Stillness is the discipline of pausing in a rushing world. It is the space where noise fades, clarity emerges, and the deepest parts of ourselves can finally be heard. Stillness is not the absence of action—it’s the presence of awareness. In stillness, we gain perspective, self-control, and wisdom. While the world pushes us to hustle, those who embrace stillness reclaim their time, energy, and peace. Here are five insightful quotes about stillness, along with a true story that shows how powerful it can be when everything else is chaos.
A True Story: The Quiet Strength of Aung San Suu Kyi
In 1989, Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese political leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was placed under house arrest by a military dictatorship. She spent 15 years in detention—cut off from her people, her children, and the outside world.
But she did not break. She did not rage or flee. Instead, she chose stillness. She meditated daily. She read. She waited. And when she was finally released, she stepped back into leadership with the same calm strength she had cultivated in silence.
Her story shows that stillness is not weakness—it is inner power. In a world obsessed with movement, stillness is how we hold our ground.
Three Quotes from Books About Stillness
In Stillness Is the Key (2019), Ryan Holiday writes:
Stillness is what aims the archer’s arrow. It inspires new ideas. It sharpens perspective. It is the key to thinking clearly, seeing the whole chessboard, and making tough decisions.
~ Ryan Holiday
In Meditations (c. 180 AD), Marcus Aurelius reflects on inner calm amidst pressure:
Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.
~ Marcus Aurelius
In The Untethered Soul (2007), Michael A. Singer describes the sanctuary of stillness within:
Come to know the one who watches the voice, and you will come to know one of the great mysteries of creation.
~ Michael A. Singer
Five More Quotes About Stillness
In 1955, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote about stillness in Gift from the Sea:
Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day—like writing a poem or saying a prayer.
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
In 1989, Thich Nhat Hanh spoke about the healing presence of stillness.
In true stillness, there is joy, there is life. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
In 1995, Pico Iyer reflected on the modern need for quiet.
The urgent finds us; the important waits for us to slow down.
~ Pico Iyer
In 2010, Eckhart Tolle emphasized stillness as the gateway to peace.
Stillness is where creativity and solutions to problems are found.
~ Eckhart Tolle
In 2018, Naval Ravikant, entrepreneur and thinker, summarized the wisdom in pause.
A busy mind accelerates the passage of subjective time. Stillness slows it down.
~ Naval Ravikant
Life Lesson:
Stillness isn’t escape—it’s engagement at the deepest level. Without it, we lose our ability to think, choose, and truly live. Aung San Suu Kyi’s story proves that even in confinement, stillness can become a place of strength and preparation. Don’t fear quiet moments—seek them. Sit. Breathe. Listen. Stillness isn’t doing nothing—it’s becoming someone.
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