--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That we understand something perfectly…" description: "\"That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish something better than anyone else around us, that is what matters.\" — Johann Wolfgang von Go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg" --- # That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish… ![“That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish something better than anyone else around us, that is what matters.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg) > “That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish something better than anyone else around us, that is what matters.” [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. The quote asserts that achieving superior understanding and performance compared to others is what truly matters. **In simple terms:** Being the best at understanding and doing matters. Key Takeaway Strive for excellence and unique insight. Themes excellence competition self‑improvement achievement Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - academia - sports - creative arts Key Concepts mastery comparative advantage Questions to Reflect On - How can collaboration enhance personal excellence? - Is competition always the best motivator? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on outdoing others can neglect collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-better/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Knowing that I make somebody's day better is all that matters at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowing-that-i-make-somebody-s-day-better-is-all-that-matters-at-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [If you like who you work with, who you interact with every day, you're going to accomplish better things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-myers/if-you-like-who-you-work-with-who-you-interact-with-every-day-you-re/) [Bob Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-myers/) > [The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-listen-to-it-i-understand-i-understand/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [I think that young people understand me perfectly. I think that's the luckiest thing about my career, that I get older and they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-think-that-young-people-understand-me-perfectly-i-think-that-s-the/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I hold that it is only when we can prove everything we assert that we understand perfectly the thing under consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hold-that-it-is-only-when-we-can-prove-everything-we-assert-that-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I understand perfectly. But no vendetta is worth the cost of what you’re asking me to do.” The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-ni-coileain/i-understand-perfectly-but-no-vendetta-is-worth-the-cost-of-what-you/) [Rory Ni Coileain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-ni-coileain/) > [I would like to understand things better, but I don’t want to understand them perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-understand-things-better-but-i-don-t-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, congratulations, you’re finally getting what you dreamed of." I take the key from around my neck, drop it into his hand, and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-dodd/so-congratulations-you-re-finally-getting-what-you-dreamed-of-i-take/) [Jillian Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-dodd/) > [“I understand perfectly. He's fallen for your quiet, timid shell. For who you used to be. 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The spirit in which we act is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/words-are-good-but-there-is-something-better-the-best-is-not-to-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In society every man is taken for what he gives himself out to be; but he must give himself out to be something. Better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/in-society-every-man-is-taken-for-what-he-gives-himself-out-to-be-but/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We cannot too soon convince ourselves how easily we may be dispensed with in the world. What important personages we imagine ourselves to be!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-cannot-too-soon-convince-ourselves-how-easily-we-may-be-dispensed/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Words are good, but there is something better. The best cannot be explained by words. The spirit in which we act is the chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/words-are-good-but-there-is-something-better-the-best-cannot-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## 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 Accomplish quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [There's things that you want to accomplish, but to do that you have to work. That's the name of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/there-s-things-that-you-want-to-accomplish-but-to-do-that-you-have-to/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have to think about the future and what it is we want to accomplish from this party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/we-have-to-think-about-the-future-and-what-it-is-we-want-to/) [Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. 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I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/a-great-tennis-career-is-something-that-a-15-year-old-normally-doesn/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) Browse all 2,426 Accomplish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish something better than anyone else around us, that is what matters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/that-we-understand-something-perfectly-that-we-accomplish-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/that-we-understand-something-perfectly-that-we-accomplish-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_accomplish_that-we-understand-something-perfectly-t_2427544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That we understand something perfectly, that we accomplish something better than anyone else around us, that…” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "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": "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That we understand something perfectly, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/that-we-understand-something-perfectly-that-we-accomplish-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/that-we-understand-something-perfectly-that-we-accomplish-something/#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 } } ] } ```