--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We all come from someplace. We didn't…" description: "\"We all come from someplace. We didn't just get here by accident. Where we come from has got to be known, if you want to know where you are and who you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/edward-james-olmos-14625_family_we-all-come-from-someplace-we-didn-t-jus_2380639.png" --- # We all come from someplace. We didn't just get here by… ![“We all come from someplace. We didn't just get here by accident. Where we come from has got to be known, if you want to know where you are and who you are. You cannot understand the present without understanding the past, especially when it comes to family.” quote by Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/edward-james-olmos-14625_family_we-all-come-from-someplace-we-didn-t-jus_2380639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/edward-james-olmos-14625_family_we-all-come-from-someplace-we-didn-t-jus_2380639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/edward-james-olmos-14625_family_we-all-come-from-someplace-we-didn-t-jus_2380639.png) > “We all come from someplace. We didn't just get here by accident. Where we come from has got to be known, if you want to know where you are and who you are. You cannot understand the present without understanding the past, especially when it comes to family.” [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding one's origins is essential for self‑identity and interpreting current circumstances, especially familial history. **In simple terms:** Know your roots to understand yourself. Key Takeaway Explore family history for self‑clarity. Themes identity history family self‑knowledge Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - genealogical research - personal reflection - counseling sessions Key Concepts genealogy psychology cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - What family stories shape your identity? - How does knowing your past affect present decisions? A Different Perspective Limited records may obscure accurate lineage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-family-271171/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Present Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-understanding-1933645/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understand Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-present-508608/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-past-668841/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) [Without u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-u/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that nothing is more important to our ability to effectively address our present than understanding the lessons learned from those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-gonzalez/i-believe-that-nothing-is-more-important-to-our-ability-to/) [Charlie Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-gonzalez/) > [“There is truth and knowledge beyond present understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/there-is-truth-and-knowledge-beyond-present-understanding/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The limit of your present understanding is not the limit of your possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/the-limit-of-your-present-understanding-is-not-the-limit-of-your/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [“Oh, how many mysteries there are around us! 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But every group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-wilkerson/our-negro-problem-therefore-is-not-of-the-negro-s-making-no-group-in/) [Isabel Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-wilkerson/) > [“But we do not reach truth unless we allow ourselves to be exposed to and drawn by a truth which is beyond our present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/but-we-do-not-reach-truth-unless-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-exposed-to/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“The past is of value only as it aids in understanding the present; and an understanding of the facts of the problem -- a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chicago-commission-on-race-relations/the-past-is-of-value-only-as-it-aids-in-understanding-the-present-and/) [Chicago Commission on Race Relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chicago-commission-on-race-relations/) > [We need a proper understanding of the past to correctly judge the present if we ever are to foretell the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-idso/we-need-a-proper-understanding-of-the-past-to-correctly-judge-the/) [Craig D. Idso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-idso/) > [I'm so suspicious of our own understanding of the past. I just think that your mind plays absolute tricks on you and fools you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-m-so-suspicious-of-our-own-understanding-of-the-past-i-just-think/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [History must share with reading, writing and arithmetic first rank as the most important subjects in the curriculum. Understanding the issues on which citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/history-must-share-with-reading-writing-and-arithmetic-first-rank-as/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [ “memories were tricky things…they weren’t stable. they changed with perception over time. …they shifted, and \[she\] understood how the passage of time affected them.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/memories-were-tricky-things-they-weren-t-stable-they-changed-with/) [Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/) > [Understanding the past is perfectly admissible if your issue is accepting the past. But if your issue is changing the future, understanding will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/understanding-the-past-is-perfectly-admissible-if-your-issue-is/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [Understanding the past requires pretending that you don't know the present. It requires feeling its own pressure on your pulses without any ex post…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fussell/understanding-the-past-requires-pretending-that-you-don-t-know-the/) [Paul Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fussell/) > [It is only education and understanding of the past that teaches us not to repeat history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/it-is-only-education-and-understanding-of-the-past-that-teaches-us/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [“My understanding of the past has been savagely undermined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/my-understanding-of-the-past-has-been-savagely-undermined/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## More by Edward James Olmos > [Life’s a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/life-s-a-journey-that-goes-round-and-round-and-the-end-is-closest-to/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I support the indigenous people anywhere in the planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-support-the-indigenous-people-anywhere-in-the-planet/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [Basically, I think that there are some characters that you can just allow the truth of your character as a human being in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/basically-i-think-that-there-are-some-characters-that-you-can-just/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [Our inability to relate to one another is very, very, very important. When we don't have it, we get situations like Bosnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/our-inability-to-relate-to-one-another-is-very-very-very-important/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I'm not prepared for holding office any more than I think Arnold is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-m-not-prepared-for-holding-office-any-more-than-i-think-arnold-is/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I love to drive. 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So many people have seen it. There was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/stand-and-deliver-has-been-the-most-successful-thing-i-have-done-in/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [What volunteers bring is the human touch, the individual, caring approach that no government program, however well-meaning and well- executed, can deliver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/what-volunteers-bring-is-the-human-touch-the-individual-caring/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [If it’s change you need, relish the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/if-it-s-change-you-need-relish-the-journey/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I learned to discipline myself to do things I didn't want to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-learned-to-discipline-myself-to-do-things-i-didn-t-want-to-do/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [There are nuclear weapons in China, Iran, Korea and Pakistan. 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He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. 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