--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to want something or you're…" description: "\"You have to want something or you're finished.\" — Jane Alison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg" --- # You have to want something or you're finished. ![“You have to want something or you're finished.” quote by Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg) > “You have to want something or you're finished.” [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation depends on desire; without it, effort wanes and goals remain unmet. **In simple terms:** Desire drives action; lacking it leads to failure. Key Takeaway Cultivate clear, strong wants. Themes motivation desire performance Mood determined urgent Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - creative endeavors Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What do you truly want to achieve? - How can you sustain desire over time? A Different Perspective Desire alone may not overcome external obstacles or lack of resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I don’t think there's ever been a point in my career where I've said, 'I've made it.' 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I like to take my time and finish when I'm finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lidell/i-m-not-the-kind-of-guy-who-likes-to-rush-things-through-i-like-to/) [Jamie Lidell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lidell/) > [Once I finish a film, I don't ever see it again. Never ever. I have never seen any of my films since I finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-cuaron/once-i-finish-a-film-i-don-t-ever-see-it-again-never-ever-i-have/) [Alfonso Cuaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-cuaron/) > [You never quite know what you're going to come back to and figure out how to make it work. You never quite know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/you-never-quite-know-what-you-re-going-to-come-back-to-and-figure-out/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [When working on a project, if you put away a tool that you're certain you're finished with, you will need it instantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/when-working-on-a-project-if-you-put-away-a-tool-that-you-re-certain/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [“It is finished.’ May those words land on your bones for the nights when fear tells you the cross was a beginning and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-acuff/it-is-finished-may-those-words-land-on-your-bones-for-the-nights-when/) John Acuff > [“You did'nt finish." "Oh, I'm finished." He buttoned up and stood. "How's it feel Faith? 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Only personalities want something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/love-asks-for-nothing-only-personalities-want-something/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I want something from Daddy that he is not able to give me. ... It is only that I long for Daddy's real love:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-want-something-from-daddy-that-he-is-not-able-to-give-me-it-is-only/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [I would like whispering with someone who is like me. But no one is.I think it is because my sizzle doesn't match anyone else's.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bird/i-would-like-whispering-with-someone-who-is-like-me-but-no-one-is-i/) [Sarah Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bird/) > [I just want to make a tray of good tofu. If people want something else, they should go to the restaurants and shops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasujiro-ozu/i-just-want-to-make-a-tray-of-good-tofu-if-people-want-something-else/) Yasujiro Ozu ## More by Jane Alison > [I know that I was able to find my way out of most of my feelings by writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-know-that-i-was-able-to-find-my-way-out-of-most-of-my-feelings-by/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [When you get immersed in whatever you're writing, the world does suddenly get so filtered through what you're writing. And then of course what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-get-immersed-in-whatever-you-re-writing-the-world-does/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [In order to have a real life of any romance, there has to be a level of fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/in-order-to-have-a-real-life-of-any-romance-there-has-to-be-a-level/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [The state of love is this constant flux back and forth between who's saving and who's rescuing, who's wanting and not wanting, who's needing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/the-state-of-love-is-this-constant-flux-back-and-forth-between-who-s/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“Making a self can be like writing, and now I think writing can be like home: a space you make that you dwell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/making-a-self-can-be-like-writing-and-now-i-think-writing-can-be-like/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“Just as there can be a hole in these narratives, a memoir can be as much about what's forgotten as what's remembered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/just-as-there-can-be-a-hole-in-these-narratives-a-memoir-can-be-as/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I was born in Australia and grew up in the foreign services. I had this kind of trans-Pacific life. I think I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-was-born-in-australia-and-grew-up-in-the-foreign-services-i-had/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [When you're waiting for a bus, the thing to do is smoke a cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-re-waiting-for-a-bus-the-thing-to-do-is-smoke-a-cigarette/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I think sometimes to still be angry is appropriate, but you want to be able to live with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-think-sometimes-to-still-be-angry-is-appropriate-but-you-want-to-be/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“This stream of watching made what was watched wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/this-stream-of-watching-made-what-was-watched-wanted/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I can't say that fantasy instead of the 3D world is fine or good, but I know in my own life I have certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-can-t-say-that-fantasy-instead-of-the-3d-world-is-fine-or-good-but/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I've always wanted to figure out how to do a walking story. I'd never figured out how to do one and have it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-ve-always-wanted-to-figure-out-how-to-do-a-walking-story-i-d-never/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [I suppose you retire from trying. If you retire from trying, you think, "Maybe love will just come my way if I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/i-suppose-you-retire-from-trying-if-you-retire-from-trying-you-think/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [“When you're sixteen or seventeen meaning can be anywhere. A drop of rain running down the window is a symbol, a song comes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/when-you-re-sixteen-or-seventeen-meaning-can-be-anywhere-a-drop-of/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) > [Sometimes there isn't a way to hug and make everything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/sometimes-there-isn-t-a-way-to-hug-and-make-everything-better/) [Jane Alison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) [Explore all 31 Jane Alison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/) ## More Finish quotes > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It doesn't matter where you start but how you finish that matters!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-irick-rainford/it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-start-but-how-you-finish-that-matters/) Valerie Irick Rainford > [Whenever I finish a film, I feel that this is the worst film that I have made. This is bound to happen because while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/whenever-i-finish-a-film-i-feel-that-this-is-the-worst-film-that-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [When I finish my career, I can look back and then decide if it was good or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-i-finish-my-career-i-can-look-back-and-then-decide-if-it-was/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [I've enjoyed my time at every club I have worked at, I've been lucky, but I won't jump in and finish up working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-at-every-club-i-have-worked-at-i-ve-been-lucky/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eunice-kennedy-shriver/do-it-well-finish-it-properly-and-move-on/) [Eunice Kennedy Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eunice-kennedy-shriver/) > [Not everyone who started with you will finish with you. Be willing to go without them if you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/not-everyone-who-started-with-you-will-finish-with-you-be-willing-to/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Call me old-fashioned, but it's always been my firm belief that a teacher's job should be for each of his or her students to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/call-me-old-fashioned-but-it-s-always-been-my-firm-belief-that-a/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [If it is possible I want to finish my career at Manchester United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/if-it-is-possible-i-want-to-finish-my-career-at-manchester-united/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [A lot of times, you finish a movie, and you're either going, 'Oh, thank God, that's over,' or 'Oh, my God, it's over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyck-godfrey/a-lot-of-times-you-finish-a-movie-and-you-re-either-going-oh-thank/) [Wyck Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyck-godfrey/) > [I used to review games on 'The Totally Rad Show,' and the best thing about that was I would finish games. Now, it's become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-trachtenberg/i-used-to-review-games-on-the-totally-rad-show-and-the-best-thing/) [Dan Trachtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-trachtenberg/) > [“Winners run through the finish line. End your day with passion and enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-bellah/winners-run-through-the-finish-line-end-your-day-with-passion-and/) [Butch Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-bellah/) Browse all 1,526 Finish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to want something or you're finished.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Alison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-finished/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Finish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-finished/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jane-alison-19956_finished_you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-fin_1277594.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to want something or you're finished.” — Jane Alison", "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": "Jane Alison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-alison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have to want something or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-finished/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-alison/you-have-to-want-something-or-you-re-finished/#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 } } ] } ```