--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes the only way to know how far…" description: "\"Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to return to where you once had been.\" — J.R. Ward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/j-r-ward-148_return_sometimes-the-only-way-to-know-how-far-y_405345.png" --- # Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to… ![“Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to return to where you once had been.” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/j-r-ward-148_return_sometimes-the-only-way-to-know-how-far-y_405345.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/j-r-ward-148_return_sometimes-the-only-way-to-know-how-far-y_405345.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/j-r-ward-148_return_sometimes-the-only-way-to-know-how-far-y_405345.png) > “Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to return to where you once had been.” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects that true progress is measured by returning to one's origins and seeing how far one has traveled. **In simple terms:** Returning to origins shows progress. Key Takeaway Revisit past to gauge growth. Themes self‑reflection growth journey Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career retrospectives - personal journaling - creative projects Key Concepts personal development nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - What past milestones define your growth? - How can you use past lessons for future goals? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may cloud objective assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Don't judge a man by where he is, because you don't know how far he has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-judge-a-man-by-where-he-is-because-you-don-t-know-how-far-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Open your hidden eyes and see. Come, return to the root of the root ¦ of your Self!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/open-your-hidden-eyes-and-see-come-return-to-the-root-of-the-root-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [We are destined not to go back to the level of animals that we've come from but to return to being by going beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/we-are-destined-not-to-go-back-to-the-level-of-animals-that-we-ve/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is important never to relax, however far you have come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-important-never-to-relax-however-far-you-have-come/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Please remember we all come from the same one and we will all return to that one, so there is no reason for fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/please-remember-we-all-come-from-the-same-one-and-we-will-all-return/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [“Most people quit because they look how far they have to go, not how far they have come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/most-people-quit-because-they-look-how-far-they-have-to-go-not-how/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Have you come to return my pussy?” I shook my head, sure the reception must be bad. “Huh?” “My cat. You stole my cat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-cain/have-you-come-to-return-my-pussy-i-shook-my-head-sure-the-reception/) [Cybill Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-cain/) > [No matter how far we come, our parents are always in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/no-matter-how-far-we-come-our-parents-are-always-in-us/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [If you make happy those that are near, those that are far will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lin/if-you-make-happy-those-that-are-near-those-that-are-far-will-come/) [Grace Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lin/) > [The time has come to return integrity, performance and dignity to New York and make it the Empire State once again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/the-time-has-come-to-return-integrity-performance-and-dignity-to-new/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I can't believe how far I have come and how much I've grown up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-believe-how-far-i-have-come-and-how-much-i-ve-grown-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Open your eyes and come… return to the root of the root of your own soul. ~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/open-your-eyes-and-come-return-to-the-root-of-the-root-of-your-own/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Come back to yourself. Return to the voice of your body. Trust that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/come-back-to-yourself-return-to-the-voice-of-your-body-trust-that-much/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Success is not measured by how far you have come, but by what you had to go through to get there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/success-is-not-measured-by-how-far-you-have-come-but-by-what-you-had/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“We know far more than we were ever taught.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-smith/we-know-far-more-than-we-were-ever-taught/) [Frank Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-smith/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Return quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [Rule number something or other -- never tell anybody anything unless you're going to get something better in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/rule-number-something-or-other-never-tell-anybody-anything-unless-you/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Among the many factors that make a return to halcyon days of the first decades of the postwar era virtually impossible is the decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/among-the-many-factors-that-make-a-return-to-halcyon-days-of-the/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [Throw me to the wolfs and I will return leading the pack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/any/throw-me-to-the-wolfs-and-i-will-return-leading-the-pack/) Any > [That's the meaning of 'The Revenant': It's a return from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/that-s-the-meaning-of-the-revenant-it-s-a-return-from-death/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [“...what happens when you return and find nothing but a hollowed shell, shingles and floor, walls and echoes and the light that lead you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-elmore/what-happens-when-you-return-and-find-nothing-but-a-hollowed-shell/) [Kellie Elmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-elmore/) > [I'm tried of D'arce, D'arce, D'arcing people, but if I have to D'arce somebody else up, the D'arce Knight will return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-ferguson/i-m-tried-of-d-arce-d-arce-d-arcing-people-but-if-i-have-to-d-arce/) [Tony Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-ferguson/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) Browse all 4,602 Return quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes the only way to know how far you'd come was to return to where you once had been.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. 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