--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know it matters not what we have been…" description: "\"We know it matters not what we have been but this and always this: what we shall be.\" — Angelina Grimke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/angelina-grimke-15316_has-beens_we-know-it-matters-not-what-we-have-been_1753383.jpg" --- # We know it matters not what we have been but this and… ![“We know it matters not what we have been but this and always this: what we shall be.” quote by Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/angelina-grimke-15316_has-beens_we-know-it-matters-not-what-we-have-been_1753383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/angelina-grimke-15316_has-beens_we-know-it-matters-not-what-we-have-been_1753383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/angelina-grimke-15316_has-beens_we-know-it-matters-not-what-we-have-been_1753383.jpg) > “We know it matters not what we have been but this and always this: what we shall be.” [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on future identity over past status, urging personal transformation. **In simple terms:** Future self matters more than past. Key Takeaway Embrace change, shape who you become. Themes identity growth future Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - social activism - education - overcoming stigma Key Concepts self‑actualization philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How will you define yourself beyond your past? - What steps can you take to become your desired self? A Different Perspective Past experiences can still influence present choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-matters-911369/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) [Matters Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-shall-1625812/) [What matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-matters/) ## Related quotes > [“it matters not what we have been but this an always this: what we shall be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/it-matters-not-what-we-have-been-but-this-an-always-this-what-we/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [some things don't matter much. Like the color of a house. How big is that in the overall scheme of life? But lifting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/some-things-don-t-matter-much-like-the-color-of-a-house-how-big-is/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [The whole problem with people is they don't know what matters and what doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/the-whole-problem-with-people-is-they-don-t-know-what-matters-and/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I know how big Liverpool are - and it means everything to me - but I know what is important; I know it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-know-how-big-liverpool-are-and-it-means-everything-to-me-but-i-know/) [Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/) > [I know who I am. People who know me know who I am. 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What matters most is who you become in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/what-matters-most-is-how-you-respond-to-your-heartbreaks-and-your/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Angelina Grimke > [Slavery always has, and always will produce insurrections wherever it exists, because it is a violation of the natural order of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/slavery-always-has-and-always-will-produce-insurrections-wherever-it/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [When human beings are regarded as moral beings, sex, instead of being enthroned upon the summit, administering upon rights and responsibilities, sinks into insignificance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/when-human-beings-are-regarded-as-moral-beings-sex-instead-of-being/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Women ought to feel a peculiar sympathy in the colored man's wrong, for, like him, she has been accused of mental inferiority, and denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/women-ought-to-feel-a-peculiar-sympathy-in-the-colored-man-s-wrong/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [ I trust the time is coming, when the occupation of an instructer \[sic\] to children will be deemed the most honorable of human employment.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/i-trust-the-time-is-coming-when-the-occupation-of-an-instructer-sic/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Thou art blind to the danger of marrying a woman who feels and acts out the principle of equal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/thou-art-blind-to-the-danger-of-marrying-a-woman-who-feels-and-acts/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [The whole land seems aroused to discussion on the province of woman, and I am glad of it. We are willing to bear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/the-whole-land-seems-aroused-to-discussion-on-the-province-of-woman/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [So precious a talent as intellect never was given to be wrapt in a napkin and buried in the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/so-precious-a-talent-as-intellect-never-was-given-to-be-wrapt-in-a/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [I am a mystery to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/i-am-a-mystery-to-myself/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Human beings have rights, because they are moral beings: the rights of all men grow out of their moral nature; and as all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/human-beings-have-rights-because-they-are-moral-beings-the-rights-of/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [I recognize no rights but human rights - I know nothing of men's rights and women's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/i-recognize-no-rights-but-human-rights-i-know-nothing-of-men-s-rights/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [The denial of our duty to act in this case is a denial of our right to act; and if we have no right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/the-denial-of-our-duty-to-act-in-this-case-is-a-denial-of-our-right/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [One who is a slaveholder at heart never recognizes a human being in a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/one-who-is-a-slaveholder-at-heart-never-recognizes-a-human-being-in-a/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Measure her rights and duties by the unerring standard of moral being… and then the truth will be self-evident, that whatever it is morally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/measure-her-rights-and-duties-by-the-unerring-standard-of-moral-being/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Who has ever attempted to draw a line of separation between the duties of men and women, as moral beings, without committing the grossest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/who-has-ever-attempted-to-draw-a-line-of-separation-between-the/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [...I believe it is now the duty of the slaves of the South to rebuke their masters for their robbery, oppression and crime… No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/i-believe-it-is-now-the-duty-of-the-slaves-of-the-south-to-rebuke/) [Angelina Grimké](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) [Explore all 43 Angelina Grimke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) ## More Has beens quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. 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The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [During the last 17 years... 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