--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People never know what they want, though…" description: "\"People never know what they want, though everyone says they do. If they did, nobody would ever be surprised.\" — J. J. Abrams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/j-j-abrams-3542_did_people-never-know-what-they-want-though_1247383.jpg" --- # People never know what they want, though everyone says… ![“People never know what they want, though everyone says they do. If they did, nobody would ever be surprised.” quote by J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/j-j-abrams-3542_did_people-never-know-what-they-want-though_1247383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/j-j-abrams-3542_did_people-never-know-what-they-want-though_1247383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/j-j-abrams-3542_did_people-never-know-what-they-want-though_1247383.jpg) > “People never know what they want, though everyone says they do. If they did, nobody would ever be surprised.” [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often claim certainty about desires, yet true wishes are unpredictable, leading to surprise. **In simple terms:** People think they know what they want, but they’re often wrong. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty in desires. Themes desire uncertainty surprise Mood curious thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - personal growth - marketing Key Concepts self-awareness psychology Questions to Reflect On - How often are you surprised by your own choices? - What reveals true desires? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind us to real needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [People should know each other because they want to, because they have things in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-olsen/people-should-know-each-other-because-they-want-to-because-they-have/) [Angel Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-olsen/) > [Win or lose, people know what you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/win-or-lose-people-know-what-you-want-to-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm intrigued and drawn to people who know exactly who they are, who know what they want, who live life on their own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-m-intrigued-and-drawn-to-people-who-know-exactly-who-they-are-who/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [A lot of people know who I am now. They want a little bit of me, a little bit of my time. But at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-antetokounmpo/a-lot-of-people-know-who-i-am-now-they-want-a-little-bit-of-me-a/) [Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-antetokounmpo/) > [It's important for people to know what they want, to know who they are, to follow their dreams and be the best versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-important-for-people-to-know-what-they-want-to-know-who-they-are/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [I don't want to be a role model. I just want to be someone who says, this is who I am, this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-role-model-i-just-want-to-be-someone-who-says/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“Although I like that answer, I need to hear you say it, sweetheart. Do. You. Want. Me?" I ask, nibbling on her earlobe with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevaeh-lee/although-i-like-that-answer-i-need-to-hear-you-say-it-sweetheart-do/) [Nevaeh Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevaeh-lee/) > [“I can't be the kind of leader you want me to," he says. "I will never, ever be the kind of leader you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/i-can-t-be-the-kind-of-leader-you-want-me-to-he-says-i-will-never/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [“I want one!" Em Calls out. I look just in time to see Jaxon's face freeze with his own terror. "You want one what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-lauren/i-want-one-em-calls-out-i-look-just-in-time-to-see-jaxon-s-face/) [Kimberly Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-lauren/) > [“I just want you to be mine,” he says. “You have me; body and soul, and all the parts in between.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-a-wolfe/i-just-want-you-to-be-mine-he-says-you-have-me-body-and-soul-and-all/) S.A. Wolfe > [“When you want something," says Michael, "it's like admitting that your life has a hole in it." "And to fill that hole, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-acampora/when-you-want-something-says-michael-it-s-like-admitting-that-your/) [Paul Acampora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-acampora/) > [When the person you miss the most, think about the most, want the most says you're beautiful... But you can't have them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-burgess/when-the-person-you-miss-the-most-think-about-the-most-want-the-most/) [Nicole Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-burgess/) > [“I want so many things,” he whispers. “I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time.” His fingers graze the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-so-many-things-he-whispers-i-want-your-mind-your-strength-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you,” he says. “You said you didn’t know what I wanted from you. I’m telling you. I want you. I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-robinson/i-want-you-he-says-you-said-you-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-from-you-i/) [Rachel Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-robinson/) > [I want someone who says I love you every night and proves it every day!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-someone-who-says-i-love-you-every-night-and-proves-it-every-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J. J. Abrams > [I guess the idea of not wanting to choose to direct a film, for which I've not read a script. It's a tough decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-guess-the-idea-of-not-wanting-to-choose-to-direct-a-film-for-which/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I do think there's something about the digital age that is increasingly dehumanising us. We're in this very weird place where we're being pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-do-think-there-s-something-about-the-digital-age-that-is/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I hate to look at the stuff I've written and consider what it means or why I do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-hate-to-look-at-the-stuff-i-ve-written-and-consider-what-it-means/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I feel like obviously the standard for what TV looks like changes all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-like-obviously-the-standard-for-what-tv-looks-like-changes-all/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I'd love to do a movie where the monster is human, where the issue is not otherworldly, or horror or science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-love-to-do-a-movie-where-the-monster-is-human-where-the-issue-is/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I feel blessed that I get to be part of entertaining people in any capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-blessed-that-i-get-to-be-part-of-entertaining-people-in-any/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [There are always a bunch of ideas floating around and I do the best that I can to try to not do them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/there-are-always-a-bunch-of-ideas-floating-around-and-i-do-the-best/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I love recording music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-love-recording-music/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I'd like to use IMAX. The problem with IMAX is that it's a very loud camera. It's a very unreliable camera. Only so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-like-to-use-imax-the-problem-with-imax-is-that-it-s-a-very-loud/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I have nothing against 3-D in theory. But I've also never run to the movies because something's in 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-have-nothing-against-3-d-in-theory-but-i-ve-also-never-run-to-the/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/but-i-m-grateful-for-everyone-who-would-want-to-read-a-spoiler/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I think that even if you're wondering if two characters are ever going to kiss, drawing out the inevitability is part of the fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-think-that-even-if-you-re-wondering-if-two-characters-are-ever/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [When I was a little kid - and even still - I loved magic tricks. When I saw how movies got made - at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/when-i-was-a-little-kid-and-even-still-i-loved-magic-tricks-when-i/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) is probably the most influential film of my generation. It's the personification of good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977-is-probably-the-most-influential/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [Directing's the best part. Whenever I've directed something, there's this feeling of demand and focus that I like. And secondly, it means that you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-s-the-best-part-whenever-i-ve-directed-something-there-s/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) [Explore all 128 J. J. Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) ## More Did quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Here we are 17 years later. Those agencies never did come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/here-we-are-17-years-later-those-agencies-never-did-come-through/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [I am excited to partner with Aeropostale for my very own collection. It was a great experience to be able to work with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/i-am-excited-to-partner-with-aeropostale-for-my-very-own-collection/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. 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