--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever one intends, the work takes on a…" description: "\"Whatever one intends, the work takes on a life of its own.\" — Ann Beattie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/ann-beattie-14884_life_whatever-one-intends-the-work-takes-on-a_948671.png" --- # Whatever one intends, the work takes on a life of its own. ![“Whatever one intends, the work takes on a life of its own.” quote by Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/ann-beattie-14884_life_whatever-one-intends-the-work-takes-on-a_948671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/ann-beattie-14884_life_whatever-one-intends-the-work-takes-on-a_948671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/ann-beattie-14884_life_whatever-one-intends-the-work-takes-on-a_948671.png) > “Whatever one intends, the work takes on a life of its own.” [Ann Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-beattie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intentions shape work, giving it an autonomous momentum beyond the creator’s control. **In simple terms:** Intentions give work its own life. Key Takeaway Set clear goals to guide outcomes. Themes creativity autonomy intentionality Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary observational When to use this quote - writing projects - team collaborations - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts literature psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do your intentions influence outcomes? - When does work take on a life of its own? A Different Perspective Work may diverge from original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [nobody ever intends to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-corelli/nobody-ever-intends-to-be-old/) [Marie Corelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-corelli/) > [I can assure you that the United States intends to pursue the best course of action to meet its own spectrum needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/i-can-assure-you-that-the-united-states-intends-to-pursue-the-best/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [Man intends one thing, but Allah intends another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid-ibn-al-walid/man-intends-one-thing-but-allah-intends-another/) [Khalid ibn al-Walid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid-ibn-al-walid/) > [a work that intends to be art must first be entertaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/a-work-that-intends-to-be-art-must-first-be-entertaining/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Nobody intends to put up a wall!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-ulbricht/nobody-intends-to-put-up-a-wall/) [Walter Ulbricht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-ulbricht/) > [Nothing is more consonant with Nature than that she puts into operation in the smallest detail that which she intends as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-more-consonant-with-nature-than-that-she-puts-into/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“To my horror, it seems Shane intends to play along”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacy-yager/to-my-horror-it-seems-shane-intends-to-play-along/) [Lacy Yager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacy-yager/) > [“She sincerely wishes success, for her new life, and intends that no failure of effort, temper, or spirits on her part will jeopardise it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/she-sincerely-wishes-success-for-her-new-life-and-intends-that-no/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) > [To make what fate intends for me my own intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-make-what-fate-intends-for-me-my-own-intention/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [My work often takes me away from my family for long periods of time, so I've really come to appreciate the time I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/my-work-often-takes-me-away-from-my-family-for-long-periods-of-time/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [The more interesting the 9-to-5 work is, the more it takes away from my real work, which is writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/the-more-interesting-the-9-to-5-work-is-the-more-it-takes-away-from/) [Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/) > [As any professional, you go where your work takes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawad-khan/as-any-professional-you-go-where-your-work-takes-you/) [Fawad Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawad-khan/) > [People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/people-love-to-have-lived-a-great-story-but-few-people-like-the-work/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“They don’t change how big the project is, or what’s involved in creating it, but just by doing one thing exclusively before moving on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sutherland/they-don-t-change-how-big-the-project-is-or-what-s-involved-in/) [Jeff Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sutherland/) > [“To succeed you must do the work. 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