--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know Who, or what, put the…" description: "\"I don't know Who, or what, put the question, I don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_answering_i-don-t-know-who-or-what-put-the-questio_821081.png" --- # I don't know Who, or what, put the question, I don't know… ![“I don't know Who, or what, put the question, I don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone, or Something,and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal.” quote by Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_answering_i-don-t-know-who-or-what-put-the-questio_821081.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_answering_i-don-t-know-who-or-what-put-the-questio_821081.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/dag-hammarskj-ld-2606_answering_i-don-t-know-who-or-what-put-the-questio_821081.png) > “I don't know Who, or what, put the question, I don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone, or Something,and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal.” [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fleeting affirmation can give life purpose, even if its origin is unclear. **In simple terms:** A brief yes can create meaning. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond fleeting answers. Themes meaning purpose existence Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - career choices - creative projects - spiritual practice - decision making Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How do you handle ambiguous affirmations? A Different Perspective Purpose may be fragile if based on uncertain premises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I don’t know Who—or what—put the question, I don’t know when it was put. I don’t even remember answering. But at some moment I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-don-t-know-who-or-what-put-the-question-i-don-t-know-when-it-was-2/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [At some moment I did answer "Yes" to someone or something. And from that hour on I was certain that existence is meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/at-some-moment-i-did-answer-yes-to-someone-or-something-and-from-that/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/well-if-i-called-the-wrong-number-why-did-you-answer-the-phone/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [When you were called, did you answer or did you not? Perhaps softly and in a whisper?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/when-you-were-called-did-you-answer-or-did-you-not-perhaps-softly-and/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“I fucking loved that girl, Sky. I need to believe that what she did was the only answer she had left, because if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-fucking-loved-that-girl-sky-i-need-to-believe-that-what-she-did-was/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Thank you. I realize my methods have dampened your spirits somewhat, but in the long run you will not regret it." She did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-adina/thank-you-i-realize-my-methods-have-dampened-your-spirits-somewhat/) [Shelley Adina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-adina/) > [I was being hated for about 40 or 50 years by the whole world, but it did not destroy me, and it did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-was-being-hated-for-about-40-or-50-years-by-the-whole-world-but-it/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [When your mom thinks you have an attitude with her but all you did was answer her question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-your-mom-thinks-you-have-an-attitude-with-her-but-all-you-did/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ["This - is now my way - where is yours"? Thus did I answer those who asked me "the way". For the way -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/this-is-now-my-way-where-is-yours-thus-did-i-answer-those-who-asked/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [We still did not answer the questions that are important to us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-still-did-not-answer-the-questions-that-are-important-to-us/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Question is not, what they have did for you and not answer is, what you have did for them, but its is, what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subi-foa/question-is-not-what-they-have-did-for-you-and-not-answer-is-what-you/) [Subi Foa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subi-foa/) > [I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-would-you-say-on-your-tombstone-i/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [We all know that somebody did it, but how did they find the answer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thaw/we-all-know-that-somebody-did-it-but-how-did-they-find-the-answer/) [John Thaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thaw/) > [“What sort of look are you going for?” Damn, how did he answer this? “Something…normal,” he finally said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-blake/what-sort-of-look-are-you-going-for-damn-how-did-he-answer-this/) [Toni Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-blake/) > [“How did I get where I am.” If your answer is anything but dumb luck then you are sadly deluding yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-merrick/how-did-i-get-where-i-am-if-your-answer-is-anything-but-dumb-luck/) [Steve Merrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-merrick/) ## More by Dag Hammarskjold > [“Didst thou give me this inescapable loneliness so that it would be easier for me to give thee all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/didst-thou-give-me-this-inescapable-loneliness-so-that-it-would-be/) [Dag Hammarskjöld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Beneath the hush a whisper from long ago, promising peace of mind and a burden shared. No peace which is not peace for all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/beneath-the-hush-a-whisper-from-long-ago-promising-peace-of-mind-and/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [For the sacrificed, in the hour of sacrifice, only one thing counts: faith-alone among enemies and skeptics. Faith, in spite of the humiliation which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/for-the-sacrificed-in-the-hour-of-sacrifice-only-one-thing-counts/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Friendship needs no words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/friendship-needs-no-words/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [If even dying is to be made a social function, then, grant me the favor of sneaking out on tiptoe without disturbing the party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/if-even-dying-is-to-be-made-a-social-function-then-grant-me-the-favor/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-position-never-gives-you-the-right-to-command-it-only-imposes-on/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [I have only my own burden to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/i-have-only-my-own-burden-to-bear/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Life yields only to the conqueror. Never accept whatcan be gained by giving in. You will be living off stolen goods, and your muscles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/life-yields-only-to-the-conqueror-never-accept-whatcan-be-gained-by/) [Dag Hammarskjöld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [I never discuss discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/i-never-discuss-discussions/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [We all have within us a center of stillness surrounded by silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/we-all-have-within-us-a-center-of-stillness-surrounded-by-silence/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [There is a point at which everything becomes simple and there is no longer any question of choice, because all you have staked will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/there-is-a-point-at-which-everything-becomes-simple-and-there-is-no/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/god-does-not-die-on-the-day-when-we-cease-to-believe-in-a-personal/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood to mean blind acceptance. It is correctly interpreted when it is assumed to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when-it-is-understood-to-mean/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Those who invoke history will certainly be heard by history. And they will have to accept its verdict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/those-who-invoke-history-will-certainly-be-heard-by-history-and-they/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Your body must become familiar with its death - in all its possible forms and degrees - as a self-evident, imminent, and emotionally neutral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-body-must-become-familiar-with-its-death-in-all-its-possible/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) [Explore all 155 Dag Hammarskjold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) ## More Answering quotes > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [“The wrong approaches to faith and to skepticism are equally detrimental to the path. For the former declares its answers too soon and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-wrong-approaches-to-faith-and-to-skepticism-are-equally/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Life is a question paper. who answering correctly, he or she will never born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diyasena/life-is-a-question-paper-who-answering-correctly-he-or-she-will-never/) Diyasena > [All the charges you enumerate have been made with one purpose in mind-to place our office on the defensive and make us waste valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-garrison/all-the-charges-you-enumerate-have-been-made-with-one-purpose-in-mind/) [Jim Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-garrison/) > [At first I'm sort of answering everything the way you're 'supposed to' answer, and I lost a bunch of followers... I was like, 'What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hoffman/at-first-i-m-sort-of-answering-everything-the-way-you-re-supposed-to/) [Rick Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hoffman/) > [I don't mind doing interviews. I don't mind answering thoughtful questions. But I'm not thrilled about answering questions like, 'If you were being mugged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-don-t-mind-doing-interviews-i-don-t-mind-answering-thoughtful/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [When I heard his first songs, Dylan was answering certain questions that I had all my life been asking myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/when-i-heard-his-first-songs-dylan-was-answering-certain-questions/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I have a friend of mine who does me on his answering machine, and when I call him, I answer. It's pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-have-a-friend-of-mine-who-does-me-on-his-answering-machine-and-when/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [Question only make some sense; but Answering will making some friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/question-only-make-some-sense-but-answering-will-making-some-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think communication is key, too. You're answering all the questions. Thank you. I'll just sit back here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-think-communication-is-key-too-you-re-answering-all-the-questions/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I interact with my fans mostly through Twitter, and I like to do livestreams about every two weeks, where I say, 'Ask me anything!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/i-interact-with-my-fans-mostly-through-twitter-and-i-like-to-do/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [“She never answers during the day," Max explained. "She lets her machine pick up." People like you are the reason other people get answering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/she-never-answers-during-the-day-max-explained-she-lets-her-machine/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [- With respect, Professor McGonagall, I'm not quite sure you understand what I'm trying to do here. - With respect, Mr. Potter, I'm quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/with-respect-professor-mcgonagall-i-m-not-quite-sure-you-understand/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Science is increasingly answering questions that used to be the province of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/science-is-increasingly-answering-questions-that-used-to-be-the/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [A dream is the mind's way of answering a question it hasn't yet figured out how to ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/a-dream-is-the-mind-s-way-of-answering-a-question-it-hasn-t-yet/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) Browse all 99 Answering quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know Who, or what, put the question, I don't know when it was put. 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