Skip to content
quotesby

It is important to understand from the very beginning that I am not formulating any philosophy or any theological structure of ideas or theological concepts. It seems to me that all ideologies are utterly idiotic. What is important is not a philosophy of life but to observe what is actually taking place in our daily life, inwardly and outwardly. If you observe very closely what is taking place and examine it, you will see that it is based on an intellectual conception, and the intellect is not the whole field of existence; it is a fragment, and a fragment, however cleverly put together, however ancient and traditional, is still a small part of existence whereas we have to deal with the totality of life.

Jiddu Krishnamurti#28

ObservationRealityPhilosophyIdeology

About this quote

What does it mean?
Philosophies and ideologies are fragments; true understanding comes from observing actual daily life.
In plain terms
Don't rely on abstract ideas; observe what is actually happening in your life.
What can you take from it?
Observe reality directly rather than relying on intellectual constructs or ideologies.

Where it applies

  • daily routine
  • self reflection
  • critical thinking

Putting it to work

  • observe daily life
  • question ideologies
  • examine thoughts

Questions to consider

  • What ideologies guide me unconsciously?
  • Have I examined my own actions closely?

Another view

Pure observation without frameworks can lead to aimlessness or lack of direction.

More from Jiddu Krishnamurti

  1. You cannot depend upon anybody. There is no guide, no teacher, no authority. There is only you-your relationship with others and with the world-there is nothin…

    Permalink to quote #27
  2. When we look at what is taking place in the world we begin to understand that there is no outer and inner process; there is only one unitary process, it is a w…

    Permalink to quote #29
  3. What can a human being do-what can you and I do-to create a completely different society? We are asking ourselves a very serious question. Is there anything to…

    Permalink to quote #26

Related quotes

  1. Every false philosophy is an imagination of a world propitious to irrational demands and unregulated desires. The false philosopher's dream infects someone in …

    Hugh KingsmillHugh Kingsmill quote #7
  2. There can be no immaculate conception of socialism.

    Aneurin BevanAneurin Bevan quote #14
  3. The fact that political ideologies are tangible realities is not a proof of their vitally necessary character. The bubonic plague was an extraordinarily powerf…

    Wilhelm ReichWilhelm Reich quote #32