George Gurdjieff Quotes

A collection of quotes by George Gurdjieff.

George Gurdjieff was a mystical philosopher and spiritual teacher, born in Alexandropol, Russia (now modern-day Armenia) in the late 19th century. He traveled extensively throughout Asia and the Middle East, exploring various esoteric traditions and ancient teachings. Gurdjieff developed a unique approach to self-awareness and self-transformation, known as "The Fourth Way," which combined elements from Eastern spirituality, Sufism, and Christianity. He founded the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man, attracting followers and students seeking spiritual enlightenment. Gurdjieff's teachings continue to influence seekers of truth and inner transformation to this day.

Religion is doing a man does not merely think his religion o

Religion is doing a man does not merely think his religion or feel it, he lives his religion as much as he is able, otherwise it is not religion but fantasy or philosophy.

George Gurdjieff


The worse the conditions of life the more productive the wor

The worse the conditions of life the more productive the work, always provided you remember the work.

George Gurdjieff

Life Work

Without struggle, no progress and no result. Every breaking

Without struggle, no progress and no result. Every breaking of habit produces a change in the machine.

George Gurdjieff

Change

A considerable percentage of the people we meet on the stree

A considerable percentage of the people we meet on the street are people who are empty inside, that is, they are actually already dead. It is fortunate for us that we do not see and do not know it. If we knew what a number of people are actually dead and what a number of these dead people govern our lives, we should go mad with horror.

George Gurdjieff

Death

Man has the possibility of existence after death. But possib

Man has the possibility of existence after death. But possibility is one thing and the realization of the possibility is quite a different thing.

George Gurdjieff

Death

Every ceremony or rite has a value if it is performed withou

Every ceremony or rite has a value if it is performed without alteration. A ceremony is a book in which a great deal is written. Anyone who understands can read it. One rite often contains more than a hundred books.

George Gurdjieff

Ritual Ceremony

It is the greatest mistake to think that man is always one a

It is the greatest mistake to think that man is always one and the same. A man is never the same for long. He is continually changing. He seldom remains the same even for half an hour.

George Gurdjieff

Change

A man may be born, but in order to be born he must first die

A man may be born, but in order to be born he must first die, and in order to die he must first awake.

George Gurdjieff

Birth

Religion is doing; a man does not merely think his religion

Religion is doing; a man does not merely think his religion or feel it, he lives his religion as much as he is able, otherwise it is not religion but fantasy or philosophy.

George Gurdjieff

Religion

Without self knowledge, without understanding the working an

Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave.

George Gurdjieff

Identity

A sin is something which is not necessary.

A sin is something which is not necessary.

George Gurdjieff

Sin

A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who p

A man can only attain knowledge with the help of those who possess it. This must be understood from the very beginning. One must learn from him who knows.

George Gurdjieff

Knowledge

Self-observation brings man to the realization of the necess

Self-observation brings man to the realization of the necessity of self-change. And in observing himself a man notices that self-observation itself brings about certain changes in his inner processes. He begins to understand that self-observation is an instrument of self-change, a means of awakening.

George Gurdjieff

Identity

A man will renounce any pleasures you like but he will not g

A man will renounce any pleasures you like but he will not give up his suffering.

George Gurdjieff

Suffering

In properly organized groups no faith is required; what is r

In properly organized groups no faith is required; what is required is simply a little trust and even that only for a little while, for the sooner a man begins to verify all he hears the better it is for him.

George Gurdjieff

Faith