“We are not aware that we are doing this, that in fact this is all we are doing.”

—  Philip K. Dick , book VALIS

VALIS (1981)
Context: We hypostasize information into objects. Rearrangement of objects is change in the content of the information; the message has changed. This is a language which we have lost the ability to read. We ourselves are a part of this language; changes in us are changes in the content of the information. We ourselves are information-rich; information enters us, is processed and is then projected outwards once more, now in an altered form. We are not aware that we are doing this, that in fact this is all we are doing.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "We are not aware that we are doing this, that in fact this is all we are doing." by Philip K. Dick?
Philip K. Dick photo
Philip K. Dick 278
American author 1928–1982

Related quotes

“When we estrange ourselves from history we do not enlarge, we diminish ourselves, even as individuals. We subtract from our lives one meaning which they do in fact possess, whether we recognize it or not. We cannot help living in history. We can only fail to be aware of it.”

Robert L. Heilbroner (1919–2005) American historian and economist

Source: The Future As History (1960), Chapter IV, Part 9, The Grand Dynamic of History, p. 209
Context: In an age which no longer waits patiently through this life for the rewards of the next, it is a crushing spiritual blow to lose one's sense of participation in mankind's journey, and to see only a huge milling-around, a collective living-out of lives with no larger purpose than the days which each accumulates. When we estrange ourselves from history we do not enlarge, we diminish ourselves, even as individuals. We subtract from our lives one meaning which they do in fact possess, whether we recognize it or not. We cannot help living in history. We can only fail to be aware of it. If we are to meet, endure, and transcend the trials and defeats of the future — for trials and defeats there are certain to be — it can only be from a point of view which, seeing the future as part of the sweep of history, enables us to establish our place in that immense procession in which is incorporated whatever hope humankind may have.

“When we try to help people, we have to be aware: are we doing it for them, or are we doing it because we want their approval?
If you're doing it for them, just be there with them, and for them, in a space of love.”

Anita Moorjani (1959) writer

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDA8mkhAvV5/

Jodi Picoult photo

“It is a remarkable question- Do all the wonderful things happen when we are not aware of them?”

Jodi Picoult My Sister's Keeper

Source: My Sister's Keeper

Jean Paul Sartre photo

“We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are - that is the fact.”

Jean Paul Sartre (1905–1980) French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and …
Thomas Merton photo

“We do not want to be beginners [at prayer]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!”

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) Priest and author
Hugo Chávez photo

“We have to strengthen ourselves, our will to do battle, our awareness. We have to build a new and better world.”

Hugo Chávez (1954–2013) 48th President of Venezuela

President Hugo Chavez's Speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Charles Bukowski photo

“Why do we embroider everything we say

with special emphasis

when all we really need to do

is simply say what

needs to he said?

Of course

the fact is

that there is very little that needs

to be said.”

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) American writer

Source: sifting through the madness for the word, the line, the way: New Poems

Leo Buscaglia photo

“We take love for granted. We assume we are all perfect lovers and all we need do is wait and our love will grow and blossom as readily as a flower in spring. Not so. Love doesn't grow unless we do. It takes patience, knowledge, experience, determination, and every positive trait we possess. In addition, love is always changing and unless we stay aware and change with it, it eludes us.”

Leo Buscaglia (1924–1998) Motivational speaker, writer

A Magazine of People and Possibilities interview (1998)

Paulo Coelho photo

“All we have to do is understand that we're all here for a reason and to commit ourselves to that. Then we can laugh at our sufferings, large and small and walk fearlessly, aware that each step has meaning”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Source: The Witch Of Portobello

Cat Power photo

“We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We can all be free”

Cat Power (1972) American singer-songwriter and actress

"Maybe Not"
You Are Free (2003)
Context: We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We can all be free
Maybe not in words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind.

Related topics