--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The end we aim at must be known, before…" description: "\"The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made.\" — Jean Paul" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg" --- # The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made. ![“The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made.” quote by Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg) > “The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made.” [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must define the desired outcome before devising a method to achieve it. **In simple terms:** Define goals before planning. Key Takeaway Clarify your aim first. Themes goal setting planning purpose Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - project management - career planning - personal development - education Key Concepts strategic thinking philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What is your ultimate goal? - How do you adapt when goals change? A Different Perspective Goals may shift, making early plans obsolete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aim Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-known-5941044/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-way-1850975/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back. 2 Peter 2:21”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/it-would-have-been-better-for-them-not-to-have-known-the-way-of/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Then shoulder to shoulder! Let us engirdle the little circle of the earth with the chains that bind us to each other. To one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mickiewicz/then-shoulder-to-shoulder-let-us-engirdle-the-little-circle-of-the/) [Adam Mickiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mickiewicz/) > [Never aim to be proactive with your day. That way, if you end up getting stuff done, you’re never disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/never-aim-to-be-proactive-with-your-day-that-way-if-you-end-up/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/don-t-you-see-that-the-whole-aim-of-newspeak-is-to-narrow-the-range/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [At LearnVest, we're working to make financial planning both accessible and affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to get on track financially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/at-learnvest-we-re-working-to-make-financial-planning-both-accessible/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [Let your mind be its own and enjoy what you can not all things in life are in need of a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/let-your-mind-be-its-own-and-enjoy-what-you-can-not-all-things-in/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/) [Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/) > [God's plans are never beyond your reach, sometimes you just have to move closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/god-s-plans-are-never-beyond-your-reach-sometimes-you-just-have-to/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [Koresh believed that God had a plan that would go contrary to any human planning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thibodeau/koresh-believed-that-god-had-a-plan-that-would-go-contrary-to-any/) [David Thibodeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thibodeau/) > [Elevated locations imply elevated purposes, even in American cities departing as radically as Los Angeles does from the traditional planning patterns of the Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/elevated-locations-imply-elevated-purposes-even-in-american-cities/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [Weekend planning is a prime time to apply the Deathbed Priority Test: On your deathbed, will you wish you'd spent more prime weekend hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/weekend-planning-is-a-prime-time-to-apply-the-deathbed-priority-test/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) ## More by Jean Paul > [What Cicero said of men-that they are like wines, age souring the bad, and bettering the good-we can say of misfortune, that it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/what-cicero-said-of-men-that-they-are-like-wines-age-souring-the-bad/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [There is a joy in sorrow which none but a mourner can know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/there-is-a-joy-in-sorrow-which-none-but-a-mourner-can-know/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [I have made as much out of myself as could be made of the stuff, and no man should require more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/i-have-made-as-much-out-of-myself-as-could-be-made-of-the-stuff-and/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Art is indeed not the bread but the wine of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/art-is-indeed-not-the-bread-but-the-wine-of-life/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [It is simpler and easier to flatter people than to praise them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/it-is-simpler-and-easier-to-flatter-people-than-to-praise-them/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Humankind's chief fault is that they have so many small ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/humankind-s-chief-fault-is-that-they-have-so-many-small-ones/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [As a man grows older it is harder and harder to frighten him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/as-a-man-grows-older-it-is-harder-and-harder-to-frighten-him/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [In science the new is an advance; but in morals, as contradicting our inner ideals and historic idols, it is ever a retrogression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/in-science-the-new-is-an-advance-but-in-morals-as-contradicting-our/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [It has been jestingly said that the works of John Paul Richter are almost unintelligible to any but the Germans, and even to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/it-has-been-jestingly-said-that-the-works-of-john-paul-richter-are/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What makes old age so sad is, not that our joys, but that our hopes then cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/what-makes-old-age-so-sad-is-not-that-our-joys-but-that-our-hopes/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [There are souls which fall from heaven like flowers, but ere they bloom are crushed under the foul tread of some brutal hoof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/there-are-souls-which-fall-from-heaven-like-flowers-but-ere-they/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Romanticism is beauty without bounds-the beautiful infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/romanticism-is-beauty-without-bounds-the-beautiful-infinite/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Weaklings must lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/weaklings-must-lie/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [God is an unutterable sigh, planted in the depths of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/god-is-an-unutterable-sigh-planted-in-the-depths-of-the-soul/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) [Explore all 117 Jean Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Paul" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-the-way-can-be-made/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-the-way-can-be-made/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48f/jean-paul-3898_aim_the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-t_3200573.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The end we aim at must be known, before the way can be made.” — Jean Paul", "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": "Jean Paul", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The end we aim at must...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-the-way-can-be-made/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/the-end-we-aim-at-must-be-known-before-the-way-can-be-made/#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 } } ] } ```