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There Is Never Anything but the Present: And Other Inspiring Words of Wisdom
A giftable collection of inspiring, uplifting, and enlightening words of wisdom from one of the most important voices in spirituality and self-help--the perfect guide for a course correction in life (Deepak Chopra).
For decades, people have turned to the words of Alan Watts for guidance, support, and spiritual sustenance. In his classic works of philosophy--which helped to interpret and promote Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism to Western readers--Watts tapped into ancient ideas, but presented them in ways that spoke to everyone. Possessed of the rare gift of 'writing beautifully the unwritable' (Los Angeles Times), Watts was a master of the pithy turn of phrase, and his writing is marked by an uncanny ability to make complicated ideas and advice accessible: Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way; unless one is able to live fully in the present, the future is a hoax; belief clings, but faith lets go. This collection brings together some of his most timeless words of wisdom to reflect upon and to live by, and to read for inspiration, for knowledge, and for growth.
For decades, people have turned to the words of Alan Watts for guidance, support, and spiritual sustenance. In his classic works of philosophy--which helped to interpret and promote Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism to Western readers--Watts tapped into ancient ideas, but presented them in ways that spoke to everyone. Possessed of the rare gift of 'writing beautifully the unwritable' (Los Angeles Times), Watts was a master of the pithy turn of phrase, and his writing is marked by an uncanny ability to make complicated ideas and advice accessible: Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way; unless one is able to live fully in the present, the future is a hoax; belief clings, but faith lets go. This collection brings together some of his most timeless words of wisdom to reflect upon and to live by, and to read for inspiration, for knowledge, and for growth.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2021
113 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Alan W. Watts
255 books7,988 followersAlan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer and speaker, who held both a Master's in Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, higher consciousness, the meaning of life, concepts and images of God and the non-material pursuit of happiness. In his books he relates his experience to scientific knowledge and to the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 5, 2023
A pleasant selection of quotes by Alan Watts, taken from various works and beautifully presented. I read this in several sittings, taking in a few quotes a night before bed - reading them out loud and thinking about them a little before moving on. There were a lot of gems in there:
“To be afraid of life is to be afraid of yourself.”
“Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.”
“Because the idea is so much more comprehensible than the reality, the symbol so much more stable than the fact, we learn to identify ourselves with our idea of ourselves.”
“No one is more dangerously insane than one who is sane all the time: he is like a steel bridge without flexibility, and the order of his life is rigids and brittle.”
Funnily enough, in the midst of these quotes, there was one that had me howling:
“Instant coffee… is a well-deserved punishment for being in a hurry to reach the future.”
Maybe, Alan, maybe. Or maybe some of us who enjoy the odd instant coffee from time to time are at peace? Who knows. You’re probably right.
“To be afraid of life is to be afraid of yourself.”
“Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.”
“Because the idea is so much more comprehensible than the reality, the symbol so much more stable than the fact, we learn to identify ourselves with our idea of ourselves.”
“No one is more dangerously insane than one who is sane all the time: he is like a steel bridge without flexibility, and the order of his life is rigids and brittle.”
Funnily enough, in the midst of these quotes, there was one that had me howling:
“Instant coffee… is a well-deserved punishment for being in a hurry to reach the future.”
Maybe, Alan, maybe. Or maybe some of us who enjoy the odd instant coffee from time to time are at peace? Who knows. You’re probably right.
December 30, 2021
This book is a collection of quotes from Alan Watts, who in my opinion is one of if not the most profound teachers of spirituality that has ever lived. Make no mistake, the teachings and learnings this simple small book has are anything short of profound, inspiring and beautiful. Don’t be taken aback by it’s simplicity, the lessons within can and will change your perceptions to yourself and the way you see the universe.
March 14, 2022
Was expecting an uplifting read but this was more on the philosophical (and even spiritual) side so I didn't enjoy it that much. Partly because I've never heard of Alan Watts and had no idea he was a "philosophical entertainer".
✨ "Instant coffee… is a well-deserved punishment for being in a hurry to reach the future."
✨ "Instant coffee… is a well-deserved punishment for being in a hurry to reach the future."
August 3, 2022
I thought this was something different, so I breezed through it in one sitting.
I think my fave thought was:
"No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve in quality as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing it is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them."
Love that. Let the music play - your favourite part of the song can't last forever, and you wouldn't even like it if it did.
I think my fave thought was:
"No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve in quality as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing it is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them."
Love that. Let the music play - your favourite part of the song can't last forever, and you wouldn't even like it if it did.
March 24, 2022
A short read that compiles Alan Watts' pithy observations about life and living in the moment from his different works. Some of the analogies he used were excellent. I think I'd need to mull over the quotes longer for them to make more of an impact on me.
Some good ones:
[A] life full of goals or end-points is like trying to abate one's hunger by eating merely the two precise ends of a banana.
There is a point where thinking - like boiling an egg - must come to a stop.
Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.
As we now know him, the human being seems to be a trap set to catch himself.
Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.
Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.
Other people teach us who we are. Their attitudes to us are the mirror in which we learn to see ourselves, but the mirror is distorted.
The individual is an aperture through which the whole energy of the universe is aware of itself.
We do not "come into" this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe.
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
The desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath.
But you cannot understand life and its mysteries as long as you try to grasp it. Indeed, you cannot grasp it, just as you cannot walk off with a river in a bucket. If you try to capture running water in a bucket, it is clear that you do not understand it and that you will always be disappointed, for in the bucket the water does not run.
The greater part of human activity is designed to make permanent those experiences and joys which are only lovable because they are changing. Music is a delight because of its rhythm and flow. Yet the moment you arrest the flow and prolong a chord or note beyond its time, the rhythm is destroyed.
Some good ones:
[A] life full of goals or end-points is like trying to abate one's hunger by eating merely the two precise ends of a banana.
There is a point where thinking - like boiling an egg - must come to a stop.
Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.
As we now know him, the human being seems to be a trap set to catch himself.
Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.
Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.
Other people teach us who we are. Their attitudes to us are the mirror in which we learn to see ourselves, but the mirror is distorted.
The individual is an aperture through which the whole energy of the universe is aware of itself.
We do not "come into" this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe.
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
The desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath.
But you cannot understand life and its mysteries as long as you try to grasp it. Indeed, you cannot grasp it, just as you cannot walk off with a river in a bucket. If you try to capture running water in a bucket, it is clear that you do not understand it and that you will always be disappointed, for in the bucket the water does not run.
The greater part of human activity is designed to make permanent those experiences and joys which are only lovable because they are changing. Music is a delight because of its rhythm and flow. Yet the moment you arrest the flow and prolong a chord or note beyond its time, the rhythm is destroyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2022
Eternal wisdom thoughtfully synopsed from Alan Watts’ lifetime of work. An excellent intro for those of us who have not sampled his collective philosophies beyond the occasional popular quote. Am thinking one must read this 50 or so times before being presumptive enough to render an opinion. Most of his musings resonated with or expanded upon my own in some way, a rare few seemed to contradict his own prior work and did not hit the mark at all for me. Well worth the read and further exploration into his much heralded achievements.
December 29, 2022
I love reading about and studying philosophy, theology, religion, spirituality, and the sort. I have previously dipped my toe into Alan Watts' works but that was years ago. Are there good quotes? Yes. Did I find a decent amount of memorable quotes worth saving in my journal? Also yes. BUT be prepared to read quotes that resemble the speech of a medieval bridge-troll-- one that only communicates through mysterious riddles. Overall, the book was a quick read & had decent quotes. A solid 3 stars :)
April 15, 2022
“Tomorrow and plans for tomorrow can have no significance at all unless you are in full contact with the reality of the present, since it is in the present and only in the present that you live. There is no other reality than present reality, so that, even if one were to live for endless ages, to live for the future would be to miss the point everlastingly.” ~ Alan Watts
September 5, 2022
One of the most beautifully written and deeply moving books I’ve read to date (though I’m sure Alan would say that’s just because there’s infinite thoughts to think). I highly recommend it to anyone who feels disheartened by the “current” state of the world. Watts never disappoints, everyone should read something by him or at least listen to his teachings at least once.
September 21, 2022
Alan Watts was groovy guy who said a lot of groovy things, and this lovely, gift-able book makes it easy to share all that groovy stuff. The bite-sized chunks of wisdom and philosophy make this a perfect coffee table/bedside book, great to grab when you'd like a point to ponder.
#ThereIsNeverAnythingButthePresent #NetGalley
#ThereIsNeverAnythingButthePresent #NetGalley
December 25, 2023
Most of the quotes in this book are hard to conceptualize without the context of his other work. I only understood the quotes I'd already read from a portion of another book of his that I'd started earlier in the year. The remaining quotes are from other texts I hadn't read so they just sounded like platitudes, likely because their nuance was stripped from them.
January 13, 2024
Raw, relatable, real, inspiring and motivating. Many pages brought smiles to my face while others really picked my brain and made me question things in life.
Great read overall.
A very short & sweet book that can be finished within an hour!!
Great read overall.
A very short & sweet book that can be finished within an hour!!
February 16, 2022
Beautiful!
July 12, 2022
This was so fun! I read it in one sitting at the beach and laughed, cried, and loved it.
September 10, 2022
Just a snippet of this genius's work - short but profound quotes. One of the most influential and perspective changing philosophers in my life.
March 21, 2023
Great read will return to consistently.
August 6, 2023
A nice reminder to slow down.
August 20, 2023
Amazing
Watts is brilliant. Always love reading his books. This one is simple. Straight to the point. H8ghly recommend it. 👌
Watts is brilliant. Always love reading his books. This one is simple. Straight to the point. H8ghly recommend it. 👌
October 13, 2023
collection of short thoughts and vignettes from philosophy of Alan Watts
some work well in isolation, others I feel would benefit from context or expansion
occasionally repetitive, but overall good
some work well in isolation, others I feel would benefit from context or expansion
occasionally repetitive, but overall good
May 11, 2025
So much fun reading Alan Watts' quotes! They make you think and solicit so many pleasant (and unpleasant) memories.
October 1, 2025
Collection of Alan Watts best quotes.
February 16, 2022
"Life is by its very nature, uncontrollable.
We should stop trying to finalise our comfort and security
and instead find a radical acceptance
of the endless, unpredictable change
that is the very essence of this life.
Our suffering comes from the fight
we put up against this fundamental truth."
January 25, 2024
Alan Watts is someone I’ve heard before; listened to hours of his lectures and read a few of his books. I was interested when I saw something by him on NetGalley, not realizing it was only a collection of quotes.
While the quotes are good, and interesting on their own, I will say that his full lectures and books are better if you want to understand what Watts is about, his philosophy and take on the world. Also, Watts has a fantastic sense of humor, and it doesn’t seem to come across with these short sections. While I was reading, I had to remind myself of his voice, his way of speaking, then in hearing that I was able to feel the humor and lightness.
The book could easily be read in a day, being small, but I didn't, nor would I recommend that method. These quotes are something to ponder and sit with a while. Good for contemplation, not racing through.
While the quotes are good, and interesting on their own, I will say that his full lectures and books are better if you want to understand what Watts is about, his philosophy and take on the world. Also, Watts has a fantastic sense of humor, and it doesn’t seem to come across with these short sections. While I was reading, I had to remind myself of his voice, his way of speaking, then in hearing that I was able to feel the humor and lightness.
The book could easily be read in a day, being small, but I didn't, nor would I recommend that method. These quotes are something to ponder and sit with a while. Good for contemplation, not racing through.
January 18, 2023
Watts, according to me, drank the elixir of supreme enlightenment. This book captures the sweetest drops of that potion.
January 6, 2023
Una selección de aforismos muy recomendada, una vez más, de la mano de Edhasa.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews