DiotimosReading Desk

Mental life and practical action

Action and use

Action; Use; practice; Expression

Action is the expression of knowledge in conduct; use is the practical employment of what has been learned.

From the book

The Kybalion

Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordAction is the expression of knowledge in conduct; use is the practical employment of what has been learned.
  • In The KybalionThe Original Introduction promises working principles and leaves their application to the pupil.
  • In this editionUse and action remain separate words.
  • A place to readIntro.10: “In this little work we have endeavored to give you an idea of the fundamental teachings” …

Meaning

Action is the expression of knowledge in conduct; use is the practical employment of what has been learned. The final chapter makes both a requirement of genuine possession of the teaching.

Use in the book

The Original Introduction promises working principles and leaves their application to the pupil. VI insists that finite beings must act and live within a real order of consequences. XV then compares unused knowledge with hoarded precious metals and warns against mental miserliness.

The pupil is told that axioms are not fully one's own until used. Later in the chapter, results are made dependent on patience and practice. The repeated requirement turns the book's classifications into a programme for deliberate activity.

Places to read

  1. Original Introduction · Block 10“In this little work we have endeavored to give you an idea of the fundamental teachings of The Kybalion, striving to give you the working Principles, leaving you to apply therm” …
  2. VI The Divine Paradox · Block 17“We do not live in a world of dreams, but in an Universe which while relative, is real so far as our lives and actions are concerned. Our business in the” …
  3. XV Hermetic Axioms · Block 1… “of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals-a vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like wealth, is intended for Use. The Law” …
  4. XV Hermetic Axioms · Block 2… “merely stored away and secreted. The Law of Use is dwelt upon in the Teachings, as you may see by reference to the above quotation from The Kybalion, which states it” …
  5. XV Hermetic Axioms · Block 3… “added to each. Make these your own, and practice and use them, for they are not really your own until you have Used them.”
  6. XV Hermetic Axioms · Block 9… “will but devote the time, care, study and practice necessary to master the art. The principle is true, but the results obtained depend upon the persistent patience and practice of the” …

In this edition

Use and action remain separate words. An assertion of a Law of Use is identified as the book's claim, rather than converted into a universal empirical rule.

Reading the argument

This requirement does not tell the reader which application is good or establish the efficacy of a proposed method. The book itself allows mental force to be used in opposite directions. The ethical question about an action remains distinct from the instruction to act.

Action

“Action” — 13 occurrences in 13 text blocks: II.19; III.3; IV.3, 7; VI.2; VII.5, 18; IX.10; XI.3–4; XV.1–2, 14.

Use

“Use” — 40 occurrences in 32 text blocks: Intro.5; I.6; II.10, 16, 19, 22; IV.20; V.2, 8; VI.1, 5, 9, 16; VII.9, 12; VIII.15; X.4, 6; XI.7, 9; XII.13; XIII.2, 6–7; XIV.16, 19; XV.1–3, 11, 13–14.

practice

“practice” — 9 occurrences in 8 text blocks: III.12; VI.15; IX.11; XIV.18; XV.2–3, 9, 14.

Expression

“Expression” — 4 occurrences in 4 text blocks: VII.2; XII.5; XV.1–2.