---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know how you were going to do…"
description: "\"I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea.\" — Harper Lee"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/harper-lee-451_idea_i-didn-t-know-how-you-were-going-to-do-i_571852.png"
---

#  I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on…

![“I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea.” quote by Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/harper-lee-451_idea_i-didn-t-know-how-you-were-going-to-do-i_571852.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/harper-lee-451_idea_i-didn-t-know-how-you-were-going-to-do-i_571852.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/732/harper-lee-451_idea_i-didn-t-know-how-you-were-going-to-do-i_571852.png)

> “I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea.”

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

## About This Quote

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

A parent expresses confidence in a child's future, emphasizing hope and guidance.

**In simple terms:** Parents trust their child's future and offer support.

Key Takeaway

Encourage and trust in a child's potential.

Themes

parenthood hope future

Mood

optimistic reassuring

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

- family life
- education
- career planning
- mentorship

Key Concepts

guidance confidence potential

Questions to Reflect On

- What ideas do you give to your child?
- How can you support them through uncertainty?

A Different Perspective

It may assume a linear path to success.

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[Didn Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-know/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ll Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-idea-4483963/) [Ll Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-worry-837943/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-ll-837942/)

## Related quotes

> [“No matter what happens… there will always be a string tying you to me. I’ll never not worry about you. I’ll never not care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/no-matter-what-happens-there-will-always-be-a-string-tying-you-to-me/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [“I’m just realizing, Mer, that no matter what happens . . . there will always be a string tying you to me. I’ll never not worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-m-just-realizing-mer-that-no-matter-what-happens-there-will-always/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [I tend to worry about now, now, and I'll worry about then, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/i-tend-to-worry-about-now-now-and-i-ll-worry-about-then-then/)

[Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/)

> [Read absolutely everything you get your hands on because you'll never know where you'll get an idea from...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/read-absolutely-everything-you-get-your-hands-on-because-you-ll-never/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I'll worry about that when I have to. Cross that bridge when I get to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-worry-about-that-when-i-have-to-cross-that-bridge-when-i-get-to/)

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

> [I'll worry about things I can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/i-ll-worry-about-things-i-can-control/)

[Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/)

> [My wife gets mad at me, because I'll worry more about my friends than I worry about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/my-wife-gets-mad-at-me-because-i-ll-worry-more-about-my-friends-than/)

[Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/)

> [“Or maybe they just accept that it's wrong in God's eyes, although not in their own, and they'll worry about sorting it out later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/or-maybe-they-just-accept-that-it-s-wrong-in-god-s-eyes-although-not/)

[Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/)

> [I don’t know what I’m doing in the next five minutes and she has the next ten years figured out. I’ll worry about making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-in-the-next-five-minutes-and-she-has-the/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [No matter what stage of life I'm at, I think I'll always worry about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-love/no-matter-what-stage-of-life-i-m-at-i-think-i-ll-always-worry-about/)

[Judi Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-love/)

> [“Don't you worry about me. I'll always come out on top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/don-t-you-worry-about-me-i-ll-always-come-out-on-top/)

[Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/)

> [“And I need you to know that if you send me away, I'll go, and I'll be fine. I'll be sad, but I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/and-i-need-you-to-know-that-if-you-send-me-away-i-ll-go-and-i-ll-be/)

[Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/)

> [I never worry about whether or not I'll find a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/okieriete-onaodowan/i-never-worry-about-whether-or-not-i-ll-find-a-job/)

[Okieriete Onaodowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/okieriete-onaodowan/)

> [“If we own things, we’re terrified we’ll lose them; if we’ve got nothing we worry it’ll be that way forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-we-own-things-we-re-terrified-we-ll-lose-them-if-we-ve-got-nothing/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Dont worry about where i am , i'll let you know when i get there .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/dont-worry-about-where-i-am-i-ll-let-you-know-when-i-get-there/)

[Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/)

## More by Harper Lee

> [“No jury in this part of the world's going to say, "We think you're guilty, but not very," on a charge like that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/no-jury-in-this-part-of-the-world-s-going-to-say-we-think-you-re/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [That proves something- that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/that-proves-something-that-a-gang-of-wild-animals-can-be-stopped/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/folks-don-t-like-to-have-somebody-around-knowin-more-than-they-do-it/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [ “...\[Summer\] was a thousand colors in a parched landscape...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/summer-was-a-thousand-colors-in-a-parched-landscape/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-never-an-insult-to-be-called-what-somebody-thinks-is-a-bad-name/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [I wonder how much of the day I spend just callin' after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wonder-how-much-of-the-day-i-spend-just-callin-after-you/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [Writing is something you'll never learn in any university or at any school. It's something that is within you, and if it isn't there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/writing-is-something-you-ll-never-learn-in-any-university-or-at-any/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/to-begin-with-this-case-should-never-have-come-to-trial-the-state-has/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“Naw, Jem. I think that there is just one kind of folks. Folks." Jen turned and punched his pillow. WHen he settle back his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/naw-jem-i-think-that-there-is-just-one-kind-of-folks-folks-jen-turned/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“The course of English Literature would have been decidedly different had Mr. Wordsworth owned a power mower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-course-of-english-literature-would-have-been-decidedly-different/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [“The gum looked fresh. I sniffed it and it smelled all right. I licked it and waited for a while. When I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-gum-looked-fresh-i-sniffed-it-and-it-smelled-all-right-i-licked/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

> [I just thought you'd like to know I can read. You got anything needs readin' I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-just-thought-you-d-like-to-know-i-can-read-you-got-anything-needs/)

[Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

[Explore all 494 Harper Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/)

## More Idea quotes

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [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 had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/)

[Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/)

> [Everybody has a good idea, but nothing goes as planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/everybody-has-a-good-idea-but-nothing-goes-as-planned/)

[Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/)

> [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/)

[Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/)

> [The idea with a collection is sort of to begin with a kind of bang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/the-idea-with-a-collection-is-sort-of-to-begin-with-a-kind-of-bang/)

[Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/)

> [When there's a firestorm going on around you, you have very little idea of what's next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-there-s-a-firestorm-going-on-around-you-you-have-very-little/)

[Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/)

> [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/)

[Piet Oudolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-oudolf/)

> [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/)

[Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/)

> [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/)

[Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/)

> [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/)

[Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/)

> [My mom had no idea she was having twins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/my-mom-had-no-idea-she-was-having-twins/)

[Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/)

> [When I was 12 years old, I went to Natchitoches, La.; it was summer vacation with my family. We visited a plantation, Melrose. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-went-to-natchitoches-la-it-was-summer/)

[Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/)

> [I get worked up over an 'idea' or the ethos of an idea. I follow dreams, take notes on travels, and engage in research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-get-worked-up-over-an-idea-or-the-ethos-of-an-idea-i-follow-dreams/)

[Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/)

[Browse all 4,953 Idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/)

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