--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When something isn't done, you want to do…" description: "\"When something isn't done, you want to do something about it.\" — Bernadette Peters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/bernadette-peters-19733_done_when-something-isn-t-done-you-want-to-do_1839629.png" --- # When something isn't done, you want to do something about… ![“When something isn't done, you want to do something about it.” quote by Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/bernadette-peters-19733_done_when-something-isn-t-done-you-want-to-do_1839629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/bernadette-peters-19733_done_when-something-isn-t-done-you-want-to-do_1839629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/bernadette-peters-19733_done_when-something-isn-t-done-you-want-to-do_1839629.png) > “When something isn't done, you want to do something about it.” [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire to act arises when something is left incomplete. **In simple terms:** Unfinished tasks create a drive to act. Key Takeaway Act on unfinished matters. Themes motivation responsibility action Mood determined urgent Type practical motivational When to use this quote - project management - personal goals - home repairs - work deadlines - community service Key Concepts psychology behavioral drive Questions to Reflect On - What unfinished task is you avoiding? - How can you prioritize to finish it? A Different Perspective Action may be hindered by lack of resources or clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Isn Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isn-want-446196/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Inclusiveness isn't what I want to push back against. The obsession with facts is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/inclusiveness-isn-t-what-i-want-to-push-back-against-the-obsession/) [John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/) > [“If the child is not mine I have no control over her and don’t want to have any, and that is precisely what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/if-the-child-is-not-mine-i-have-no-control-over-her-and-don-t-want-to/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [But even if you have what everyone else wants- if it isn't what you want, it isn't what you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/but-even-if-you-have-what-everyone-else-wants-if-it-isn-t-what-you/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) > [“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-someone-isn-t-what-others-want-them-to-be-the-others-become-angry/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Sometimes change isn't what we want, but it might be what we need. Not everything is meant to last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorri-faye/sometimes-change-isn-t-what-we-want-but-it-might-be-what-we-need-not/) [Lorri Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorri-faye/) > [“His will isn't always obvious, it doesn't always make sense, and it isn't always what we want. But that doesn't mean it's not good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-clemens/his-will-isn-t-always-obvious-it-doesn-t-always-make-sense-and-it-isn/) [S.N. Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-clemens/) > [“If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we will get what we have always got, and that isn’t enough. I want something different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/if-we-keep-doing-what-we-ve-been-doing-we-will-get-what-we-have/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [“It’s not a crime to want someone to love you or to be in love or to want a relationship. Isn’t it what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/it-s-not-a-crime-to-want-someone-to-love-you-or-to-be-in-love-or-to/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [What you once were isn't what you want to be anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/what-you-once-were-isn-t-what-you-want-to-be-anymore/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [No one wants to hear the truth if it isn't what they want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-brown/no-one-wants-to-hear-the-truth-if-it-isn-t-what-they-want-to-hear/) [Aaron Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-brown/) > [Giving people what they want isn't always what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/giving-people-what-they-want-isn-t-always-what-they-want/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Sometimes, life isn't about what you want to do but what you ought to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/sometimes-life-isn-t-about-what-you-want-to-do-but-what-you-ought-to/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) > [“Isn't that why you want to shoot yourself? To make a protest against change?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dobyns/isn-t-that-why-you-want-to-shoot-yourself-to-make-a-protest-against/) [Stephen Dobyns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dobyns/) > [Everyone posts about how they love clingy boys or feeling wanted but all that means nothing if the person that wants you isn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-posts-about-how-they-love-clingy-boys-or-feeling-wanted-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And I wanted that - to come first in somebody's life. Isn't that what we all want?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-nichols/and-i-wanted-that-to-come-first-in-somebody-s-life-isn-t-that-what-we/) [Lee Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-nichols/) ## More by Bernadette Peters > [I'd like to one day play Amanda, the mother, in The Glass Menagerie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/i-d-like-to-one-day-play-amanda-the-mother-in-the-glass-menagerie/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [When I grew up in the '60s, your hair had to be straight and you had to be skinny and have no boobs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/when-i-grew-up-in-the-60s-your-hair-had-to-be-straight-and-you-had-to/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [You've got to be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/you-ve-got-to-be-original-because-if-you-re-like-someone-else-what-do/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [We've been listening to Wagner, which is so great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/we-ve-been-listening-to-wagner-which-is-so-great/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [You'd look out and there'd be little babies watching the show, and boys and girls. They loved the cowboys, and they loved Annie. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/you-d-look-out-and-there-d-be-little-babies-watching-the-show-and/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [I don't smoke, I don't drink much, I don't eat red meat. I stay out of the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/i-don-t-smoke-i-don-t-drink-much-i-don-t-eat-red-meat-i-stay-out-of/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [It was one of the most exciting, perfect evenings of my life, my solo debut at Carnegie Hall. And knowing we were all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/it-was-one-of-the-most-exciting-perfect-evenings-of-my-life-my-solo/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [The first big lead that I had on Broadway was in a show called La Strada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/the-first-big-lead-that-i-had-on-broadway-was-in-a-show-called-la/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [I feel strongly for gay marriage to be accepted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/i-feel-strongly-for-gay-marriage-to-be-accepted/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [Stephen Sondheim told me that Oscar Hammerstein believed everything that he wrote. So there's great truth in the songs, and that's what was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/stephen-sondheim-told-me-that-oscar-hammerstein-believed-everything/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [Animals speak with pure affection. It's important to me to get something going in NY so we can get to be a no-kill city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/animals-speak-with-pure-affection-it-s-important-to-me-to-get/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [Getting plenty of sleep is always great. It really is. I have a girlfriend who's sending me a slant board.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/getting-plenty-of-sleep-is-always-great-it-really-is-i-have-a/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [No One Is Alone by Stephen Sondheim is all about thinking for yourself and being your own person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/no-one-is-alone-by-stephen-sondheim-is-all-about-thinking-for/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [I lost a very dear friend who lived with AIDS for about 17 years. Rejecting early treatments that were iffy, he thought he saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/i-lost-a-very-dear-friend-who-lived-with-aids-for-about-17-years/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) > [The first Broadway show I ever heard was the recording of Carousel, and it was a very vivid experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/the-first-broadway-show-i-ever-heard-was-the-recording-of-carousel/) [Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) [Explore all 32 Bernadette Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/) ## More Done quotes > [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/) > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. 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But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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