The Language of Essence: The Resonant Feeling of First Principle Quotes
Throughout our lives, we often experience profound moments of clarity that reshape our understanding of the world. After a transformative Vipassana experience, detailed in my article “Awakening to Oneness: My Realization of First Principle Thinking,” I immersed myself in such a moment. This journey allowed me to perceive the world through a lens of pure consciousness, where I was not merely an observer but an intrinsic part of the dance of existence. During this introspective period, I truly grasped the essence of first principles thinking, not as a mere theoretical concept but as a lived experience. This realization has since become the cornerstone of my life approach, influencing my personal reflections and professional endeavors.
First principle thinking is a problem-solving and decision-making approach that requires breaking down complex ideas and issues into their most fundamental elements and then reasoning or designing up from there. I compare first principles thinking to our innate human desire to understand the core essence of things. Children embody this inquisitive approach to life as a natural way of being. Children learn to navigate the world by thinking from the first principle perspective. At the core, they are seeking to understand life's essence. Once we understand the true essence of something, we are able to discover transformative change in whatever domain we’re investigating, whether that’s technology or self-improvement. If profound ideas are your thing, just listen to a child's view of the world as they attempt to figure things out. Their first principle thinking eliminates barriers while reducing the complexity of problem-solving down to the bare essential tasks, resulting in transformational views of what, why, and how.
Practical Application of First Principles
There are hundreds of examples where innovators like Elon Musk have utilized first principle thinking to bypass basic assumptions, leading to more innovative, efficient, and tailored outcomes. Reusable rockets are a perfect example. Elon Musk, eager to venture into space travel, quickly realized that purchasing pre-built rockets was prohibitively expensive. So, he determined the core components of a rocket, determined the cost to source these components, and subsequently created a rocket ten times cheaper than he could buy it.
First Principles As Language
Rather than focus on the technological or business side of first principles, I want to focus on what first principles sound like when we hear or read them. Insights derived from first principles thinking encompass all of these qualities: They are novel, moving, wise, and deeply rooted in fundamental truths. Spoken first principle knowings are all of this because the phrase points at something fundamentally and inarguably true. What’s said stands whole, just as it is.
Throughout history, many thinkers and visionaries have expressed ideas that resonate with the essence of first principles thinking. Here are some notable quotes that embody this approach:
- “Happiness is when what you think, what you do, and what you say are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you're right.” — Henry Ford
- “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” — Rumi
- “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” — Henry Ford
These quotes hinge on the fundamental truth that ‘I Am.’ I am the primary, first principle in my experience. My agency and subsequent way of being are where all perspective, outlook, and creation occur from or through.
Let’s further investigate some not-so-famous quotes that point directly to first principle truths. These quotes are based on my observation of life after my vipassana experience.
- We create through being.
- I create what I am and what I am I create.
- To change your life simply change your beliefs.
- A body driven by the desire of the heart releases itself from the suffering mind.
- Your peers will never infringe on your value by providing their own value.
- You don’t need to make it wrong to make it better.
- How I spend my time is how I’ll spend my life.
- Difficulty not only builds character, it reveals it.
- The mind thinks. The Soul communicates.
Embracing The Essence
The quotes above validate that guidance obtained through a presence rooted in first principle introspection offers a beacon of clarity in a world rife with distractions that often complicate our perceptions and experiences.
As children demonstrate daily, a first principle approach is not just a tool — it’s a lens that simplifies problem-solving and deepens our understanding of the world and our role within it. Too often, our lives become entangled in webs of beliefs, preordained conditions, or overly intellectualized approaches. Yet, as the quotes above illustrate, our innate, somatic sense of reality — our intuitive grasp of truths — is a powerful compass, guiding us to profound insights tailored to our unique journeys.
This approach transcends mere methodology; it’s a philosophy and a language that resonates with the core of our being, empowering us to face life’s challenges with confidence and discernment.
I’d love to hear any powerful quotes you’ve discovered.
I am currently a Principal Security Architect working for H&R Block. Feel free to follow me on LinkedIn or Instagram @chuckj67 or @yourareheldinlove
