---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you cannot see where you are going…"
description: "\"“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.”\" — J Loren Norris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg"
---

#  If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has…

![“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.” quote by J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg)

> ““If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.””

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

## About This Quote

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

When uncertain, seek guidance from those with experience to find direction.

**In simple terms:** Ask experienced people when lost.

Key Takeaway

Consult mentors to clarify your path.

Themes

leadership guidance learning

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- skill development
- problem solving
- goal setting

Key Concepts

Mentorship experience sharing

Questions to Reflect On

- Who can you trust for honest advice?
- When should you trust your own judgment?

A Different Perspective

Relying too much on others can hinder personal intuition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Excellent life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-life/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-ask-238694/) [Leadership development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-development/) [Mentoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentoring/) [Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road/) [Self improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-improvement/)

## Related quotes

> [“The future begins when we tear down the walls that keep us in the past. We must be thankful for those who walked through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/the-future-begins-when-we-tear-down-the-walls-that-keep-us-in-the/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“He who cannot swim should neither chase the dolphins nor play with sharks. For him disaster awaits like sunrise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/he-who-cannot-swim-should-neither-chase-the-dolphins-nor-play-with/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“A harsh word breaks the heart. A kind word can sooth the savage beast. A word never spoken can bury a burden or save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/a-harsh-word-breaks-the-heart-a-kind-word-can-sooth-the-savage-beast/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Are you ready to possess your master piece; ready to live a life that is worthy of who you were made to be? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/are-you-ready-to-possess-your-master-piece-ready-to-live-a-life-that/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Authority to dream is not given, it is taken. Take it. Do not let the judgment of others be the final word. Without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/authority-to-dream-is-not-given-it-is-taken-take-it-do-not-let-the/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“There may be a day when you find yourself standing at the precipice, looking down into the abyss of hopelessness and waiting, pleading, begging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/there-may-be-a-day-when-you-find-yourself-standing-at-the-precipice/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Core values serve as a lighthouse when the fog of life seems to leave you wandering in circles; when you encounter that moment where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/core-values-serve-as-a-lighthouse-when-the-fog-of-life-seems-to-leave/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“One thing is undeniably clear. We have all had bad experiences, we have all had tragedies in our lives which help to shape who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris-2/one-thing-is-undeniably-clear-we-have-all-had-bad-experiences-we-have/)

[J. Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris-2/)

> [“Let's get busy. Get up! Stop living an average life. Stop living in a rut. Get ready for a new way to walk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/let-s-get-busy-get-up-stop-living-an-average-life-stop-living-in-a/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“So, what does it take to live a more excellent life? It takes a new way of thinking, speaking and acting. It takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/so-what-does-it-take-to-live-a-more-excellent-life-it-takes-a-new-way/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“In what is known as the 70/20/10 learning concept, Robert Eichinger and Michael Lombardo, in collaboration with Morgan McCall of the Center for Creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-conner/in-what-is-known-as-the-70-20-10-learning-concept-robert-eichinger/)

[Marcia Conner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-conner/)

> [“If you're not reaching back to help anyone then you're not building a legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/if-you-re-not-reaching-back-to-help-anyone-then-you-re-not-building-a/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Living in peace has transformative power!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/living-in-peace-has-transformative-power/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“am bold and brave! I am excellent, I have an excellent life. I can do all things; I am powerful and influential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/am-bold-and-brave-i-am-excellent-i-have-an-excellent-life-i-can-do/)

[Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/)

> [Fact of LIFE: Dont be too confident when someone tells U she likes U,The real question is.. UNTIL WHEN..? Bcoz just like seasons.. SOME…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fact-of-life-dont-be-too-confident-when-someone-tells-u-she-likes-u/)

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

## More by J Loren Norris

> [“Core values serve as a lighthouse when the fog of life seems to leave you wandering in circles; when you encounter that moment where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/core-values-serve-as-a-lighthouse-when-the-fog-of-life-seems-to-leave/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“There may be a day when you find yourself standing at the precipice, looking down into the abyss of hopelessness and waiting, pleading, begging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/there-may-be-a-day-when-you-find-yourself-standing-at-the-precipice/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Authority to dream is not given, it is taken. Take it. Do not let the judgment of others be the final word. Without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/authority-to-dream-is-not-given-it-is-taken-take-it-do-not-let-the/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Bad habits are like having a sumo wrestler in the back of your canoe rowing the opposite direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/bad-habits-are-like-having-a-sumo-wrestler-in-the-back-of-your-canoe/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Are you ready to possess your master piece; ready to live a life that is worthy of who you were made to be? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/are-you-ready-to-possess-your-master-piece-ready-to-live-a-life-that/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“A harsh word breaks the heart. A kind word can sooth the savage beast. A word never spoken can bury a burden or save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/a-harsh-word-breaks-the-heart-a-kind-word-can-sooth-the-savage-beast/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“So, what does it take to live a more excellent life? It takes a new way of thinking, speaking and acting. It takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/so-what-does-it-take-to-live-a-more-excellent-life-it-takes-a-new-way/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Let's get busy. Get up! Stop living an average life. Stop living in a rut. Get ready for a new way to walk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/let-s-get-busy-get-up-stop-living-an-average-life-stop-living-in-a/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“He who cannot swim should neither chase the dolphins nor play with sharks. For him disaster awaits like sunrise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/he-who-cannot-swim-should-neither-chase-the-dolphins-nor-play-with/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“The future begins when we tear down the walls that keep us in the past. We must be thankful for those who walked through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/the-future-begins-when-we-tear-down-the-walls-that-keep-us-in-the/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

[Explore all 11 J Loren Norris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

## More Excellent life quotes

> [Fact of LIFE: Dont be too confident when someone tells U she likes U,The real question is.. UNTIL WHEN..? Bcoz just like seasons.. SOME…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fact-of-life-dont-be-too-confident-when-someone-tells-u-she-likes-u/)

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

> [“Core values serve as a lighthouse when the fog of life seems to leave you wandering in circles; when you encounter that moment where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/core-values-serve-as-a-lighthouse-when-the-fog-of-life-seems-to-leave/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“There may be a day when you find yourself standing at the precipice, looking down into the abyss of hopelessness and waiting, pleading, begging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/there-may-be-a-day-when-you-find-yourself-standing-at-the-precipice/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“am bold and brave! I am excellent, I have an excellent life. I can do all things; I am powerful and influential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/am-bold-and-brave-i-am-excellent-i-have-an-excellent-life-i-can-do/)

[Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/)

> [“Life is excellent or life blows, depending on how you look at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-plum-ucci/life-is-excellent-or-life-blows-depending-on-how-you-look-at-it/)

[Carol Plum-Ucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-plum-ucci/)

> [For neither birth, nor wealth, nor honors, can awaken in the minds of men the principles which should guide those who from their youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-neither-birth-nor-wealth-nor-honors-can-awaken-in-the-minds-of/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [“One thing is undeniably clear. We have all had bad experiences, we have all had tragedies in our lives which help to shape who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris-2/one-thing-is-undeniably-clear-we-have-all-had-bad-experiences-we-have/)

[J. Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris-2/)

> [“The happy life is thought to be one of excellence; now an excellent life requires exertion, and does not consist in amusement. If Eudaimonia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-happy-life-is-thought-to-be-one-of-excellence-now-an-excellent/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [We don't get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/we-don-t-get-a-chance-to-do-that-many-things-and-every-one-should-be/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [“Authority to dream is not given, it is taken. Take it. Do not let the judgment of others be the final word. Without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/authority-to-dream-is-not-given-it-is-taken-take-it-do-not-let-the/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

> [“Bad mind, bad life. Good mind, good life. Excellent mind, excellent life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/bad-mind-bad-life-good-mind-good-life-excellent-mind-excellent-life/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“The city was a paradox, though maybe it had always been one. You could have an excellent life here, even as everything disintegrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-city-was-a-paradox-though-maybe-it-had-always-been-one-you-could/)

[Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/)

> [“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/we-don-t-get-a-chance-to-do-that-many-things-and-every-one-should-be-2/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [“My prayer;Lord grant me the spirit of excellency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/my-prayer-lord-grant-me-the-spirit-of-excellency/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Are you ready to possess your master piece; ready to live a life that is worthy of who you were made to be? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/are-you-ready-to-possess-your-master-piece-ready-to-live-a-life-that/)

[J Loren Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/)

[Browse all 29 Excellent life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent-life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J Loren Norris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-ask-someone-who-has-been-there/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excellent life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-ask-someone-who-has-been-there/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/j-loren-norris-39629_excellent-life_if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-as_789701.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.” — J Loren Norris",
                "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": "J Loren Norris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-loren-norris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If you cannot see where you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-ask-someone-who-has-been-there/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-loren-norris/if-you-cannot-see-where-you-are-going-ask-someone-who-has-been-there/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
