--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no idea where I'm going but here's…" description: "\"I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?\" — Art Buchwald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png" --- # I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real… ![“I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?” quote by Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png) > “I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?” [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses existential uncertainty and questioning one's purpose in life. **In simple terms:** Questioning purpose and direction. Key Takeaway Reflect on personal purpose. Themes existential purpose self‑inquiry Mood contemplative curious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - life planning - personal growth - spiritual seeking - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy identity meaning Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How can you find direction amid uncertainty? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex existential concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-place-2818988/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Question Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-doing-842141/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-question-366255/) ## Related quotes > [“If you have to keep something a secret it's because you shouldn't be doing it in the first place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/if-you-have-to-keep-something-a-secret-it-s-because-you-shouldn-t-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Debating the best way to do something we shouldn't be doing in the first place is a sure way to end up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/debating-the-best-way-to-do-something-we-shouldn-t-be-doing-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Where you are is of no moment, but only what you are doing there. It is not the place that ennobles you, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/where-you-are-is-of-no-moment-but-only-what-you-are-doing-there-it-is/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [If you have to keep a secret it's because you shouldn't be doing it in the first place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/if-you-have-to-keep-a-secret-it-s-because-you-shouldn-t-be-doing-it/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Sometimes I forget what I am doing at place where I spent most time with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/sometimes-i-forget-what-i-am-doing-at-place-where-i-spent-most-time/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [“Question not what I am doing, But what I have done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-e-cragg/question-not-what-i-am-doing-but-what-i-have-done/) [Myles E Cragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-e-cragg/) > [If there is one question I dread, to which I have never been able to invent a satisfactory reply, it is the question what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/if-there-is-one-question-i-dread-to-which-i-have-never-been-able-to/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/life-s-most-persistent-and-urgent-question-is-what-are-you-doing-for-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [You're doing everything you can to make them happy, but the real question is what are they doing to make you happy? If nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-re-doing-everything-you-can-to-make-them-happy-but-the-real/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If you can answer the question of why you’re doing it, it’s the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/if-you-can-answer-the-question-of-why-you-re-doing-it-it-s-the-right/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/life-s-most-urgent-question-is-what-are-you-doing-for-others/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [The question is, why are we doing so well? The answer is, I try not to think about it too much. I just do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-bell/the-question-is-why-are-we-doing-so-well-the-answer-is-i-try-not-to/) [Art Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-bell/) > [“What am I doing wrong? Better question what am I doing right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jevon-scott/what-am-i-doing-wrong-better-question-what-am-i-doing-right/) [Jevon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jevon-scott/) > [The real question is, can you love the real me? Not the perfect person you want me to be, not that image you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/the-real-question-is-can-you-love-the-real-me-not-the-perfect-person/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [I think PCs are going to continue to shift in form factor. The real question is: What's a PC?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-think-pcs-are-going-to-continue-to-shift-in-form-factor-the-real/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) ## More by Art Buchwald > [The things that matter most are not things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/the-things-that-matter-most-are-not-things/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Every time you think television has hit its lowest ebb, a new program comes along to make you wonder where you thought the ebb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/every-time-you-think-television-has-hit-its-lowest-ebb-a-new-program/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [I found out I'd spent my whole life believing things that weren't necessarily accurate. My sisters' memories of certain events are entirely different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-found-out-i-d-spent-my-whole-life-believing-things-that-weren-t/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [As the economy gets better, everything else gets worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/as-the-economy-gets-better-everything-else-gets-worse/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [I can now say without hesitation the Marine Corps was the best foster home I ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-can-now-say-without-hesitation-the-marine-corps-was-the-best-foster/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Writers are funny about reviews: when they get a good one they ignore it-- but when they get a bad review they never forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/writers-are-funny-about-reviews-when-they-get-a-good-one-they-ignore/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Television has a real problem. They have no page two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/television-has-a-real-problem-they-have-no-page-two/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [No one ever mentioned it, but thousands of men welcomed World War II as a way to escape their humdrum lives rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/no-one-ever-mentioned-it-but-thousands-of-men-welcomed-world-war-ii/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Don't commit suicide, because you might change your mind two weeks later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/don-t-commit-suicide-because-you-might-change-your-mind-two-weeks/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [When it came to writing about wine, I did what almost everybody does - faked it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/when-it-came-to-writing-about-wine-i-did-what-almost-everybody-does/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [I learned quickly that when I made others laugh, they liked me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-learned-quickly-that-when-i-made-others-laugh-they-liked-me/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [An economist is a man who knows a hundred ways of making love but doesn't know any women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/an-economist-is-a-man-who-knows-a-hundred-ways-of-making-love-but/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [Every once in a while your world stands still... There are certain friendships that are so important they leave a mark on you long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/every-once-in-a-while-your-world-stands-still-there-are-certain/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [I just don't want to die the same day Castro dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-just-don-t-want-to-die-the-same-day-castro-dies/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) > [The best way to clean up a son's room is to close the door and pretend it's not part of the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/the-best-way-to-clean-up-a-son-s-room-is-to-close-the-door-and/) [Art Buchwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) [Explore all 83 Art Buchwald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) [Kitty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) [Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Art Buchwald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here-s-the-real-question-what-am-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here-s-the-real-question-what-am-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d84/art-buchwald-8223_doing_i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here_1363660.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have no idea where I'm going but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?” — Art Buchwald", "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": "Art Buchwald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-buchwald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have no idea where I'm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here-s-the-real-question-what-am-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-buchwald/i-have-no-idea-where-i-m-going-but-here-s-the-real-question-what-am-i/#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 } } ] } ```