--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not telling you to always do whatever…" description: "\"“I'm not telling you to always do whatever you want. I'm saying you should do just as many things you want to do as things you don't want to do. That's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/anonymous-1_life_i-m-not-telling-you-to-always-do-whateve_682832.jpg" --- # I'm not telling you to always do whatever you want. I'm… ![“I'm not telling you to always do whatever you want. I'm saying you should do just as many things you want to do as things you don't want to do. That's what life's about.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/anonymous-1_life_i-m-not-telling-you-to-always-do-whateve_682832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/anonymous-1_life_i-m-not-telling-you-to-always-do-whateve_682832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/anonymous-1_life_i-m-not-telling-you-to-always-do-whateve_682832.jpg) > ““I'm not telling you to always do whatever you want. I'm saying you should do just as many things you want to do as things you don't want to do. That's what life's about.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balance desire and duty; pursue both wanted and unwanted tasks for a full life. **In simple terms:** Do both things you want and don't want. Key Takeaway Embrace both pleasure and responsibility. Themes balance responsibility fulfillment Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - career - relationships - health - community Key Concepts self‑discipline life philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which unwanted tasks are worthwhile? - What benefits arise from doing things you dislike? A Different Perspective Only focusing on desire leads to selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Say what you want without saying it yourself: quote. Very useful, this, sometimes lovely, and versatile, too: big thoughts in small pieces, neatly wrapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-regier/say-what-you-want-without-saying-it-yourself-quote-very-useful-this/) [Willis Regier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-regier/) > [Love to me is someone telling me, 'I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and if you needed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-to-me-is-someone-telling-me-i-want-to-be-with-you-for-the-rest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to be someone saying 'Hey, why don't you use my boy?' You can ask Mr. McMahon or anybody. Never once. Cody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-rhodes/i-don-t-want-to-be-someone-saying-hey-why-don-t-you-use-my-boy-you/) [Dusty Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-rhodes/) > [I'm not trying to say I don't want you, because I do.. All I'm saying is that I am done chasing after you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megannn/i-m-not-trying-to-say-i-don-t-want-you-because-i-do-all-i-m-saying-is/) Megannn > [If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I am here for you, if you ever need someone to laugh, and share memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-brogan/if-you-ever-need-a-shoulder-to-cry-on-i-am-here-for-you-if-you-ever/) Angelica Brogan > [“They march in the streets and the classrooms and the courtrooms and the parliaments and the boardrooms, and we thought they would stop, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-kyriacou/they-march-in-the-streets-and-the-classrooms-and-the-courtrooms-and/) [Natalie Kyriacou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-kyriacou/) > [I don't want what I am saying to sound like a prophecy or anything like an analysis of modern society... these are only feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-antonioni/i-don-t-want-what-i-am-saying-to-sound-like-a-prophecy-or-anything/) [Michelangelo Antonioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-antonioni/) > [All I want is for things to be the way they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-want-is-for-things-to-be-the-way-they-used-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are never satisfied with what we have. We want what we can't have and take the things we do have for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-never-satisfied-with-what-we-have-we-want-what-we-can-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I only want three things: see you, hug you, kiss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-want-three-things-see-you-hug-you-kiss-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't confuse the things you want with the things you need. You may find yourself empty handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-confuse-the-things-you-want-with-the-things-you-need-you-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being forgotten sucks when that person means the world to you. Just want things back. Wanna be her man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-forgotten-sucks-when-that-person-means-the-world-to-you-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you feel like he's the one for you, then you will want to do everything you can to move things along. This doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-feel-like-he-s-the-one-for-you-then-you-will-want-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think continually about what you want, not about the things you fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/think-continually-about-what-you-want-not-about-the-things-you-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all want the things we can't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-want-the-things-we-can-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm not telling you to always do whatever you want. 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