---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do our best that we know how at the…"
description: "\"We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.\" — Franklin D Roosevelt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png"
---

#  We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it…

![“We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.” quote by Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png)

> “We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.”

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We act with the best knowledge we have now, and if outcomes differ, we adjust our approach.

**In simple terms:** Act now, adapt later.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility and learning from results.

Themes

adaptability learning decisionmaking

Mood

pragmatic hopeful

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- project management
- personal goals
- policy making
- education

Key Concepts

iterative process resilience continuous improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you build feedback loops into your decisions?
- What signs indicate it’s time to modify your plan?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on initial plans can cause rigidity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-know-392895/) [Doing your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-your-best/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-moment-417438/) [Modify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modify/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turn Modify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-modify-3834037/)

## Related quotes

> [You think you know someone until that moment you don't. It's all a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-you-know-someone-until-that-moment-you-don-t-it-s-all-a-lie/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To be the best you can be, is to know the person in the mirror better than you think you know everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-lopez/to-be-the-best-you-can-be-is-to-know-the-person-in-the-mirror-better/)

[Wendy Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-lopez/)

> [It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-not-enough-to-do-your-best-you-must-know-what-to-do-and-then-do/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [When we do the best we can, we never know what miracles await.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-we-do-the-best-we-can-we-never-know-what-miracles-await/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [I learned a lot about playing the best of the best, and now what I know the best of the best is, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/i-learned-a-lot-about-playing-the-best-of-the-best-and-now-what-i/)

[Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/)

> [It's not enough to do your best; you must know what to do &amp; then do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-s-not-enough-to-do-your-best-you-must-know-what-to-do-then-do-your/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [We call heaven our home, as the best name we know to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/we-call-heaven-our-home-as-the-best-name-we-know-to-give-it/)

[James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/)

> [I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-do-the-very-best-i-know-how-the-very-best-i-can-and-i-mean-to-keep/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [It is best to know the worst at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/it-is-best-to-know-the-worst-at-once/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [We're all just trying to do the best we can with what we know!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/we-re-all-just-trying-to-do-the-best-we-can-with-what-we-know/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [“the best we know how.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-roy/the-best-we-know-how/)

[Jennifer Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-roy/)

> [You've got to test yourself against the best to know you are the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-rice/you-ve-got-to-test-yourself-against-the-best-to-know-you-are-the-best/)

[Declan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-rice/)

> [“Sometimes walking away is best. I should know. It's my specialty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/sometimes-walking-away-is-best-i-should-know-it-s-my-specialty/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [Dream better than the best you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/dream-better-than-the-best-you-know/)

[Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/)

> [That is what all the top players do and if you want to be the best you know you are going to get marked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/that-is-what-all-the-top-players-do-and-if-you-want-to-be-the-best/)

[John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/)

## More by Franklin D Roosevelt

> [The school is that last expenditure upon which Americans should be willing to economize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/the-school-is-that-last-expenditure-upon-which-americans-should-be/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expressioneverywhere in the world. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-look-forward-to-a-world-founded-upon-four-essential-human-freedoms/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [We are fighting to save a great and precious form of government for ourselves and for the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-are-fighting-to-save-a-great-and-precious-form-of-government-for/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/the-real-truth-of-the-matter-is-as-you-and-i-know-that-a-financial-2/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the enjoyment of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/happiness-lies-not-in-the-mere-possession-of-money-it-lies-in-the/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [We can gain no lasting peace if we approach it with suspicion and mistrust or with fear. We can gain it only if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-can-gain-no-lasting-peace-if-we-approach-it-with-suspicion-and/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/the-liberty-of-a-democracy-is-not-safe-if-the-people-tolerate-the/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [I hope that your committee will not permit doubt as to constitutionality, however reasonable, to block the suggested legislation (the Guffey Coal Control Bill)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/i-hope-that-your-committee-will-not-permit-doubt-as-to-2/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/yesterday-december-seventh-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy-the/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/no-business-which-depends-for-existence-on-paying-less-than-living-2/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [If civilization is to survive, theprinciples of the Prince of Peace must be restored. Shattered trust between nations must be revived. Mostimportant of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/if-civilization-is-to-survive-theprinciples-of-the-prince-of-peace/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [To stand upon ramparts and die for our principles is heroic, but to sally forth to battle and win for our principles is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/to-stand-upon-ramparts-and-die-for-our-principles-is-heroic-but-to/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/if-in-other-lands-the-press-and-books-and-literature-of-all-kinds-are/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/let-us-never-forget-that-government-is-ourselves-and-not-an-alien-2/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

> [The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/the-test-of-our-progress-is-not-whether-we-add-to-the-abundance-of/)

[Franklin D Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

[Explore all 25 Franklin D Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/)

## More Doing your best quotes

> [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/)

[Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/)

> [Yoga is not about having the perfect positions, it's not about who's the best and who's the most flexible. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-middlemiss/yoga-is-not-about-having-the-perfect-positions-it-s-not-about-who-s/)

[Jayne Middlemiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-middlemiss/)

> [Self motivation is inner power which empowers you to strengthen your confidence, mental toughness, achieve greater height in life, best performance through positive attitude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/self-motivation-is-inner-power-which-empowers-you-to-strengthen-your/)

[Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/)

> [Never confuse looking your best with doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/never-confuse-looking-your-best-with-doing-your-best/)

[Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/)

> [Be all you can be in this world never let nobody hold you back from reaching the dream you always wanted to come true...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-all-you-can-be-in-this-world-never-let-nobody-hold-you-back-from/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll never prove you're too good for a job by not doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-merman/you-ll-never-prove-you-re-too-good-for-a-job-by-not-doing-your-best/)

[Ethel Merman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-merman/)

> [I can only tell you one thing I've learned. Enjoy the walk along the path you've chosen. Don't count down the days. Make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/i-can-only-tell-you-one-thing-i-ve-learned-enjoy-the-walk-along-the/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [Be with someone that brings out the best in you, not the stress in you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/be-with-someone-that-brings-out-the-best-in-you-not-the-stress-in-you/)

[Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/)

> [Somebody texted me What are you doing? and I just wrote back, My best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/somebody-texted-me-what-are-you-doing-and-i-just-wrote-back-my-best/)

[Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/)

> [Never Give Up On Your Hopes And Dreams. If Somebody Tells You That Your Not Going To Make It In Life,Your Not Going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/never-give-up-on-your-hopes-and-dreams-if-somebody-tells-you-that/)

[Out Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/out-spoken/)

> [Life is about KICKING ASS and not KISSING IT!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-about-kicking-ass-and-not-kissing-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/do-all-the-good-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you-can-to-all-the-souls-you/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [Only the wise know just where predestination ends and free will begins. Meanwhile, you must keep on doing your best, according to your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/only-the-wise-know-just-where-predestination-ends-and-free-will/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Dont stress. Do your best. Forget the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-stress-do-your-best-forget-the-rest/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you are not willing to risk, you cannot become your best, and if you cannot become your best, you cannot be happy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/if-you-are-not-willing-to-risk-you-cannot-become-your-best-and-if-you/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

[Browse all 469 Doing your best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-your-best/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franklin D Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-moment-and-if-it-doesn-t-turn/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doing your best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-moment-and-if-it-doesn-t-turn/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/franklin-d-roosevelt-2-23592_doing-your-best_we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-m_1235003.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We do our best that we know how at the moment, and if it doesn't turn out, we modify it.” — Franklin D Roosevelt",
                "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": "Franklin D Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We do our best that we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-moment-and-if-it-doesn-t-turn/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt-2/we-do-our-best-that-we-know-how-at-the-moment-and-if-it-doesn-t-turn/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
