--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How do you know you're going to do…" description: "\"How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?\" — J. D. Salinger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/j-d-salinger-2-3505_do-you-know_how-do-you-know-you-re-going-to-do-somet_1963645.jpg" --- # How do you know you're going to do something, untill you… ![“How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?” quote by J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/j-d-salinger-2-3505_do-you-know_how-do-you-know-you-re-going-to-do-somet_1963645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/j-d-salinger-2-3505_do-you-know_how-do-you-know-you-re-going-to-do-somet_1963645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/j-d-salinger-2-3505_do-you-know_how-do-you-know-you-re-going-to-do-somet_1963645.jpg) > “How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?” [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You only know you can act when you actually act; certainty comes from experience. **In simple terms:** You discover ability by doing, not by guessing. Key Takeaway Take action to discover your capacity. Themes motivation action self‑discovery Mood encouraging reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal goals - creative projects Key Concepts experience confidence learning by doing Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from starting? - How do you handle failure after acting? A Different Perspective Action alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Do you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-you-know/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Untill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-untill-3256410/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-going/) ## Related quotes > [“I am going to keep going untill I succeed or die. Don't think I don't know how this might end. I've known it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-am-going-to-keep-going-untill-i-succeed-or-die-don-t-think-i-don-t/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Sometimes we don't know where we are going until we get there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-simon-gunn/sometimes-we-don-t-know-where-we-are-going-until-we-get-there/) [Jacqueline Simon Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-simon-gunn/) > [With me, you never know what is going to happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-ivanisevic/with-me-you-never-know-what-is-going-to-happen/) [Goran Ivanisevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-ivanisevic/) > [If you don't know where you've been, you don't know where you're going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-ve-been-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going/) [TI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti/) > [Well, you know what, I was who I am and I'm not going to change that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-bradley/well-you-know-what-i-was-who-i-am-and-i-m-not-going-to-change-that/) [Shawn Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-bradley/) > [Girls. You never know what they're going to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/girls-you-never-know-what-they-re-going-to-think/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“You don't even know where I'm going." "I don't care. I'd like to go anywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/you-don-t-even-know-where-i-m-going-i-don-t-care-i-d-like-to-go/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [When you are in the ring with me, you know what I am going to bring, and you really got to get yourself going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-porter/when-you-are-in-the-ring-with-me-you-know-what-i-am-going-to-bring/) [Shawn Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-porter/) > [“What will become of me? I do not know where am I going or what tomorrow will bring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-ne-berr/what-will-become-of-me-i-do-not-know-where-am-i-going-or-what/) [Hélène Berr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-ne-berr/) > [I haven't reach my destination, but I sure know where I'm going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-doris/i-haven-t-reach-my-destination-but-i-sure-know-where-i-m-going/) [G-Fwea Doris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-fwea-doris/) > [“You may not know what you are going to get but you know it is going to be an adventure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/you-may-not-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-but-you-know-it-is-going/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [You don't know you're going to get a 'No' until you ask, and if you don't ask, you've given yourself the No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-don-t-know-you-re-going-to-get-a-no-until-you-ask-and-if-you-don/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Well, I like to know where I'm going before I try to get there. It's a mistake to try to execute a plan before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/well-i-like-to-know-where-i-m-going-before-i-try-to-get-there-it-s-a/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else. Not all those who wander are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-you-ll-wind-up-somewhere-else/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“When you don’t know where you’re going it always seems longer—you ever notice that? First time takes forever, and then ever after it’s over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-it-always-seems-longer-you/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by J. D. Salinger > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [But where does by far the bulk, the whole ambulance load, of pain really come from? Where must it come from? Isn't the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-where-does-by-far-the-bulk-the-whole-ambulance-load-of-pain/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Nobody'd be different. The only thing that would be different would be you. Not that you'd be so much older or anything. It wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/nobody-d-be-different-the-only-thing-that-would-be-different-would-be/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Sex is something I really don't understand too hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/sex-is-something-i-really-don-t-understand-too-hot/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Meant-to-be-picked-up books. Permanently-left-behind books. Uncertain-what-to-do-with books. But books, books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/meant-to-be-picked-up-books-permanently-left-behind-books-uncertain/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [But if we come back, if German men come back, if British men come back, and Japs, and French, and all the other men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-if-we-come-back-if-german-men-come-back-if-british-men-come-back/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Then again you may pick up just enough education to hate people who say, 'It's a secret between he and I.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/then-again-you-may-pick-up-just-enough-education-to-hate-people-who/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [The worst thing that being an artist could do to you would be that it would make you slightly unhappy constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/the-worst-thing-that-being-an-artist-could-do-to-you-would-be-that-it/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody. I'm sick of myself and everybody else that wants to make some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-m-sick-of-not-having-the-courage-to-be-an-absolute-nobody-i-m-sick/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“You keep records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them. If you want to Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/you-keep-records-of-their-troubles-you-ll-learn-from-them-if-you-want/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [I'm aware that many of my friends will be saddened and shocked, or shock-saddened, over some of the chapters in 'The Catcher In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-m-aware-that-many-of-my-friends-will-be-saddened-and-shocked-or/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Most stuff that is genuine is better left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/most-stuff-that-is-genuine-is-better-left-unsaid/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“Sex is something I really don't understand too hot. You never know where the hell you are. I keep making up these sex rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/sex-is-something-i-really-don-t-understand-too-hot-you-never-know/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/an-artist-s-only-concern-is-to-shoot-for-some-kind-of-perfection-and/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Its really hard to be roommates with people if your suitcases are much better than theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/its-really-hard-to-be-roommates-with-people-if-your-suitcases-are/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) [Explore all 121 J. D. Salinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) ## More Do you know quotes > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. How many 118 year old men do you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-cryer/i-m-59-and-people-call-me-middle-aged-how-many-118-year-old-men-do/) [Barry Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-cryer/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When you read comic material and people aren't laughing how do you know they're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-you-read-comic-material-and-people-aren-t-laughing-how-do-you/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I don't get the regular AIDS test anymore. I get the roundabout AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian, "Do you know anybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-get-the-regular-aids-test-anymore-i-get-the-roundabout-aids/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Do you know at this very moment you are surrounded by eternity? And do you know that you can use that eternity if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/do-you-know-at-this-very-moment-you-are-surrounded-by-eternity-and-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Do you know, a horrible thing has happened to me. I have begun to doubt Tennyson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-manley-hopkins/do-you-know-a-horrible-thing-has-happened-to-me-i-have-begun-to-doubt/) [Gerard Manley Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-manley-hopkins/) > [Do you know what elegance is? It is not only what you're wearing. It is how you wear it. who you are inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/do-you-know-what-elegance-is-it-is-not-only-what-you-re-wearing-it-is/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [O, Youth: Do you know that yours is not the first generation to yearn for a life full of beauty and freedom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/o-youth-do-you-know-that-yours-is-not-the-first-generation-to-yearn/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Do you know that all great spurts in...progress came just after some unorthodox ideas or exotic impressions had penetrated into a closed system?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatol-rapoport/do-you-know-that-all-great-spurts-in-progress-came-just-after-some/) [Anatol Rapoport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatol-rapoport/) > [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Do you know what social justice is? Do you know what social reform is? I didn't either, but reform and social justice are what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-santos/do-you-know-what-social-justice-is-do-you-know-what-social-reform-is/) [Silvio Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-santos/) > [Do you know that my very first experience as a composer was a 'Concerto for Accordion?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-schnittke/do-you-know-that-my-very-first-experience-as-a-composer-was-a/) [Alfred Schnittke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-schnittke/) [Browse all 675 Do you know quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-you-know/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. D. 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