--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was probably a naive youth, but I saw…" description: "\"I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make things happen.\" — David Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg" --- # I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make… ![“I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make things happen.” quote by David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg) > “I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make things happen.” [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A youthful confidence in one's ability to effect change can drive initiative and achievement. **In simple terms:** Youthful confidence fuels action. Key Takeaway Harness confidence to pursue goals. Themes confidence initiative optimism Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - community projects - personal development Key Concepts self‑efficacy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you channel confidence responsibly? - When should you seek counsel before acting? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I was trying to make them face their fears. Youth spends so much energy trying to forget them. There's the fear of failure in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-lester/i-was-trying-to-make-them-face-their-fears-youth-spends-so-much/) [Muriel Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-lester/) > [High School. Society’s bright idea to put all their aggressive, naive youth into one environment to torment and emotionally scar each other for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/high-school-society-s-bright-idea-to-put-all-their-aggressive-naive/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I'm being probably naïve, but I would like to think that once something moves you and you have an emotional involvement with it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-m-being-probably-na-ve-but-i-would-like-to-think-that-once/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [I believe probably naive that love is for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pet-shop-boys/i-believe-probably-naive-that-love-is-for-free/) [Pet Shop Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pet-shop-boys/) > [You kill -- You die." That was probably the most naive thing I've ever said. The fact is -- in most cases, NOW, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkman/you-kill-you-die-that-was-probably-the-most-naive-thing-i-ve-ever/) [Robert Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkman/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [My parents are naive in their morality of things, and so, without realising it, I landed up being ethical and having strong opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/my-parents-are-naive-in-their-morality-of-things-and-so-without/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [Too many people get lost in the game of having a good time and being naive about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-brown/too-many-people-get-lost-in-the-game-of-having-a-good-time-and-being/) [Steve Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-brown/) > [Another lesson about a naive fool who came to Babylon, and found out that the pie don't taste so sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/another-lesson-about-a-naive-fool-who-came-to-babylon-and-found-out/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [While we welcome people of all faiths in America we cannot be so naive as to expect all countries to do the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-huffington/while-we-welcome-people-of-all-faiths-in-america-we-cannot-be-so/) [Michael Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-huffington/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I have to declare in all candor that no one interested in being published in our time can afford to be so naive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-to-declare-in-all-candor-that-no-one-interested-in-being/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) > [Songwriters might write cynical, world-wise lyrics and constantly talk about money, but most of us are downright naive when it comes to business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/songwriters-might-write-cynical-world-wise-lyrics-and-constantly-talk/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [When you fall in love for the first time, you're naive to every feeling that you're feeling, and you're almost obsessed with or addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/when-you-fall-in-love-for-the-first-time-you-re-naive-to-every/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) ## More by David Robinson > [What I need to do is have a great positive attitude and a great work ethic. Those two things validate me. Yes, it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/what-i-need-to-do-is-have-a-great-positive-attitude-and-a-great-work/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [Just being raised in a home where my mother, from as early as I can remember, always taught me to be thinking about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/just-being-raised-in-a-home-where-my-mother-from-as-early-as-i-can/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [Marc Gasol, he's more of a true center. There are guys who play that traditional center role, but the game is also played differently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/marc-gasol-he-s-more-of-a-true-center-there-are-guys-who-play-that/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [It's an interesting juxtaposition, being student body president and leading others and learning how to effectively help people on the team in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/it-s-an-interesting-juxtaposition-being-student-body-president-and/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [You have to raise your game, you have to be ready to compete, and you've just got to give Hakeem credit. He was great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-have-to-raise-your-game-you-have-to-be-ready-to-compete-and-you/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [I was always curious. I wanted to learn a little about a lot of things, and I really had to get pushed to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-always-curious-i-wanted-to-learn-a-little-about-a-lot-of-things/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [A well-rounded education has always been an issue close to my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/a-well-rounded-education-has-always-been-an-issue-close-to-my-heart/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [It's tragic that there are so few farmer-direct coffees in Africa, but it's very tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/it-s-tragic-that-there-are-so-few-farmer-direct-coffees-in-africa-but/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [You are overboard in deep open water without a PFD (personal floatation device), or at least that's what your instructor is yelling. Sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-are-overboard-in-deep-open-water-without-a-pfd-personal/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [I know I will leave my work unfinished. I just hope I planted enough seeds in my children and grandchildren that they will continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-know-i-will-leave-my-work-unfinished-i-just-hope-i-planted-enough/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [Keep working and saving and striving for a better future for your children, and for their children, even if you won't be around to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/keep-working-and-saving-and-striving-for-a-better-future-for-your/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [I hope the young guys who are playing today realize what they have been given and will take it upon themselves to give back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-hope-the-young-guys-who-are-playing-today-realize-what-they-have/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [I'm not a great reader, believe it or not. It's not the vocabulary - my father made me read the dictionary when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-m-not-a-great-reader-believe-it-or-not-it-s-not-the-vocabulary-my/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [You're always going to face criticism, you're always going to face challenges, but those things are there to make you stronger and more committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/you-re-always-going-to-face-criticism-you-re-always-going-to-face/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [Defense is what matters. Scoring doesn't interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/defense-is-what-matters-scoring-doesn-t-interest-me/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) [Explore all 59 David Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) ## More Naive quotes > [When you fall in love for the first time, you're naive to every feeling that you're feeling, and you're almost obsessed with or addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/when-you-fall-in-love-for-the-first-time-you-re-naive-to-every/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [Songwriters might write cynical, world-wise lyrics and constantly talk about money, but most of us are downright naive when it comes to business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/songwriters-might-write-cynical-world-wise-lyrics-and-constantly-talk/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [I have to declare in all candor that no one interested in being published in our time can afford to be so naive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-to-declare-in-all-candor-that-no-one-interested-in-being/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [While we welcome people of all faiths in America we cannot be so naive as to expect all countries to do the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-huffington/while-we-welcome-people-of-all-faiths-in-america-we-cannot-be-so/) [Michael Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-huffington/) > [Another lesson about a naive fool who came to Babylon, and found out that the pie don't taste so sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/another-lesson-about-a-naive-fool-who-came-to-babylon-and-found-out/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [Too many people get lost in the game of having a good time and being naive about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-brown/too-many-people-get-lost-in-the-game-of-having-a-good-time-and-being/) [Steve Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-brown/) > [My parents are naive in their morality of things, and so, without realising it, I landed up being ethical and having strong opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/my-parents-are-naive-in-their-morality-of-things-and-so-without/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [All disciplines affect each other. Mistakenly the man says, 'This is the only area where I let down.' Not true. Every let down affects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-disciplines-affect-each-other-mistakenly-the-man-says-this-is-the/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I'm not naive. It's football. You're going to make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/i-m-not-naive-it-s-football-you-re-going-to-make-mistakes/) [Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/) > [You make a film to distract people, to interest them, perhaps to make them think, perhaps to help them be a little less naive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-chabrol/you-make-a-film-to-distract-people-to-interest-them-perhaps-to-make/) [Claude Chabrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-chabrol/) > [I've never met Snowden, I've never spoken with him personally. I mean, he's extremely smart. Very, very smart. I guess he was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-gun/i-ve-never-met-snowden-i-ve-never-spoken-with-him-personally-i-mean/) [Katharine Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-gun/) > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The state of New Jersey is really two places - terrible cities and wonderful suburbs. I live in the suburbs, the final battleground of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-state-of-new-jersey-is-really-two-places-terrible-cities-and/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) Browse all 697 Naive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make things happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-that-i-could-make-things-happen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Naive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-that-i-could-make-things-happen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/david-robinson-11635_naive_i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-t_2234556.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was probably a naive youth, but I saw that I could make things happen.” — David Robinson", "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": "David Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was probably a naive youth,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-that-i-could-make-things-happen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/i-was-probably-a-naive-youth-but-i-saw-that-i-could-make-things-happen/#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 } } ] } ```