--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Settle for what you can get, but first…" description: "\"Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World.\" — Diana Wynne Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg" --- # Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World. ![“Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World.” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg) > “Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World.” [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourage aiming high before settling for less, balancing ambition with realistic expectations. **In simple terms:** Ask big, then accept what’s possible. Key Takeaway Aim high, then settle wisely. Themes ambition realism expectations Mood hopeful determined Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - career negotiations - personal budgeting - relationship discussions - project planning Key Concepts goal setting negotiation self‑advocacy Questions to Reflect On - What big ask could you make before settling? - How do you decide when to compromise? A Different Perspective Over‑reaching can lead to disappointment if expectations aren’t managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-world-779925/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Settle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settle/) [Settle Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settle-ask-1260526/) [Settling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settling/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World. - Ka'a Ort'o, Gnomic Utterances, Civ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-ask-for-the-world-ka-a-ort-o/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Love and be loved. Settle for no less. Ask for no more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/love-and-be-loved-settle-for-no-less-ask-for-no-more/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [The world can be a lot better than we settle for. All you have to do is ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-world-can-be-a-lot-better-than-we-settle-for-all-you-have-to-do/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [If I could ask for anything in this world it would Be You & To Be Succesful !(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-could-ask-for-anything-in-this-world-it-would-be-you-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't ask the world to stop moving because you have doubts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/don-t-ask-the-world-to-stop-moving-because-you-have-doubts/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [Don't ask the world to change…you change first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/don-t-ask-the-world-to-change-you-change-first/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [I wanted people not to look at me as a little girl, but I was a little girl so how could I ask the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-wanted-people-not-to-look-at-me-as-a-little-girl-but-i-was-a-little/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [Ask...the world answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wwwmyreplyiscom/ask-the-world-answers/) [Wwwmyreplyiscom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wwwmyreplyiscom/) > [I would ask something more of this world, if it had something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/i-would-ask-something-more-of-this-world-if-it-had-something-more/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [I couldn't ask for anything in the world than to be with my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/i-couldn-t-ask-for-anything-in-the-world-than-to-be-with-my-brother/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [“How do we become who we are in the world? We ask the world to teach us. But we have to ask with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/how-do-we-become-who-we-are-in-the-world-we-ask-the-world-to-teach-us/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [“Being noble enough is all we can ask for in this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/being-noble-enough-is-all-we-can-ask-for-in-this-world/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [8. Dont ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/8-dont-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you-come-alive-and-go/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Never settle for average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/never-settle-for-average/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Never settle for the crumbs of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-settle-for-the-crumbs-of-life/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) ## More by Diana Wynne Jones > [“Sophie and Howl were living - somewhat quarrelsomely it must be confessed, although they were said to be happiest that way - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/sophie-and-howl-were-living-somewhat-quarrelsomely-it-must-be/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/take-it-from-me-fate-doesn-t-care-most-of-the-time/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“For a moment it seemed as if he was going to lose his temper too. His strange, pale eyes all but glared at Sophie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/for-a-moment-it-seemed-as-if-he-was-going-to-lose-his-temper-too-his/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [The truth between two people always cuts two ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-truth-between-two-people-always-cuts-two-ways/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Beauty isn't made of sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/beauty-isn-t-made-of-sugar/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Not likely!” Howl yelled. “I’m a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Typical!” he said to Sophie. “ I break my neck to get here, and I find you peacefully tidying up!” Sophie looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/typical-he-said-to-sophie-i-break-my-neck-to-get-here-and-i-find-you/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Howl said, "I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/howl-said-i-think-we-ought-to-live-happily-ever-after-and-she-thought/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Busy old fool, unruly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/busy-old-fool-unruly-sophie/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/but-whoever-heard-of-enchanted-bacon-anyway/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Then the geese replaced themselves with six pigs and vanished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/then-the-geese-replaced-themselves-with-six-pigs-and-vanished/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [If I give you a hint and tell you it's a hint, it will be information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/if-i-give-you-a-hint-and-tell-you-it-s-a-hint-it-will-be-information/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I only want to catch you,” Michael explained. “I won’t hurt you.” “No! No!” the star crackled desperately. “That’s wrong! I’m supposed to die!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-only-want-to-catch-you-michael-explained-i-won-t-hurt-you-no-no-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) [Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [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/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) [Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Wynne Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-ask-for-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firsts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-ask-for-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54d/diana-wynne-jones-1486_firsts_settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-as_1712488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Settle for what you can get, but first ask for the World.” — Diana Wynne Jones", "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": "Diana Wynne Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Settle for what you can get,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-ask-for-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/settle-for-what-you-can-get-but-first-ask-for-the-world/#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 } } ] } ```