--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not the answers, it's that you…" description: "\"“It's not the answers, it's that you remember to seek them. Each definition you find brings you one step closer to an unreachable ideal. Don't take tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/edward-w-robertson-21038_seek_it-s-not-the-answers-it-s-that-you-remem_97420.jpg" --- # It's not the answers, it's that you remember to seek them… ![“It's not the answers, it's that you remember to seek them. Each definition you find brings you one step closer to an unreachable ideal. Don't take that to mean you shouldn't try just because you can never reach it, of course. That's what babies do. Are you a baby?” quote by Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/edward-w-robertson-21038_seek_it-s-not-the-answers-it-s-that-you-remem_97420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/edward-w-robertson-21038_seek_it-s-not-the-answers-it-s-that-you-remem_97420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/edward-w-robertson-21038_seek_it-s-not-the-answers-it-s-that-you-remem_97420.jpg) > ““It's not the answers, it's that you remember to seek them. Each definition you find brings you one step closer to an unreachable ideal. Don't take that to mean you shouldn't try just because you can never reach it, of course. That's what babies do. Are you a baby?”” [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The pursuit of answers is valuable; each definition brings you nearer to an ideal that may never be fully attained, yet the effort remains worthwhile. **In simple terms:** Seek answers even if the ultimate goal is unreachable. Key Takeaway The journey of inquiry matters more than final perfection. Themes philosophy growth mindset learning Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Researching a complex problem - Learning a new skill without mastery - Exploring personal purpose Key Concepts existential curiosity perfectionism Practical Applications - Set incremental learning goals - Embrace uncertainty as part of growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when to stop seeking perfection? - What motivates you to keep searching despite uncertainty? A Different Perspective Obsessing over an unattainable ideal can cause frustration and stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Always keep your words soft and sweet. You never know when you'll have to eat them. Always remember, as you go out to seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osborn-elliott/always-keep-your-words-soft-and-sweet-you-never-know-when-you-ll-have/) Osborn Elliott > [Too often students are given answers to remember, rather than problems to solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lewin/too-often-students-are-given-answers-to-remember-rather-than-problems/) [Roger Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lewin/) > [“Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lewin/too-often-we-give-children-answers-to-remember-rather-than-problems/) [Roger Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lewin/) > [The answers I remember longest are the ones that answer questions that I didn't think of asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-answers-i-remember-longest-are-the-ones-that-answer-questions/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Iraq's enemies will continue to seek opportunities to pursue their objectives, but make no mistake: Our military forces here, and those of the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/iraq-s-enemies-will-continue-to-seek-opportunities-to-pursue-their/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Adolescents tend to seek love where they can find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/adolescents-tend-to-seek-love-where-they-can-find-it/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“If you were to stare at this box of matches, you could extract entire worlds out of it. If you search for tastes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-gombrowicz/if-you-were-to-stare-at-this-box-of-matches-you-could-extract-entire/) [Witold Gombrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-gombrowicz/) > [“A spark of every fire we seek is already within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-spark-of-every-fire-we-seek-is-already-within-us/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [If politicians did care about their constituents, they would work harder to seek out people like me. They don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-politicians-did-care-about-their-constituents-they-would-work/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. JEREMIAH 29:13”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/you-will-seek-me-and-find-me-when-you-seek-me-with-all-your-heart/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [Human beings seek community, and permanent openness is hard to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/human-beings-seek-community-and-permanent-openness-is-hard-to-sustain/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria ## More by Edward W. Robertson > [“Don't tell me you're not impressed with the Game of Thrones shit they just pulled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/don-t-tell-me-you-re-not-impressed-with-the-game-of-thrones-shit-they/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“The old masters said if you met another Buddha on the road, you should kill him. All reality is an illusion: if you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/the-old-masters-said-if-you-met-another-buddha-on-the-road-you-should/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“It's one of those things that's worked, no matter how crazy it sounds, so it's hardly worth getting into why it works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/it-s-one-of-those-things-that-s-worked-no-matter-how-crazy-it-sounds/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“This set includes my exclusive novel REBEL, a story of piracy, ancient secrets,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/this-set-includes-my-exclusive-novel-rebel-a-story-of-piracy-ancient/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“What form of speech is better than a question? A statement is certain. A question is fluid. To make progress, isn't it better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/what-form-of-speech-is-better-than-a-question-a-statement-is-certain/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“City Hall, a regal place that looked like the shameless offspring of a ritzy hotel and a German castle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/city-hall-a-regal-place-that-looked-like-the-shameless-offspring-of-a/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“metal railing. The turning boat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/metal-railing-the-turning-boat/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“Anyone who can't forgive someone else for screwing up is deluding themselves. Because we've all made mistakes every bit as bad. And we're each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/anyone-who-can-t-forgive-someone-else-for-screwing-up-is-deluding/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“If emotions were created for social creatures, did they cease to exist as soon as society disappeared?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/if-emotions-were-created-for-social-creatures-did-they-cease-to-exist/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“Have the Minister's soldiers been on the march?" "Probably. Given that they're soldiers, and marching is what soldiers do, if only to impress their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/have-the-minister-s-soldiers-been-on-the-march-probably-given-that/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“Dealing with Dee was like getting close to a squirrel. You had to just sit there for a while. Wait for it to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/dealing-with-dee-was-like-getting-close-to-a-squirrel-you-had-to-just/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“We start off thinking the whole world is about us," Lucy said. "Once you learn how little it cares about you, that's when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/we-start-off-thinking-the-whole-world-is-about-us-lucy-said-once-you/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“maybe you can tell me what the history books got wrong." I nodded, speech centers of my brain overridden by the same parts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/maybe-you-can-tell-me-what-the-history-books-got-wrong-i-nodded/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“Defining the nether's the work of a lifetime. The only way to keep reaching closer to its central duckiness is to know you'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/defining-the-nether-s-the-work-of-a-lifetime-the-only-way-to-keep/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) > [“sometimes progress was just a matter of trying dumb things until you stumbled on a smart one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-w-robertson/sometimes-progress-was-just-a-matter-of-trying-dumb-things-until-you/) [Edward W. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) [Explore all 30 Edward W. Robertson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-w-robertson/) ## More Seek quotes > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria > [Human beings seek community, and permanent openness is hard to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/human-beings-seek-community-and-permanent-openness-is-hard-to-sustain/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. JEREMIAH 29:13”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/you-will-seek-me-and-find-me-when-you-seek-me-with-all-your-heart/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [If politicians did care about their constituents, they would work harder to seek out people like me. They don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/if-politicians-did-care-about-their-constituents-they-would-work/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [“A spark of every fire we seek is already within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/a-spark-of-every-fire-we-seek-is-already-within-us/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“If you were to stare at this box of matches, you could extract entire worlds out of it. If you search for tastes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-gombrowicz/if-you-were-to-stare-at-this-box-of-matches-you-could-extract-entire/) [Witold Gombrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-gombrowicz/) > [“Adolescents tend to seek love where they can find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/adolescents-tend-to-seek-love-where-they-can-find-it/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Iraq's enemies will continue to seek opportunities to pursue their objectives, but make no mistake: Our military forces here, and those of the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/iraq-s-enemies-will-continue-to-seek-opportunities-to-pursue-their/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [“To find, you have to seek. If you have lost your life direction, you probably won't find it between drinks at the local bar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-matthews/to-find-you-have-to-seek-if-you-have-lost-your-life-direction-you/) [Andrew Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-matthews/) > [The Human Rights Act is not a terrorists' charter. It enables ordinary citizens to seek redress when the government breaches fundamental freedoms enshrined in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-human-rights-act-is-not-a-terrorists-charter-it-enables-ordinary/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [“I go to seek a Great Perhaps. That's why I'm going. So I don't have to wait until I die to start seeking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-go-to-seek-a-great-perhaps-that-s-why-i-m-going-so-i-don-t-have-to/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest shall be provided or its loss shall not be felt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-francis-bacon/seek-ye-first-the-good-things-of-the-mind-and-the-rest-shall-be/) [Sir Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-francis-bacon/) Browse all 1,228 Seek quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's not the answers, it's that you remember to seek them. Each definition you find brings you one step closer to an unreachable ideal. Don't take that to mean you shouldn't try just because you can never reach it, of course. That's what babies do. Are you a baby?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward W. 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