--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In short, I always vowed, one way or…" description: "\"“In short, I always vowed, one way or another, not to change. Not me. I needed the fierceness of vowing because I could scarcely help but notice..that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/annie-dillard-509_vowed_in-short-i-always-vowed-one-way-or-anoth_2849968.jpg" --- # In short, I always vowed, one way or another, not to… ![“In short, I always vowed, one way or another, not to change. Not me. I needed the fierceness of vowing because I could scarcely help but notice..that it was mighty unlikely.” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/annie-dillard-509_vowed_in-short-i-always-vowed-one-way-or-anoth_2849968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/annie-dillard-509_vowed_in-short-i-always-vowed-one-way-or-anoth_2849968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/annie-dillard-509_vowed_in-short-i-always-vowed-one-way-or-anoth_2849968.jpg) > ““In short, I always vowed, one way or another, not to change. Not me. I needed the fierceness of vowing because I could scarcely help but notice..that it was mighty unlikely.”” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author vows to stay true to herself, recognizing the difficulty of maintaining authenticity amidst doubt. **In simple terms:** Staying authentic is challenging but essential for personal integrity. Key Takeaway Commit to your core values despite external pressures. Themes authenticity self‑discipline identity resilience Mood determined thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choice - creative projects - relationship decisions - life transitions Key Concepts personal philosophy self‑growth existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does staying true to yourself look like daily? - How do you handle moments when you feel you’re changing? A Different Perspective The vow may be unrealistic without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [In vowing ourselves to one another, we are entitled to stand before the Almighty and ask Him for His grace and His blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/in-vowing-ourselves-to-one-another-we-are-entitled-to-stand-before/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Go forth today, by the help of God's Spirit, vowing and declaring that in life - come poverty, come wealth, in death - come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/go-forth-today-by-the-help-of-god-s-spirit-vowing-and-declaring-that/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Vowing, even intense vowing, is often useless. The next day comes and the next day goes. What works is making a vivid, concrete plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/vowing-even-intense-vowing-is-often-useless-the-next-day-comes-and/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [All lovers swear more performance than they are able, and yet reserve an ability that they never perform; vowing more than the perfection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-lovers-swear-more-performance-than-they-are-able-and-yet-reserve/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Vowing to make yourself better is one of the most assured ways to secure a successful life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/vowing-to-make-yourself-better-is-one-of-the-most-assured-ways-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [ \[James vowed again to\] use the National Guard and state troopers to prevent the removal \[of Judge Roy Moore's Commandments display\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fob-james/james-vowed-again-to-use-the-national-guard-and-state-troopers-to/) Fob James > [You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/you-know-i-vowed-when-i-became-president-not-to-talk-about-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I vowed we would defy the national politics of hyperpolarization and partisan divides and instead, build bridges of partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-vowed-we-would-defy-the-national-politics-of-hyperpolarization-and/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [“Cathy, don't look so defeated. She was only trying to put us down again. Maybe nothing did work out right for her, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/cathy-don-t-look-so-defeated-she-was-only-trying-to-put-us-down-again/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I will continue to be intelligent, I vowed, no matter how beautiful I become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulina-porizkova/i-will-continue-to-be-intelligent-i-vowed-no-matter-how-beautiful-i/) [Paulina Porizkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulina-porizkova/) > [“Many of us have been burned by love and vowed to keep ourselves safe and not get pulled in again. But, inevitably, we do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/many-of-us-have-been-burned-by-love-and-vowed-to-keep-ourselves-safe/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [“...it was vowed that there would never be a charge made for entering said Park. It was a gentleman's agreement. But most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-clifford-moomaw/it-was-vowed-that-there-would-never-be-a-charge-made-for-entering/) Jacob Clifford Moomaw ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Vowed quotes > [“Many of us have been burned by love and vowed to keep ourselves safe and not get pulled in again. But, inevitably, we do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/many-of-us-have-been-burned-by-love-and-vowed-to-keep-ourselves-safe/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [I will continue to be intelligent, I vowed, no matter how beautiful I become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulina-porizkova/i-will-continue-to-be-intelligent-i-vowed-no-matter-how-beautiful-i/) [Paulina Porizkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulina-porizkova/) > [“Cathy, don't look so defeated. She was only trying to put us down again. Maybe nothing did work out right for her, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/cathy-don-t-look-so-defeated-she-was-only-trying-to-put-us-down-again/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I vowed we would defy the national politics of hyperpolarization and partisan divides and instead, build bridges of partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-vowed-we-would-defy-the-national-politics-of-hyperpolarization-and/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [You know I vowed when I became President not to talk about the loneliest toughest job in the world and I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/you-know-i-vowed-when-i-became-president-not-to-talk-about-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [ \[James vowed again to\] use the National Guard and state troopers to prevent the removal \[of Judge Roy Moore's Commandments display\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fob-james/james-vowed-again-to-use-the-national-guard-and-state-troopers-to/) Fob James > [“...it was vowed that there would never be a charge made for entering said Park. It was a gentleman's agreement. But most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-clifford-moomaw/it-was-vowed-that-there-would-never-be-a-charge-made-for-entering/) Jacob Clifford Moomaw > [“He swallowed. "That wager. Did anyone succeed?" She stiffened slightly, and then her shoulders lowered in defeat. Now she did turn around. "Oh, Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/he-swallowed-that-wager-did-anyone-succeed-she-stiffened-slightly-and/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) > [“So: now a new year, a new beginning. I've vowed not to complain. I'm too good at it, and need to practice other skills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/so-now-a-new-year-a-new-beginning-i-ve-vowed-not-to-complain-i-m-too/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“That day I vowed to myself that I would never, ever again give that bitch the satisfaction of hearing me beg her to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/that-day-i-vowed-to-myself-that-i-would-never-ever-again-give-that/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [I'd vowed years ago to go to the grave the same way I'd been born, just a lot more wrinkly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-d-vowed-years-ago-to-go-to-the-grave-the-same-way-i-d-been-born/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Once, there was a girl who vowed she would save everyone in the world, but forgot herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/once-there-was-a-girl-who-vowed-she-would-save-everyone-in-the-world/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Never again, she vowed, would she live a noisy life that killed her dreams. They were her reason for living, the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/never-again-she-vowed-would-she-live-a-noisy-life-that-killed-her/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“He writhed at the thought and vowed by the gods of magic, by all three gods of magic, that he would never return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/he-writhed-at-the-thought-and-vowed-by-the-gods-of-magic-by-all-three/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [I vowed to never use my American accent, and I didn't. Even going to get the paper in the morning to buying milk down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lake-bell/i-vowed-to-never-use-my-american-accent-and-i-didn-t-even-going-to/) [Lake Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lake-bell/) Browse all 93 Vowed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In short, I always vowed, one way or another, not to change. Not me. 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