--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't know where you're going, it…" description: "\"If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.\" — Denis Waitley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg" --- # If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if… ![“If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.” quote by Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg) > “If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.” [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without a clear destination, punctuality loses purpose; direction gives meaning to timing. **In simple terms:** Know your goal before worrying about alarms. Key Takeaway Define your purpose, then manage time. Themes goal-setting time management purpose Mood determined optimistic pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - daily routines - travel - project deadlines - personal growth Key Concepts motivation personal development Questions to Reflect On - What is your ultimate destination? - How do you stay motivated when alarms fail? A Different Perspective Even with a goal, external factors can still disrupt plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm/) [Alarm Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm-doesn-1804392/) [Alarms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) [Doesn Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-matter/) [Doesn Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-morning-955536/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-alarm-5610433/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road/) ## Related quotes > [What is the point of a car alarm if it doesn't get people out of their beds to come help you? So if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/what-is-the-point-of-a-car-alarm-if-it-doesn-t-get-people-out-of/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [Sunrise doesn't last all morning, a cloudburst doesn't last all day, seems my love is up and has left you with no warning. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/sunrise-doesn-t-last-all-morning-a-cloudburst-doesn-t-last-all-day/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [“Trick.” I say a little louder. “Shhh, sleep baby.” He mumbles. I laugh and smack his arm. “Wake up. I can feel your morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-larsen/trick-i-say-a-little-louder-shhh-sleep-baby-he-mumbles-i-laugh-and/) [K. Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-larsen/) > [Men do not like to admit to even momentary imperfection. My husband forgot the code to turn off the alarm. When the police came,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-do-not-like-to-admit-to-even-momentary-imperfection-my-husband/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't need an alarm clock, for habit is the best alarm there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-stanton-hitchcock/i-don-t-need-an-alarm-clock-for-habit-is-the-best-alarm-there-is/) [Jane Stanton Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-stanton-hitchcock/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singing and flower bringing If my burglar alarm starts ringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singing-and-flower-bringing-if-my/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [No one wants to know I set my alarm and get up 8, but I think it's too weird to sleep in too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/no-one-wants-to-know-i-set-my-alarm-and-get-up-8-but-i-think-it-s-too/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [If you're having trouble waking up for fajr, set your alarm to play Quran. It works!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/if-you-re-having-trouble-waking-up-for-fajr-set-your-alarm-to-play/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Unlike landed white men, she didn't need to climb mountains to experience mystic panic. All she needed was to set her alarm dock for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/unlike-landed-white-men-she-didn-t-need-to-climb-mountains-to/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I wake up at about the same time every day. I sleep well and wake without an alarm clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-wake-up-at-about-the-same-time-every-day-i-sleep-well-and-wake/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [You ever notice how long it takes for things to happen when you know they're supposed to happen? My fake Walkman has a built-in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodman-philbrick/you-ever-notice-how-long-it-takes-for-things-to-happen-when-you-know/) [Rodman Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodman-philbrick/) > [Disturbers are never popular - nobody ever really loved an alarm clock in action, no matter how grateful he may have been afterwards for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/disturbers-are-never-popular-nobody-ever-really-loved-an-alarm-clock/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [Stress is an alarm clock that lets you know you're attached to something not true for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/stress-is-an-alarm-clock-that-lets-you-know-you-re-attached-to/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I don't set the alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-don-t-set-the-alarm-to-get-up-i-get-up-when-i-feel-like-it/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## More by Denis Waitley > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Optimism boosts your energy and focuses your sights on reaching your goals, rather than wallowing in your setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/optimism-boosts-your-energy-and-focuses-your-sights-on-reaching-your/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You can only do good if you feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-can-only-do-good-if-you-feel-good/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The greatest limitations you will ever face will be those you place on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-limitations-you-will-ever-face-will-be-those-you-place/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The easiest thing is to make sure you feel happy and satisfied in this moment. Setting long term goals is much more effort taking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-easiest-thing-is-to-make-sure-you-feel-happy-and-satisfied-in/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [You must get money to chase you, but never let it catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-must-get-money-to-chase-you-but-never-let-it-catch-up/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Contentment is for cows; a challenging purpose is for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/contentment-is-for-cows-a-challenging-purpose-is-for-people/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The season for enjoying the fullness of life - partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, and reinvesting and saving portions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-season-for-enjoying-the-fullness-of-life-partaking-of-the-harvest/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Goals are like stepping-stones to the stars. They should never be used to put a ceiling or a limit on achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/goals-are-like-stepping-stones-to-the-stars-they-should-never-be-used/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The two greatest fear busters are knowledge and action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-two-greatest-fear-busters-are-knowledge-and-action/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Positive self-expectancy is the first, most outwardly identifiable quality of a top-achieving, winning human being. Positive self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism: real enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/positive-self-expectancy-is-the-first-most-outwardly-identifiable/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [The seeds of greatness are ideas you learn from people who've been great in their service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-seeds-of-greatness-are-ideas-you-learn-from-people-who-ve-been/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Discipline is doing within, while you do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/discipline-is-doing-within-while-you-do-without/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) [Explore all 316 Denis Waitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More Alarm quotes > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I don't use an alarm, though sometimes Alexa wakes me, especially if I have to get up at a certain time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/i-don-t-use-an-alarm-though-sometimes-alexa-wakes-me-especially-if-i/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [The fire alarm definitely just went off...I think I'll stick to microwaveable popcorn from now on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bailey/the-fire-alarm-definitely-just-went-off-i-think-i-ll-stick-to/) [Candace Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bailey/) > [There's gonna be a lot of slow singin' and flower bringin' if my burgalar alarm starts ringin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biggie-smalls/there-s-gonna-be-a-lot-of-slow-singin-and-flower-bringin-if-my/) [Biggie Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biggie-smalls/) > [I have slight attention-span issues, so I will often wander off, and then I will be alerted - in inverted commas - when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-have-slight-attention-span-issues-so-i-will-often-wander-off-and/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [As Secretary of Housing, I do have to express alarm, signal the alarm if you will, that the potential for homelessness to grow is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cisneros/as-secretary-of-housing-i-do-have-to-express-alarm-signal-the-alarm/) [Henry Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cisneros/) > [To-night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department, where I have a cinch on the captain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-davis/to-night-i-am-going-to-take-a-party-to-the-headquarters-of-the-fire/) [Richard H. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-davis/) > [We've already seen digital picture frames pre-loaded with viruses; I'm not eager to have my refrigerator hacked or my alarm clock turned against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamais-cascio/we-ve-already-seen-digital-picture-frames-pre-loaded-with-viruses-i-m/) [Jamais Cascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamais-cascio/) > [You lock your windows before you leave. You put on an alarm if you live in the country because you know that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/you-lock-your-windows-before-you-leave-you-put-on-an-alarm-if-you/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [Waking up naturally to light is way better. It feels way better than waking up to an alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/waking-up-naturally-to-light-is-way-better-it-feels-way-better-than/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm like a fire hose when the alarm goes off in a battle against a woman. Don't ever count me out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-riggs/i-m-like-a-fire-hose-when-the-alarm-goes-off-in-a-battle-against-a/) [Bobby Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-riggs/) > [Sleeping is my drug, my bed is the dealer, and my alarm clock is the police..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-sakundiak/sleeping-is-my-drug-my-bed-is-the-dealer-and-my-alarm-clock-is-the/) [Mitchell Sakundiak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-sakundiak/) > [“Tip #2: No more alarm clocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-conroy/tip-2-no-more-alarm-clocks/) [Mary Helen Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-conroy/) > [I don't set the alarm to get up. I get up when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/i-don-t-set-the-alarm-to-get-up-i-get-up-when-i-feel-like-it/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) [Browse all 272 Alarm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denis Waitley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-alarm/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-alarm/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/denis-waitley-977_alarm_if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it_2331631.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.” — Denis Waitley", "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": "Denis Waitley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you don't know where you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-alarm/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-alarm/#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 } } ] } ```