--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Above all things, the plainsmen had to…" description: "\"Above all things, the plainsmen had to have in instinct for direction. I never had a compass in my life, but I was never lost.\" — Charles Goodnight" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/charles-goodnight-65294_all-things_above-all-things-the-plainsmen-had-to-ha_657059.jpg" --- # Above all things, the plainsmen had to have in instinct… ![“Above all things, the plainsmen had to have in instinct for direction. I never had a compass in my life, but I was never lost.” quote by Charles Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/charles-goodnight-65294_all-things_above-all-things-the-plainsmen-had-to-ha_657059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/charles-goodnight-65294_all-things_above-all-things-the-plainsmen-had-to-ha_657059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/charles-goodnight-65294_all-things_above-all-things-the-plainsmen-had-to-ha_657059.jpg) > “Above all things, the plainsmen had to have in instinct for direction. I never had a compass in my life, but I was never lost.” [Charles Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-goodnight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Instinctual sense of direction can guide you without tools, relying on inner awareness and observation. **In simple terms:** You can navigate by intuition. Key Takeaway Trust your inner compass. Themes self-reliance navigation intuition Mood reflective confident Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - wilderness travel - urban commuting - career decisions - personal growth Key Concepts orientation situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you develop inner direction? - When does intuition mislead? A Different Perspective May fail without external references or in unfamiliar environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Compass Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass-life-469424/) [Direction Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction-compass-5242596/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Plainsmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plainsmen-5242595/) [Plainsmen Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plainsmen-instinct-5242594/) [Things Plainsmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-plainsmen-5242597/) ## Related quotes > [Love is the compass of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-compass-of-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He needed to find that hard place inside that would center him like the middle of a compass. 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Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) ## More by Charles Goodnight > [I wish I could find words to express the trueness, the bravery, the hardihood, the sense of honor, the loyalty to their trust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-goodnight/i-wish-i-could-find-words-to-express-the-trueness-the-bravery-the/) [Charles Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-goodnight/) > [When the ranch is in peace, no other life is more perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-goodnight/when-the-ranch-is-in-peace-no-other-life-is-more-perfect/) [Charles Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-goodnight/) > [Cowards never lasted long enough to become real cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-goodnight/cowards-never-lasted-long-enough-to-become-real-cowboys/) [Charles Goodnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-goodnight/) [Explore all 4 Charles Goodnight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-goodnight/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... 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