--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real trouble comes from not knowing…" description: "\"The real trouble comes from not knowing what we really want in the first place.\" — Charles de Lint" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/charles-de-lint-1481_first-place_the-real-trouble-comes-from-not-knowing_3025289.png" --- # The real trouble comes from not knowing what we really… ![“The real trouble comes from not knowing what we really want in the first place.” quote by Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/charles-de-lint-1481_first-place_the-real-trouble-comes-from-not-knowing_3025289.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/charles-de-lint-1481_first-place_the-real-trouble-comes-from-not-knowing_3025289.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/charles-de-lint-1481_first-place_the-real-trouble-comes-from-not-knowing_3025289.png) > “The real trouble comes from not knowing what we really want in the first place.” [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Not knowing one’s true desires leads to trouble and misdirection. **In simple terms:** Ignorance of true desires causes trouble. Key Takeaway Clarify personal goals first. Themes self‑knowledge goal‑setting direction Mood confused curious Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship decisions - personal development Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly want? - How can you discover your core desires? A Different Perspective If desires remain unclear, actions may be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-really-1015247/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-trouble-2135572/) [Really Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-want/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-comes-516441/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Knowing that you're not alone really does make all the difference in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowing-that-you-re-not-alone-really-does-make-all-the-difference-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Being clever is not just about how much you know, but about knowing that you really don’t know very much at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/being-clever-is-not-just-about-how-much-you-know-but-about-knowing/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [Freedom is knowing who you really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/freedom-is-knowing-who-you-really-are/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“Our joy and love come from knowing what's really important to me and then living a life that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-arylo/our-joy-and-love-come-from-knowing-what-s-really-important-to-me-and/) [Christine Arylo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-arylo/) > [Knowing too much or everything doesn't make you genius, knowing what really importants and matters at a time does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/knowing-too-much-or-everything-doesn-t-make-you-genius-knowing-what/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“Been Passionate means knowing who you are and what you really want out of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/been-passionate-means-knowing-who-you-are-and-what-you-really-want/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [There's a gap between people knowing what I do and really believing that I still do that - and wondering what it is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/there-s-a-gap-between-people-knowing-what-i-do-and-really-believing/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“I have found that the process of discovering who I really am begins with knowing who I really don't want to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcoholics-anonymous/i-have-found-that-the-process-of-discovering-who-i-really-am-begins/) [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcoholics-anonymous/) > [The best feeling in the world is knowing that you really mean something to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-feeling-in-the-world-is-knowing-that-you-really-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As much as I feel sad, I think that not knowing is what really bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/as-much-as-i-feel-sad-i-think-that-not-knowing-is-what-really-bothers/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“It’s not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It’s really about trust.” — Jameson Rook, Heat Rises”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-castle/it-s-not-about-knowing-you-can-never-really-know-someone-it-s-really/) [Richard Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-castle/) > [“Spirituality is all about self-knowledge, knowing who you really are, and realizing your true Self as the Divine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/spirituality-is-all-about-self-knowledge-knowing-who-you-really-are/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [Best feeling is knowing that you really mean everything to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/best-feeling-is-knowing-that-you-really-mean-everything-to-someone/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Contrary to popular belief: Knowing where you are from will not really tell you where you are going. It will merely tell you why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/contrary-to-popular-belief-knowing-where-you-are-from-will-not-really/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“It's not about knowing. You can never really know someone. It's really about trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-castle/it-s-not-about-knowing-you-can-never-really-know-someone-it-s-really-2/) [Richard Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-castle/) ## More by Charles de Lint > [The family we choose for ourselves is more important than the one we were born into; that people have to earn our respect and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/the-family-we-choose-for-ourselves-is-more-important-than-the-one-we/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you're gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/every-time-you-do-a-good-deed-you-shine-the-light-a-little-farther/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/the-road-leading-to-a-goal-does-not-separate-you-from-the-destination/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“Maybe she couldn’t go. Maybe she wanted him to stay. 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Most people you run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/you-hear-this-kind-of-thing-rednecks-and-their-guys-and-don-t-call/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Fortune-telling doesn't reveal the future; it mirrors the present. It resonates against what your subconscious already knows and hauls it up out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/fortune-telling-doesn-t-reveal-the-future-it-mirrors-the-present-it/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [When you're touched by magic, nothing's ever quite the same again. What really makes me sad is all those people who never have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/when-you-re-touched-by-magic-nothing-s-ever-quite-the-same-again-what/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [There are few joys to compare with the telling of a well-told tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/there-are-few-joys-to-compare-with-the-telling-of-a-well-told-tale/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [How hard would it be to ask children what they see in their heads? How big should the house be in comparison to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/how-hard-would-it-be-to-ask-children-what-they-see-in-their-heads-how/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [... we chase after ghosts and spirits and are left holding only memories and dreams. It's not that we want what we can't have;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/we-chase-after-ghosts-and-spirits-and-are-left-holding-only-memories/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Writing music uses a whole different process that involves a lot of noodling and just seeing what comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/writing-music-uses-a-whole-different-process-that-involves-a-lot-of/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [The real problem is, people think life is a ladder, and it's really a wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/the-real-problem-is-people-think-life-is-a-ladder-and-it-s-really-a/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [Tattoos...are the stories in your heart, written on your skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/tattoos-are-the-stories-in-your-heart-written-on-your-skin/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) [Explore all 237 Charles de Lint quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) ## More First place quotes > [“But the process should not be confused with science. 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I just hate the fact that I put myself in a position to be let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-never-shocked-when-people-let-me-down-nowadays-i-just-hate-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had a 90's music party with my Glee family tonight. Helped remind me why I got into music in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/had-a-90-s-music-party-with-my-glee-family-tonight-helped-remind-me/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [“If you have the ability and the opportunity to help someone, but you don't do anything just because you're scared or it's inconvenient or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-have-the-ability-and-the-opportunity-to-help-someone-but-you/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Every penny we spend comes from the taxpayer. 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