--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps this is how you know you're doing…" description: "\"Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a wast..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg" --- # Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're… ![“Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a waste of time.” quote by Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg) > “Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a waste of time.” [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling that your work has purpose even when progress is tiny. **In simple terms:** Purpose feels present despite slow progress. Key Takeaway Value small steps as meaningful. Themes purpose progress validation Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career development - personal projects - learning new skills - creative writing Key Concepts meaning motivation growth Questions to Reflect On - What small sign tells you you’re on track? - How do you measure meaningful progress? A Different Perspective Slow progress can still feel wasteful if expectations are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [The time we enjoy wasting is usually a good indicator of our real values¦ The best things in life feel like we feel when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-j-duarte-bernhardt/the-time-we-enjoy-wasting-is-usually-a-good-indicator-of-our-real/) [Harold J Duarte-Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-j-duarte-bernhardt/) > [Courage means to keep making forward progress while you still feel afraid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/courage-means-to-keep-making-forward-progress-while-you-still-feel/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Out of frustration, I say things. Now, people listen to me so much I can say it under my breath and everybody hears me...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/out-of-frustration-i-say-things-now-people-listen-to-me-so-much-i-can/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“It’s a small thing, but often the smallest things make the biggest difference. It feels good to mark your progress, and anything you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-small-thing-but-often-the-smallest-things-make-the-biggest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster than we should that we go bankrupt by the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/we-rip-out-so-much-of-ourselves-to-be-cured-of-things-faster-than-we/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“But still I feel I waste a lot of time leaning on my elbow and thinking to myself, "alright sucker, now what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/but-still-i-feel-i-waste-a-lot-of-time-leaning-on-my-elbow-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-winslow-taylor/we-can-see-our-forests-vanishing-our-water-powers-going-to-waste-our/) [Frederick Winslow Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-winslow-taylor/) > [Progress may feel more like loss than gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/progress-may-feel-more-like-loss-than-gain/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Worrying is a waste of time. It doesnt change anything. It messes with your mind and steals your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worrying-is-a-waste-of-time-it-doesnt-change-anything-it-messes-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you’re waiting for my good looks to fade... it’s a futile waste of time. Give up at once. - (Christian Wright)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-delucy/if-you-re-waiting-for-my-good-looks-to-fade-it-s-a-futile-waste-of/) [Jennifer DeLucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-delucy/) > [Thank you for the lies, drama, heartache and most of all for being a huge waste of time :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-you-for-the-lies-drama-heartache-and-most-of-all-for-being-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Why Worry? It's a total waste of time and it doesn't change anything. All it does is steal your joy and keeps you busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/why-worry-it-s-a-total-waste-of-time-and-it-doesn-t-change-anything/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Trying to find this industry's tendency to celebrate the physical is a waste of time. So I'm happy to play the game. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/trying-to-find-this-industry-s-tendency-to-celebrate-the-physical-is/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Curtis Sittenfeld > [The best part of being a writer for me is immersing myself in a fictional world, which is the opposite of being on social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/the-best-part-of-being-a-writer-for-me-is-immersing-myself-in-a/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“I think adults forget just how much faith teenagers can have in them, just how willing to believe that adults, by virtue of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-adults-forget-just-how-much-faith-teenagers-can-have-in-them/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“She came down to my dorm that night, knocking on the door around nine o'clock. Martha was at the library, and I was eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/she-came-down-to-my-dorm-that-night-knocking-on-the-door-around-nine/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [My boarding school experience was the only thing I had strong enough feelings to write about for hundreds and hundreds of pages. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/my-boarding-school-experience-was-the-only-thing-i-had-strong-enough/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [Of course a magazine is usually more interesting than a conversation, because so much more time and preparation has gone into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/of-course-a-magazine-is-usually-more-interesting-than-a-conversation/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [I feel that Pride and Prejudice is an incredibly well constructed novel on every level. The dialogue is great. The character development is great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-feel-that-pride-and-prejudice-is-an-incredibly-well-constructed/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [I should probably be careful admitting this, but sometimes, when my characters are having a disagreement, it's a disagreement I'm having with myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-should-probably-be-careful-admitting-this-but-sometimes-when-my/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Approaching each other, him from the gym, me from the library- this was when I walked down the aisle and he was waiting, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/approaching-each-other-him-from-the-gym-me-from-the-library-this-was/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [After I’d told her – the mall, the taxi, Cross stroking my hair – she said, ‘Did he kiss you?’ ‘John and Martin totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/after-i-d-told-her-the-mall-the-taxi-cross-stroking-my-hair-she-said/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [There's an ongoing 'water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink' situation at my house in terms of both pens and paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/there-s-an-ongoing-water-water-everywhere-and-not-a-drop-to-drink/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [She opened her mouth but did not immediately speak, and I felt, simultaneously, the impulse to coax the words from her and the impulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/she-opened-her-mouth-but-did-not-immediately-speak-and-i-felt/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“But the truth was that I didn't want to stay in Riley. The pulls of familial love and obligation could not, for the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/but-the-truth-was-that-i-didn-t-want-to-stay-in-riley-the-pulls-of/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Profii de aici le-au vazut pe toate. Noi ne percepem ca individualitati distincte, dar in ochii lor nu suntem decat o masa de nevoi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/profii-de-aici-le-au-vazut-pe-toate-noi-ne-percepem-ca/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [When I was writing my first two books I was also freelancing and teaching and doing other odd jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/when-i-was-writing-my-first-two-books-i-was-also-freelancing-and/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“When I think of Henry and Oliver and Mike, I feel as if they are three different models - templates, almost - and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/when-i-think-of-henry-and-oliver-and-mike-i-feel-as-if-they-are-three/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) [Explore all 212 Curtis Sittenfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) ## More Feels quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [Then come to realize that you're making mountains out of molehills. Realize how petty you've become. Sure, it may feel like you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/then-come-to-realize-that-you-re-making-mountains-out-of-molehills/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) Browse all 38,933 Feels quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight your progress, you never feel that it's a waste of time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Curtis Sittenfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doing-the-thing-you-re-intended/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doing-the-thing-you-re-intended/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/curtis-sittenfeld-1731_feels_perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doin_1656201.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps this is how you know you're doing the thing you're intended to: No matter how slow or how slight…” — Curtis Sittenfeld", "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": "Curtis Sittenfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Perhaps this is how you know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doing-the-thing-you-re-intended/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/perhaps-this-is-how-you-know-you-re-doing-the-thing-you-re-intended/#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 } } ] } ```