--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps you still think you ought to…" description: "\"“Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is only one answer. You can only know and think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg" --- # Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand… ![“Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is only one answer. You can only know and think about it by actually doing it.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg) > ““Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is only one answer. You can only know and think about it by actually doing it.”” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True understanding comes only through action, not pre‑planning; experience is the teacher. **In simple terms:** Learning by doing. Key Takeaway Act to discover truth. Themes action learning experience Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Personal projects - career decisions - skill acquisition Key Concepts Existentialism pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - What have you learned by doing rather than planning? - When is planning essential? A Different Perspective Action without reflection can repeat mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes it occurs to me that I think about you more than I ought to think about anything besides physics. Look at Nikola Tesla.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/sometimes-it-occurs-to-me-that-i-think-about-you-more-than-i-ought-to/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [How long shall we blunder along without the aid of unpartisan and authoritative scientific assistance in the administration of justice, no one knows; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/how-long-shall-we-blunder-along-without-the-aid-of-unpartisan-and/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [I do not believe a man can ever leave his business. He ought to think of it by day and dream of it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/i-do-not-believe-a-man-can-ever-leave-his-business-he-ought-to-think/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“People ought to think for themselves... The problem is, people only think for themselves if you tell them to. (Corporal Carrot)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-ought-to-think-for-themselves-the-problem-is-people-only-think/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [All men ought to think of Christ, because of what Christ will yet do to all men. He shall come again one day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/all-men-ought-to-think-of-christ-because-of-what-christ-will-yet-do/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Half our mistakes in life arise from feeling where we ought to think, and thinking where we ought to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/half-our-mistakes-in-life-arise-from-feeling-where-we-ought-to-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If men will permit themselves to think, as rational beings ought to think, nothing can appear more ridiculous and absurd, exclusive of all moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-men-will-permit-themselves-to-think-as-rational-beings-ought-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“...we ought to think with the learned, and speak with the vulgar .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/we-ought-to-think-with-the-learned-and-speak-with-the-vulgar/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [A sensible man ought to think about that well being is the best of human blessings, and find out how by his personal thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/a-sensible-man-ought-to-think-about-that-well-being-is-the-best-of/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [Half of our mistakes in life arise from feeling where we ought to think, and thinking where we ought to feel. - John Churton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-magee/half-of-our-mistakes-in-life-arise-from-feeling-where-we-ought-to/) William Magee > [“WORTH IT? It is no credit to our phase of civilization if it is fear rather than ambition that drives most of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-blackburn/worth-it-it-is-no-credit-to-our-phase-of-civilization-if-it-is-fear/) [Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-blackburn/) > [“we know that men find themselves under a moral law, which they did not make, and cannot quite forget even when they try, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/we-know-that-men-find-themselves-under-a-moral-law-which-they-did-not/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/what-can-i-know-what-ought-i-to-do-what-may-i-hope/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [See that you do not use the trick of prayer to cover up what you know you ought to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/see-that-you-do-not-use-the-trick-of-prayer-to-cover-up-what-you-know/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Do what you know you ought to do. Why should we ever go abroad, even across the way, to ask a neighbor's advice? There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/do-what-you-know-you-ought-to-do-why-should-we-ever-go-abroad-even/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Think quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [You can think about it, wonder what went wrong, over analyze the situation but the fact remains... it's the past, just let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-can-think-about-it-wonder-what-went-wrong-over-analyze-the/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Remember we all was born into this world through God hands,Why You think we all have a brain so we can think and know..Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/remember-we-all-was-born-into-this-world-through-god-hands-why-you/) FrenchQueen > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) Browse all 36,456 Think quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is only one answer. You can only know and think about it by actually doing it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-think-out-beforehand-and-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Think" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-think-out-beforehand-and-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_think_perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-thi_2795085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps you still think you ought to think out beforehand and know what you ought to do. To that there is…” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "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": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Perhaps you still think you ought...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-think-out-beforehand-and-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/perhaps-you-still-think-you-ought-to-think-out-beforehand-and-know/#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 } } ] } ```