--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can you come to know yourself? Never…" description: "\"How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to.\" — Johann Wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_amount_how-can-you-come-to-know-yourself-never_3091947.jpg" --- # How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking… ![“How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_amount_how-can-you-come-to-know-yourself-never_3091947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_amount_how-can-you-come-to-know-yourself-never_3091947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/335/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_amount_how-can-you-come-to-know-yourself-never_3091947.jpg) > “How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑knowledge comes from action and fulfilling duty, not from abstract thought. **In simple terms:** Know yourself by doing, not just thinking. Key Takeaway Act to discover your true character. Themes self‑discovery duty action Mood reflective determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - volunteer work - personal projects - daily routines Key Concepts existentialism pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - What duties reveal your strengths? - How does action shape identity? A Different Perspective Action alone may not reveal deeper motivations without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Know yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-yourself/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [All ages have said and repeated that one should strive to know one's self. This is a strange demand which no one up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-ages-have-said-and-repeated-that-one-should-strive-to-know-one-s/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Yes, one is on the right track when one does not know what one is thinking when one is thinking; everything is handed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/yes-one-is-on-the-right-track-when-one-does-not-know-what-one-is/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [And what does really matter? That is easy: thinking and doing, doing and thinking--and these are the sum of all wisdom. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/and-what-does-really-matter-that-is-easy-thinking-and-doing-doing-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“I warned you that you didn't want to know everything I was thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-warned-you-that-you-didn-t-want-to-know-everything-i-was-thinking/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I always think the flowers can see us, and know what we are thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-always-think-the-flowers-can-see-us-and-know-what-we-are-thinking/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“The main thing is knowing how to see, To know how to see without thinking, To know how to see when you see, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/the-main-thing-is-knowing-how-to-see-to-know-how-to-see-without/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“I laugh, because he knew what I was thinking, and very few people ever know what I'm thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-laugh-because-he-knew-what-i-was-thinking-and-very-few-people-ever/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [We know where you are. We know where you've been. We can more or less know what you're thinking about;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/we-know-where-you-are-we-know-where-you-ve-been-we-can-more-or-less/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [Do you know how it feels when your with someone but before they talk, you already know what they are thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-know-how-it-feels-when-your-with-someone-but-before-they-talk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always thinking about you but I don't know if you're thinking about me too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seiki-rowins-bie/i-m-always-thinking-about-you-but-i-don-t-know-if-you-re-thinking/) [Seiki Rowins Bie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seiki-rowins-bie/) > [If you ever get worried just know that I'm thinking about you the same way your thinking about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-martin/if-you-ever-get-worried-just-know-that-i-m-thinking-about-you-the/) [Brandon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-martin/) > [“Now I know thinking is not your strong suit, but look on the bright side, at least you'll have this little puzzler to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-verdi/now-i-know-thinking-is-not-your-strong-suit-but-look-on-the-bright/) [Jessica Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-verdi/) > [“Do you know, to my thinking it's a good thing sometimes to be absurd; it's better in fact, it makes it easier to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/do-you-know-to-my-thinking-it-s-a-good-thing-sometimes-to-be-absurd/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I hate thinking about someone and I know there are not thinking about me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-lopez/i-hate-thinking-about-someone-and-i-know-there-are-not-thinking-about/) Tanya Lopez > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. 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