--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We set up a certain aim, and put…" description: "\"We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having done that, we find ourselves committed to u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png" --- # We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will… ![“We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having done that, we find ourselves committed to usages and customs which we had not before fully known, but from which we cannot depart without giving up the end which we have chosen. But we have…” quote by Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png) > “We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having done that, we find ourselves committed to usages and customs which we had not before fully known, but from which we cannot depart without giving up the end which we have chosen. But we have no right, therefore, to claim that we are under the yoke of necessity. We might as well say that the man whom we see struggling vainly in the current of Niagara could not have helped jumping in.” [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We choose goals, then become bound by the habits and expectations that arise, yet we are not forced by destiny; we can still change direction if we accept the cost. **In simple terms:** Choosing a goal creates habits that can trap us, but we can still change. Key Takeaway Recognize and reassess your commitments. Themes choice habit freedom consequence Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - political movements - personal growth Key Concepts determinism agency social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - What habits have you accepted without question? - Can you redefine your goal without losing purpose? A Different Perspective Changing course may mean abandoning the original aim. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) [Niagara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niagara/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [What I regret about the follies of youth is not having committed them but not being able to do so again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-benoit/what-i-regret-about-the-follies-of-youth-is-not-having-committed-them/) Pierre Benoit > [Having been committed to love someone means losing the opportunity of having others to love you. So make sure that the person you're committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/having-been-committed-to-love-someone-means-losing-the-opportunity-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Whatever I want to do or say, I get to do it on the silver screen, so in normal life I don't feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/whatever-i-want-to-do-or-say-i-get-to-do-it-on-the-silver-screen-so/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [“Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, but it is the mother of any number of other things as well: sacrifice and monstrosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/necessity-they-say-is-the-mother-of-invention-but-it-is-the-mother-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Necessity, they say, is mother of invention, but fear, too, is not barren of ingenious suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/necessity-they-say-is-mother-of-invention-but-fear-too-is-not-barren/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“From Alexander the Platonic, not frequently nor without necessity to say to any one, or to write in a letter, that I have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/from-alexander-the-platonic-not-frequently-nor-without-necessity-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, but fear too, is not barren of ingenious suggestions." "Nice little saloon, isn't it" I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/necessity-they-say-is-the-mother-of-invention-but-fear-too-is-not/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I feel most vulnerable when I am underprepared - for instance, if I have an audition and haven't worked through the material enough beforehand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-marino/i-feel-most-vulnerable-when-i-am-underprepared-for-instance-if-i-have/) [Renee Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-marino/) > [I'm jumping in right now. And I'm going to say that everybody I know has a 'day I met CM Punk story' and they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-m-jumping-in-right-now-and-i-m-going-to-say-that-everybody-i-know/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [I am crazy about time cuts. I have a theory that the audience tie everything together so they don't see time cuts but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-von-trier/i-am-crazy-about-time-cuts-i-have-a-theory-that-the-audience-tie/) [Lars von Trier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-von-trier/) > [I don't feel lonely. No no no. I feel like I'm jumping in a well that has no bottom, and at some point I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/i-don-t-feel-lonely-no-no-no-i-feel-like-i-m-jumping-in-a-well-that/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [There's something about a parenthesis in fiction that puts one off, saying, "It's me, moi, jumping in now."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-heureux/there-s-something-about-a-parenthesis-in-fiction-that-puts-one-off/) [John L'Heureux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-heureux/) > [Cancer has pizzazz, box office and glamour, and in actual dollars and prestige, even heart and mental can't hold a candle to it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-berman/cancer-has-pizzazz-box-office-and-glamour-and-in-actual-dollars-and/) Edgar Berman > [I learned something from a string of failed relationships. You don't see a pattern quickly. You see it over time. I learned to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-learned-something-from-a-string-of-failed-relationships-you-don-t/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [We measure areas of performance that are often ignored: jumping in pursuit of every rebound even if you don't get it, swatting at every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/we-measure-areas-of-performance-that-are-often-ignored-jumping-in/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) ## More by Anna Brackett > [There is a Restlessness springing from the consciousness of power not fully utilized, which must be present wherever there is unused power of whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/there-is-a-restlessness-springing-from-the-consciousness-of-power-not/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [Where woman has taken her place in business she has found her method ready-shaped for her, and following that, she does her work,if with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/where-woman-has-taken-her-place-in-business-she-has-found-her-method/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [There are perhaps only one or two things in the world which are not far more charming in desire than they are in possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/there-are-perhaps-only-one-or-two-things-in-the-world-which-are-not/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [Look carefully through all the claims pressing upon you in your complicated life, and decide once and for all what it is that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/look-carefully-through-all-the-claims-pressing-upon-you-in-your/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [The ways of living have been rendered vastly easier by a multitude of inventions, by the increasing wealth of the country, by better and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/the-ways-of-living-have-been-rendered-vastly-easier-by-a-multitude-of/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [We are always getting ready to live, and never having time enough to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-are-always-getting-ready-to-live-and-never-having-time-enough-to/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [What we learn for the sake of knowing, we hold; what we learn for the sake of accomplishing some ulterior end, we forget as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/what-we-learn-for-the-sake-of-knowing-we-hold-what-we-learn-for-the/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [If you read only the best, you will have no need of reading the other books, because the latter are nothing but a rehash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/if-you-read-only-the-best-you-will-have-no-need-of-reading-the-other/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [History in the making is a very uncertain thing. It might be better to wait till the South American republic has got through withits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/history-in-the-making-is-a-very-uncertain-thing-it-might-be-better-to/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [Only the flowing water is pure and sweet. Only the spinning top and the moving bicycle do not fall over. Rest is not found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/only-the-flowing-water-is-pure-and-sweet-only-the-spinning-top-and/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [A very simple and useful device is to have a memorandum-book, so small that it can be easily carried in the pocket, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/a-very-simple-and-useful-device-is-to-have-a-memorandum-book-so-small/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [You should go to picture-galleries and museums of sculpture to be acted upon, and not to express or try to form your own perfectlyfutile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/you-should-go-to-picture-galleries-and-museums-of-sculpture-to-be/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) > [You have got to play the game with the cards that have been dealt to you, and it is of no use for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/you-have-got-to-play-the-game-with-the-cards-that-have-been-dealt-to/) [Anna Brackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) [Explore all 14 Anna Brackett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having done that, we find ourselves committed to usages and customs which we had not before fully known, but from which we cannot depart without giving up the end which we have chosen. But we have no right, therefore, to claim that we are under the yoke of necessity. We might as well say that the man whom we see struggling vainly in the current of Niagara could not have helped jumping in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anna Brackett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselves-of-our-own-will-into-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselves-of-our-own-will-into-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/anna-brackett-34640_aim_we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselve_2744318.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We set up a certain aim, and put ourselves of our own will into the power of a certain current. Once having…” — Anna Brackett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anna Brackett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brackett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We set up a certain aim,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselves-of-our-own-will-into-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brackett/we-set-up-a-certain-aim-and-put-ourselves-of-our-own-will-into-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```