--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven't shaken my fists at the moon." description: "\"I haven't shaken my fists at the moon.\" — Ian Dury" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png" --- # I haven't shaken my fists at the moon. ![“I haven't shaken my fists at the moon.” quote by Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png) > “I haven't shaken my fists at the moon.” [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses restraint, not confronting impossible or distant goals. **In simple terms:** Choosing not to fight unattainable targets. Key Takeaway Accept limits and focus on realistic aims. Themes self‑control realism acceptance Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal ambition - career planning - mental health Key Concepts goal setting psychology Questions to Reflect On - What are your unattainable goals? - When is restraint wise? A Different Perspective May discourage ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fists/) [Fists Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fists-moon-3059036/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Haven Shaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haven-shaken-3059038/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Shaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaken/) [Shaken Fists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaken-fists-3059037/) ## Related quotes > [Those who never rebelled against God or at some point in their lives shaken their fists in the face of heaven, have never encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/those-who-never-rebelled-against-god-or-at-some-point-in-their-lives/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Guess what it is that turns plants to coal. Pressure. Guess what it is that turns limestone to marble. Pressure. Guess what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/guess-what-it-is-that-turns-plants-to-coal-pressure-guess-what-it-is/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [The seriousness of my situation started to sink in, and again I fought panic. I pushed it down, but it was harder this time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-sunderland/the-seriousness-of-my-situation-started-to-sink-in-and-again-i-fought/) [Abby Sunderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-sunderland/) > [“They wouldn’t have broken me. I’m not breakable, I may be shaken right now, but I’m not broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-stevens/they-wouldn-t-have-broken-me-i-m-not-breakable-i-may-be-shaken-right/) [Erica Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-stevens/) > [When we tolerate violations to the Constitution, the entire moral foundation of our political system is shaken to its core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/when-we-tolerate-violations-to-the-constitution-the-entire-moral/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [“He meant what he'd said about taking her home. His home. When she didn't argue the point, he figured she was more shaken than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-meant-what-he-d-said-about-taking-her-home-his-home-when-she-didn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [The country has been shaken up by me. I am just being myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/the-country-has-been-shaken-up-by-me-i-am-just-being-myself/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [I was in Estonia when a professor asked me if I was aware that making any criticism of the Red Army during the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-beevor/i-was-in-estonia-when-a-professor-asked-me-if-i-was-aware-that-making/) [Antony Beevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-beevor/) > [Deep within I'm shaken by the violence of existing for only you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/deep-within-i-m-shaken-by-the-violence-of-existing-for-only-you/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [Never be shaken, no matter what happens or what others may say. Never be flustered; never lose confidence. This is the way we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/never-be-shaken-no-matter-what-happens-or-what-others-may-say-never/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [“After half an hour the Senora emerged, short of breath, with flushed cheeks…as uf she'd been seized and shaken like a faulty thermometer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/after-half-an-hour-the-senora-emerged-short-of-breath-with-flushed/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [I think I have shaken more hands in my life than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boban-marjanovic/i-think-i-have-shaken-more-hands-in-my-life-than-anyone-else/) [Boban Marjanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boban-marjanovic/) > [Bent but not broken. Shaken but not shattered. Discouraged but not defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/bent-but-not-broken-shaken-but-not-shattered-discouraged-but-not/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“..:A soda can unshaken, is not as intimidated and dangerous as a shaken one. So is a passive person who only dreams and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/a-soda-can-unshaken-is-not-as-intimidated-and-dangerous-as-a-shaken/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [The foundations of our lives are far more fragile than we think. So we are severely shaken when life turns out to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/the-foundations-of-our-lives-are-far-more-fragile-than-we-think-so-we/) [Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/) ## More by Ian Dury > [All I want for my birthday is another birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/all-i-want-for-my-birthday-is-another-birthday/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [Had a love affair with Nina in the back of my Cortina. A seasoned up hyena, could not have been more obscener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/had-a-love-affair-with-nina-in-the-back-of-my-cortina-a-seasoned-up/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [There are a couple of ways to avoid death, one is to be magnificent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/there-are-a-couple-of-ways-to-avoid-death-one-is-to-be-magnificent/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [“There ain't half been some clever bastards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/there-ain-t-half-been-some-clever-bastards/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [Sex, drugs, and rock and roll is all my brain and body need. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll is very good indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll-is-all-my-brain-and-body-need-sex-drugs/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [“Here for a moment is a glimpse of my plan: All kids will be happy learning things. The wind will smell of wild flowers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/here-for-a-moment-is-a-glimpse-of-my-plan-all-kids-will-be-happy/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [For every good song, I write 20 bad ones I have to chuck away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/for-every-good-song-i-write-20-bad-ones-i-have-to-chuck-away/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [I'm in love with the person in the sandwich centre. If she didn't exist I'd have to invent her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-m-in-love-with-the-person-in-the-sandwich-centre-if-she-didn-t/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [Hit me with your rhythm stick, it's nice to be a lunatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/hit-me-with-your-rhythm-stick-it-s-nice-to-be-a-lunatic/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [I'm not here to be remembered, I'm here to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-m-not-here-to-be-remembered-i-m-here-to-be-alive/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) > [Sex and drugs and rock and roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/sex-and-drugs-and-rock-and-roll/) [Ian Dury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) [Explore all 12 Ian Dury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/) ## More Fists quotes > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-guderian/you-hit-somebody-with-your-fist-and-not-with-your-fingers-spread/) [Heinz Guderian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-guderian/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Don Alejandro cut in with advice I have never forgotten. "It is only when a man knows reason is not on his side that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/don-alejandro-cut-in-with-advice-i-have-never-forgotten-it-is-only/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [Well this is just a fist. But when I start throwing it around I can leave one hell of a mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/well-this-is-just-a-fist-but-when-i-start-throwing-it-around-i-can/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." "Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-started-this-together-leo-seems-only-right-you-come-along-you-find/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [About 25 years ago, I was in an apartment, and next door, they put on the radio, so I struck the wall with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/about-25-years-ago-i-was-in-an-apartment-and-next-door-they-put-on/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [The trainee knew he should leave, but he was unable to look away. He'd never seen anything snap out so fast or strike so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trainee-knew-he-should-leave-but-he-was-unable-to-look-away-he-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [His fingers leave streaks of cold on my skin, invisible to the eye, and I think about wrapping his shirt around my fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/his-fingers-leave-streaks-of-cold-on-my-skin-invisible-to-the-eye-and/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional. Words and threats are just as painful as fists, especially with social media these days. For those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/bullying-can-be-physical-verbal-or-emotional-words-and-threats-are/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-clenched-her-fist-in-his-t-shirt-put-her-other-arm-around-those/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-man-had-his-way-the-plan-of-redemption-would-be-an-endless-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 599 Fists quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fists/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't shaken my fists at the moon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ian Dury" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fists" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea4/ian-dury-37894_fists_i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon-27_2745557.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I haven't shaken my fists at the moon.” — Ian Dury", "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": "Ian Dury", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-dury/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I haven't shaken my fists at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-dury/i-haven-t-shaken-my-fists-at-the-moon/#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 } } ] } ```