have to keep moving because, if I sit down, you never know what might happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-law/at-87-i-have-to-keep-moving-because-if-i-sit-down-you-never-know-what/) [Vernon Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-law/) > [I'm a Cub fan, and I sit up here and I know when we have a good team, I know when we're struggling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-santo/i-m-a-cub-fan-and-i-sit-up-here-and-i-know-when-we-have-a-good-team-i/) [Ron Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-santo/) > [Coming from being under the radar, I could sit somewhere and nobody would know me. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/people-don-t-want-to-know-they-have-to-be-made-to-know-whether-they/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-people-must-know-before-they-can-act-and-there-is-no-educator-to/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [I don't know how to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-don-t-know-how-to-act/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [You know how they do, how they act. See you with another man and they want you back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/you-know-how-they-do-how-they-act-see-you-with-another-man-and-they/) [Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/) ## More by Woodrow Wilson > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-fifteen/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is here a great melting pot in which we must compound a precious metal. That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will-some-day-win-than-win-in-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/absolute-identity-with-one-s-cause-is-the-first-and-great-condition/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-cannot-be-an-ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [ The facts of the case will always have the better of \[an\] argument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-facts-of-the-case-will-always-have-the-better-of-an-argument/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names because only part of them has come over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-history-of-liberty-is-the-history-of-limitations-on-the-power-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When I think of the flag… I see alternate strips of parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-think-of-the-flag-i-see-alternate-strips-of-parchment-upon/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Energy in a nation is like sap in a tree; it rises from bottom up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/energy-in-a-nation-is-like-sap-in-a-tree-it-rises-from-bottom-up/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Explore all 492 Woodrow Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woodrow Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-still-and-know-we-are-put-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-still-and-know-we-are-put-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/134/woodrow-wilson-534_inspirational_we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-st_2588004.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.” — Woodrow Wilson", "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": "Woodrow Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are not put into this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-still-and-know-we-are-put-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-still-and-know-we-are-put-into/#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 } } ] } ```