---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have the feeling that I've seen…"
description: "\"I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants.\" — Anton Chekhov"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg"
---

#  I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed…

![“I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants.” quote by Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg)

> “I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants.”

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One feels they have experienced everything, yet remains blind to obvious, large truths that are right before them.

**In simple terms:** Missing obvious big truths despite feeling experienced.

Key Takeaway

Stay alert to the obvious.

Themes

awareness humility perception

Mood

thoughtful humorous

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- daily life
- learning
- leadership

Key Concepts

cognitive bias selective attention

Questions to Reflect On

- What “elephants” are you overlooking?
- How can you train yourself to notice the obvious?

A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can blind you to simple facts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-ve-527103/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Notice Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notice-elephants-5538478/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/)

## Related quotes

> [You give me a feeling that i've never felt before ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelynn/you-give-me-a-feeling-that-i-ve-never-felt-before/)

[Katelynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelynn/)

> [I have the feeling I've always done what I wanted throughout my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rykiel/i-have-the-feeling-i-ve-always-done-what-i-wanted-throughout-my-life/)

[Sonia Rykiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rykiel/)

> [That's not always a nice feeling when you've given everything, and it's not enough - it's an empty feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/that-s-not-always-a-nice-feeling-when-you-ve-given-everything-and-it/)

[Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/)

> [Lately, I can't shake the feeling that I've been living a dream for the last 10 years or so; I can't account for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ware/lately-i-can-t-shake-the-feeling-that-i-ve-been-living-a-dream-for/)

[Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ware/)

> [Closing my eyes with a blessfull feeling that i've never been in love and being loved as much as this...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/closing-my-eyes-with-a-blessfull-feeling-that-i-ve-never-been-in-love/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's a great feeling, its something that I've dreamt about since I was little, and it's finally come true. It couldn't be better. Well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-johnston/it-s-a-great-feeling-its-something-that-i-ve-dreamt-about-since-i-was/)

[Rebecca Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-johnston/)

> [I have the feeling I’ve been— unpleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-have-the-feeling-i-ve-been-unpleasant/)

[Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/)

> [Do you know how much thinking and feeling I’ve done? It’s terrible. And nothing’s come of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-platonov/do-you-know-how-much-thinking-and-feeling-i-ve-done-it-s-terrible-and/)

[Andrei Platonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-platonov/)

> [Went for a walk to clear my head. Been listening to a lot of Aerosmith, Danny Gokey, John Mayer... I feel so inspired. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-worsnop/went-for-a-walk-to-clear-my-head-been-listening-to-a-lot-of-aerosmith/)

[Danny Worsnop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-worsnop/)

> [“Seeing him this close to me brings back every single feeling I've ever felt for this boy... the good and the bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/seeing-him-this-close-to-me-brings-back-every-single-feeling-i-ve/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [I work hard. I never want to live with that feeling that I've disappointed somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-work-hard-i-never-want-to-live-with-that-feeling-that-i-ve/)

[Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/)

> [“Riley closed her eyes. “I’m getting that déjà poo feeling.” “Déjà poo?” Tao echoed. “The feeling that I’ve heard all this bullshit before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-wright/riley-closed-her-eyes-i-m-getting-that-d-j-poo-feeling-d-j-poo-tao/)

[Suzanne Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-wright/)

> [I am here again, in a familiar place feeling something I've felt before, wondering why it's still here, why I didn't deal with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-denise/i-am-here-again-in-a-familiar-place-feeling-something-i-ve-felt/)

[Jan Denise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-denise/)

> [I sometimes have the feeling you've been here a long time, more than one lifetime, and that you've dwelt in private places none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-waller/i-sometimes-have-the-feeling-you-ve-been-here-a-long-time-more-than/)

[Robert James Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-waller/)

> [I never get the feeling that I've decided rationally, cold-bloodedly to write a story. On the contrary, certain events or people, sometimes dreams or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-never-get-the-feeling-that-i-ve-decided-rationally-cold-bloodedly/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

## More by Anton Chekhov

> [“Using vile means to attain worthy ends makes the ends themselves vile. Let them ride on the backs of doctors and medical assistants, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/using-vile-means-to-attain-worthy-ends-makes-the-ends-themselves-vile/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“But here was all the timorousness and angularity of inexperienced youth, a feeling of awkwardness, and an impression of bewilderment, as if someone had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/but-here-was-all-the-timorousness-and-angularity-of-inexperienced/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“At the water's edge, barrels of pitch blazed like huge bonfires. Their reflection, crimson as the rising moon, crept to meet us in long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/at-the-water-s-edge-barrels-of-pitch-blazed-like-huge-bonfires-their/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [Anna Petrovna: Never talk to women about your own good qualities. Let them find out for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/anna-petrovna-never-talk-to-women-about-your-own-good-qualities-let/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [While you're playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/while-you-re-playing-cards-with-a-regular-guy-or-having-a-bite-to-eat/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“What we have, we do not treasure,” and what’s more we do not even love it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/what-we-have-we-do-not-treasure-and-what-s-more-we-do-not-even-love-it/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [No matter how corrupt and unjust a convict may be, he loves fairness more than anything else. If the people placed over him are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/no-matter-how-corrupt-and-unjust-a-convict-may-be-he-loves-fairness/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“It is my opinion that every woman can be a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-my-opinion-that-every-woman-can-be-a-writer/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship, and trying to save his life by greedily clutching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/his-reading-suggested-a-man-swimming-in-the-sea-among-the-wreckage-of/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

> [“Why do you always wear black?” "I am mourning for my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/why-do-you-always-wear-black-i-am-mourning-for-my-life/)

[Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

[Explore all 679 Anton Chekhov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/)

## More Elephants quotes

> [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/)

[Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/)

> [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/)

[Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/)

> [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

> [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/)

[Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/)

> [I watched a film called 'Elephant' recently. Its not stylish in the sense of expensive suits and Italian cars, but the styling on every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/i-watched-a-film-called-elephant-recently-its-not-stylish-in-the/)

[Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/)

> ['Helping industry' is the elephant pit of socialism, a deep hole with sharp spikes at the bottom, covered over with twigs and fresh grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/helping-industry-is-the-elephant-pit-of-socialism-a-deep-hole-with/)

[Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/)

> [I returned to New Orleans and my problems with pari-mutuel windows and a dark-haired, milk-skinned wife from Martinique who went home with men from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-returned-to-new-orleans-and-my-problems-with-pari-mutuel-windows/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/)

[Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/)

> [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [You can see the rider serving the elephant when people are morally dumbfounded. They have strong gut feelings about what is right and wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/you-can-see-the-rider-serving-the-elephant-when-people-are-morally/)

[Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/)

> [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/)

[Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/)

> [If thou art of elephant-strength or of lion-claw, still peace is, in my opinion, better than strife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/if-thou-art-of-elephant-strength-or-of-lion-claw-still-peace-is-in-my/)

[Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/)

> [Unlike the primate hand, the elephant's grasping organ is also its nose. Elephants use their trunks not only to reach food but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/unlike-the-primate-hand-the-elephant-s-grasping-organ-is-also-its/)

[Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/)

> [I have little space from the suffering of elephants right now. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. The plight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-have-little-space-from-the-suffering-of-elephants-right-now-i-wake/)

[Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/)

> [It wasn't that I hated being asked a bunch of questions. I had nothing against questions. I just didn't like listening to them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/it-wasn-t-that-i-hated-being-asked-a-bunch-of-questions-i-had-nothing/)

[Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/)

[Browse all 589 Elephants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anton Chekhov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everything-but-failed-to-notice-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Elephants"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everything-but-failed-to-notice-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b1/anton-chekhov-298_elephants_i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everyt_699148.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have the feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants.” — Anton Chekhov",
                "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": "Anton Chekhov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have the feeling that I've...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everything-but-failed-to-notice-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-the-feeling-that-i-ve-seen-everything-but-failed-to-notice-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
