--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never tell anyone what you are going to…" description: "\"Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.\" — Cornelius Vanderbilt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png" --- # Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've… ![“Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.” quote by Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png) > “Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.” [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keep plans private until proven successful to avoid premature criticism or pressure. **In simple terms:** Keep plans secret until they succeed. Key Takeaway Act first, reveal later. Themes privacy confidence execution Mood cautious strategic Type advice strategic When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal projects - creative endeavors Key Concepts strategic silence risk management Questions to Reflect On - What benefits does secrecy bring? - When is sharing advantageous? A Different Perspective Premature disclosure can still support opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Stupid questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-questions/) ## Related quotes > [“I can take so much, 'Till I've had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-perri/i-can-take-so-much-till-i-ve-had-enough/) [Christina Perri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-perri/) > [You never know what you have till you've lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/you-never-know-what-you-have-till-you-ve-lost-it/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [I like candidates who tell me something that is going to make a difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/i-like-candidates-who-tell-me-something-that-is-going-to-make-a/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [I want to keep going till I drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-eddy/i-want-to-keep-going-till-i-drop/) Nelson Eddy > [“How do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/how-do-you-know-what-you-re-going-to-do-till-you-do-it-the-answer-is/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [You cant know where your going till you know where you been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-velasquez/you-cant-know-where-your-going-till-you-know-where-you-been/) [Joy Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-velasquez/) > [Sal, we gotta go and never stop going 'till we get there.' 'Where we going, man?' 'I don't know but we gotta go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/sal-we-gotta-go-and-never-stop-going-till-we-get-there-where-we-going/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [A sum can be put right: but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-sum-can-be-put-right-but-only-by-going-back-till-you-find-the-error/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-mean-how-do-you-know-what-you-re-going-to-do-till-you-do-it-the/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [I'll keep going till my face falls off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cartland/i-ll-keep-going-till-my-face-falls-off/) [Barbara Cartland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cartland/) > [And for me, I guess the person who I tell everything that I'm going through is you. The fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/and-for-me-i-guess-the-person-who-i-tell-everything-that-i-m-going/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Zim doesn't say a lot, but he says why. He's not a coach who is just going to tell you to do something. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/zim-doesn-t-say-a-lot-but-he-says-why-he-s-not-a-coach-who-is-just/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I don't need to have someone tell me what I'm going to be entertained by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-huh/i-don-t-need-to-have-someone-tell-me-what-i-m-going-to-be-entertained/) [Ben Huh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-huh/) > [“I could tell I was going to like this country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buckley/i-could-tell-i-was-going-to-like-this-country/) Pete Buckley > [Nobody can tell me that i'm not going to get better. Nobody can tell me I'm not going to do this or that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/nobody-can-tell-me-that-i-m-not-going-to-get-better-nobody-can-tell/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) ## More by Cornelius Vanderbilt > [There is no friendship in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/there-is-no-friendship-in-trade/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I have been insane on the subject of moneymaking all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-have-been-insane-on-the-subject-of-moneymaking-all-my-life/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/you-have-undertaken-to-cheat-me-i-won-t-sue-you-for-the-law-is-too/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I don't care half so much about making money as I do about making my point, and coming out ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-don-t-care-half-so-much-about-making-money-as-i-do-about-making-my/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I am not afraid of my enemies, but by God, you must look out when you get among your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-am-not-afraid-of-my-enemies-but-by-god-you-must-look-out-when-you/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Law! What do I care about the law? Ain't I got the power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/law-what-do-i-care-about-the-law-ain-t-i-got-the-power/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I have always served the public to the best of my ability. Why? Because, like every other man, it is to my interest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-have-always-served-the-public-to-the-best-of-my-ability-why-because/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [I have been insane on the subject of money-making all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/i-have-been-insane-on-the-subject-of-money-making-all-my-life/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [What do I care about law? Ain't I got the power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/what-do-i-care-about-law-ain-t-i-got-the-power/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [If I had learned education I would not have had time to learn anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/if-i-had-learned-education-i-would-not-have-had-time-to-learn/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Never be a minion, always be an owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-be-a-minion-always-be-an-owner/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [Did Cornelius Vanderbilt coin the phrase, to wit:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/did-cornelius-vanderbilt-coin-the-phrase-to-wit/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) > [It is not according to my mode of doing things, to bring a suit against a man that I have the power in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/it-is-not-according-to-my-mode-of-doing-things-to-bring-a-suit/) [Cornelius Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) [Explore all 14 Cornelius Vanderbilt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/) ## 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. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) Browse all 25,653 Done quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cornelius Vanderbilt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to-do-till-you-ve-done-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Done" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to-do-till-you-ve-done-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/cornelius-vanderbilt-33972_done_never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to_428994.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never tell anyone what you are going to do till you've done it.” — Cornelius Vanderbilt", "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": "Cornelius Vanderbilt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-vanderbilt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never tell anyone what you are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to-do-till-you-ve-done-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-vanderbilt/never-tell-anyone-what-you-are-going-to-do-till-you-ve-done-it/#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 } } ] } ```