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Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.
"Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me."— Albert Schweitzer
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Meaning of this quote
A wave's dependence on the ocean illustrates a life inseparable from surrounding lives and experiences.
Key takeaway:
Consider your participation in a larger world when making a personal choice.
Origin of the quote
Civilization and Ethics (1923), translated by C. T. Campion
Who actually said this?
Corresponding passage located in Civilization and Ethics; this edition has “surface of ocean” rather than “surface of the ocean”. Wording and punctuation vary across translations.
