--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certainly human culture may have achieved…" description: "\"“Certainly human culture may have achieved great progress in the course of history. Suffering and unhappiness in the human world, however, do not seem ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/zenkei-shibayama-68400_good-works_certainly-human-culture-may-have-achieve_1006914.png" --- # Certainly human culture may have achieved great progress… ![“Certainly human culture may have achieved great progress in the course of history. Suffering and unhappiness in the human world, however, do not seem to have decreased. The present situation of our world is so full of poverty, distrust, diseases, strife, that there seems to be no end. Hundreds and…” quote by Zenkei Shibayama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/zenkei-shibayama-68400_good-works_certainly-human-culture-may-have-achieve_1006914.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/zenkei-shibayama-68400_good-works_certainly-human-culture-may-have-achieve_1006914.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/zenkei-shibayama-68400_good-works_certainly-human-culture-may-have-achieve_1006914.png) > ““Certainly human culture may have achieved great progress in the course of history. Suffering and unhappiness in the human world, however, do not seem to have decreased. The present situation of our world is so full of poverty, distrust, diseases, strife, that there seems to be no end. Hundreds and thousands of great men admired as saints and sages have appeared in the world in the past, and they have devoted their lives for the betterment of the world. Human suffering and unhappiness, however, do not seem to have decreased or ended. Over and over again they repeatedly, thanklessly endeavoured to fill up the well with snow. The true life of Zen is found here, when we all become true Great Fools and calmly and nonchalantly keep on doing our best, realizing well that our efforts will never be rewarded.”” Zenkei Shibayama ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite progress, human suffering persists; true Zen is embracing effort without expectation of reward. **In simple terms:** Suffering continues; Zen teaches humble, un‑rewarded effort. Key Takeaway Practice selfless effort without attachment to outcomes. Themes suffering zen humility effort Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - social work - activism - personal meditation practice Key Concepts spirituality philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How can you serve without seeking reward? - What does being a “Great Fool” mean to you? A Different Perspective Unrewarded effort may lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-works/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Human suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-suffering/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [True life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-life/) [Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen/) ## Related quotes > [“when it comes to interior design, Zen is a true reflection of balance, peace and harmony. Even though Zen is not an official design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/when-it-comes-to-interior-design-zen-is-a-true-reflection-of-balance/) [Alexis G. 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So if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-whitehead/but-one-thing-that-seems-pretty-clear-when-we-look-at-human-religion/) [Hal Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-whitehead/) > [An observer will see the bizarre developments of behavior only in alien cultures, not his own. Nevertheless this is obviously a local and temporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/an-observer-will-see-the-bizarre-developments-of-behavior-only-in/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [“Such is the strange situation in which modern philosophy finds itself. No former age was ever in such a favourable position with regard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-cassirer/such-is-the-strange-situation-in-which-modern-philosophy-finds-itself/) [Ernst Cassirer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-cassirer/) > [The state is the nursing mother of human culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alexander-leighton/the-state-is-the-nursing-mother-of-human-culture/) [Joseph Alexander Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alexander-leighton/) ## More by Zenkei Shibayama > [Silently a flower blooms, In silence it falls away; Yet here now, at this moment, at this place, The world of the flower, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zenkei-shibayama/silently-a-flower-blooms-in-silence-it-falls-away-yet-here-now-at/) Zenkei Shibayama > [True peace of mind can be obtained only when one is personally awakened to the stark-naked fact that every effort is ultimately in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zenkei-shibayama/true-peace-of-mind-can-be-obtained-only-when-one-is-personally/) Zenkei Shibayama > [Zen is the way of complete self-realization; a living human being who follows the way of Zen can attain satori and then live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zenkei-shibayama/zen-is-the-way-of-complete-self-realization-a-living-human-being-who/) Zenkei Shibayama Explore all 4 Zenkei Shibayama quotes ## More Good works quotes > [This world needs more than good works. 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Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) > [I'm happy that good works by young artists with limited chances will see the light of day by my purchasing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusaku-maezawa/i-m-happy-that-good-works-by-young-artists-with-limited-chances-will/) [Yusaku Maezawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusaku-maezawa/) > [“Our identity is in Christ, not in our work, our accomplishments or our own good works. 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Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“No matter how much individuals do through their own efforts, they cannot actively purify themselves enough to be disposed in the least degree for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-de-la-cruz/no-matter-how-much-individuals-do-through-their-own-efforts-they/) [Juan de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-de-la-cruz/) > [You cannot lose through bad works what you did not gain through good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/you-cannot-lose-through-bad-works-what-you-did-not-gain-through-good/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) [Browse all 76 Good works quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-works/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Certainly human culture may have achieved great progress in the course of history. Suffering and unhappiness in the human world, however, do not seem to have decreased. 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