---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doth not yet appear what we shall be…"
description: "\"It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our future, and scarce believing what even now ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg"
---

#  It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in…

![“It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our future, and scarce believing what even now appears. But the power is in us, and that power is finally to be revealed. And what a revelation will that be!” quote by Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg)

> “It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our future, and scarce believing what even now appears. But the power is in us, and that power is finally to be revealed. And what a revelation will that be!”

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

## About This Quote

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

Human potential is uncertain and hidden, but inner strength will eventually emerge, leading to profound self‑realization.

**In simple terms:** Potential is hidden but will reveal itself.

Key Takeaway

Trust inner strength, await growth.

Themes

potential faith self‑discovery uncertainty growth

Mood

hopeful inspirational

Type

motivational spiritual

When to use this quote

- starting a new career
- overcoming self‑doubt
- mentoring youth
- recovering from setback
- planning long‑term goals

Key Concepts

spiritual development psychology of hope self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- What inner strengths have you yet to discover?
- How can you actively nurture hidden potential?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on destiny can ignore agency and effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Appears Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appears-power-2805391/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Doth Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doth-appear-2066706/) [Guessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guessing/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Nests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nests/) [Our future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-future/) [Revealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealed/) [Revealed Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealed-revelation-2805390/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) [Scarce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarce/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/)

## Related quotes

> [What is your substance, whereof are you made, That millions of strange shadows on you tend? Since everyone hath every one, one shade, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-is-your-substance-whereof-are-you-made-that-millions-of-strange/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Great God, what do I see and hear! The end of things created! The judge of mankind doth appear On clouds of glory seated!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/great-god-what-do-i-see-and-hear-the-end-of-things-created-the-judge/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“Empowering Women 101: If a normal man wants you he will let you know. You won't have to guess. He will move mountains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/empowering-women-101-if-a-normal-man-wants-you-he-will-let-you-know/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [Never keep a woman guessing, shes sure to find the answer some were else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-keep-a-woman-guessing-shes-sure-to-find-the-answer-some-were/)

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

> [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/)

[Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/)

> [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I love enemies, though not in the Christian way. They amuse me, excite my blood. Being always on one’s guard, catching every glance, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-love-enemies-though-not-in-the-christian-way-they-amuse-me-excite/)

[Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/)

> [Forever this time," he said as Sawyer strode toward them. Tara sighed blissfully. "You know what this means, right?" "I'm done guessing," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/forever-this-time-he-said-as-sawyer-strode-toward-them-tara-sighed/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [“All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. I wasn't any kind of Sherlock Holmes. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-don-t-pretend-it-was-ingenious/)

[John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/)

> [I don't think I have any set image, and I don't want one. If I think I'm getting a particular image, I try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-singh/i-don-t-think-i-have-any-set-image-and-i-don-t-want-one-if-i-think-i/)

[Ranveer Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-singh/)

> [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [You make a movie and it's like convincing people to go on an expedition with you. You think you know where it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ayer/you-make-a-movie-and-it-s-like-convincing-people-to-go-on-an/)

[David Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ayer/)

> [“This whole thing," I said "is going to come down to guessing who isn't what they look like." "Who is?" Karrin asked, her hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/this-whole-thing-i-said-is-going-to-come-down-to-guessing-who-isn-t/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [Life has taught me one big lesson, always keep the girlies guessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/life-has-taught-me-one-big-lesson-always-keep-the-girlies-guessing/)

[Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/)

## More by Horace Bushnell

> [To understand a philosopher requires a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/to-understand-a-philosopher-requires-a-philosopher/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Be sure that Christ is not behind you, but before, calling and drawing you on. This is the liberty, the beautiful liberty of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/be-sure-that-christ-is-not-behind-you-but-before-calling-and-drawing/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Nature has no promise for society, least of all, any remedy for sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/nature-has-no-promise-for-society-least-of-all-any-remedy-for-sin/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Christ's sacrifice stands in glorious proportions with the work to be done. Nothing else or less would suffice. It is a work supernatural, transacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/christ-s-sacrifice-stands-in-glorious-proportions-with-the-work-to-be/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Every man's life is a plan of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/every-man-s-life-is-a-plan-of-god/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [However dark our lot may be, there is light enough on the other side of the cloud, in that pure empyrean where God dwells,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/however-dark-our-lot-may-be-there-is-light-enough-on-the-other-side/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Guilt is the very nerve of sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/guilt-is-the-very-nerve-of-sorrow/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Live as with God; and, whatever be your calling, pray for the gift that will perfectly qualify you in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/live-as-with-god-and-whatever-be-your-calling-pray-for-the-gift-that/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [When has the world seen a phenomenon like this? a lonely uninstructed youth, coming from amid the moral darkness of Galilee, even more distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/when-has-the-world-seen-a-phenomenon-like-this-a-lonely-uninstructed/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Great occasions rally great principles, and brace the mind to a lofty bearing, a bearing that is even above itself. But trials that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/great-occasions-rally-great-principles-and-brace-the-mind-to-a-lofty/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [It is the grand endeavor of the gospel to communicate God to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-is-the-grand-endeavor-of-the-gospel-to-communicate-god-to-men/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Morality, taken as apart from religion, is but another name for decency in sin. It is just that negative species of virtue which consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/morality-taken-as-apart-from-religion-is-but-another-name-for-decency/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [In the sacred fact of obligation you touch the immutable, and lay hold, as it were, on the eternities. At the very center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/in-the-sacred-fact-of-obligation-you-touch-the-immutable-and-lay-hold/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [Jesus is the true manifestation of God, and He is manifested to be the regenerating power of a divine life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/jesus-is-the-true-manifestation-of-god-and-he-is-manifested-to-be-the/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

> [True conviction of sin--how difficult it is, when its appearances and modes of life are so fair, when it twines itself so cunningly about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/true-conviction-of-sin-how-difficult-it-is-when-its-appearances-and/)

[Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

[Explore all 62 Horace Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/)

## More Believe 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/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our future, and scarce believing what even now appears. But the power is in us, and that power is finally to be revealed. And what a revelation will that be!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Horace Bushnell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be-we-lie-here-in-our-nest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be-we-lie-here-in-our-nest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f65/horace-bushnell-10962_believe_it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be_291815.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our…” — Horace Bushnell",
                "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": "Horace Bushnell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It doth not yet appear what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be-we-lie-here-in-our-nest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be-we-lie-here-in-our-nest/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
