--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The beginning don't matter. The end don't…" description: "\"The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. All that matters is what you do in between...the greatest reward is to know that you did your job whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/john-carlos-16923_beginning_the-beginning-don-t-matter-the-end-don-t_170624.jpg" --- # The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. All that… ![“The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. All that matters is what you do in between...the greatest reward is to know that you did your job when you were here on the planet.” quote by John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/john-carlos-16923_beginning_the-beginning-don-t-matter-the-end-don-t_170624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/john-carlos-16923_beginning_the-beginning-don-t-matter-the-end-don-t_170624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/john-carlos-16923_beginning_the-beginning-don-t-matter-the-end-don-t_170624.jpg) > “The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. All that matters is what you do in between...the greatest reward is to know that you did your job when you were here on the planet.” [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) ## 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 emphasizes focusing on actions and purpose during life rather than origins or outcomes. **In simple terms:** Focus on what you do now, not past or future. Key Takeaway Live purposefully each day. Themes purpose action legacy meaning mindfulness Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - personal growth - environmental stewardship - community service Key Concepts existentialism humanism self-actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can you align daily tasks with your deeper purpose? - What small actions today build your legacy? A Different Perspective Neglecting long-term planning can limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Greatest Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-reward-962433/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matters Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-greatest-1846969/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Reward Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward-know-1846970/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) ## Related quotes > [Life's greatest reward is life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/life-s-greatest-reward-is-life-itself/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I do not wish any reward but to know I have done the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-do-not-wish-any-reward-but-to-know-i-have-done-the-right-thing/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The greatest reward for a man's failure is not necessarily the consequent success, but what he becomes by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/the-greatest-reward-for-a-man-s-failure-is-not-necessarily-the/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/help-others-and-give-something-back-i-guarantee-you-will-discover/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [My greatest reward is that I have been able to build this wonderful organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/my-greatest-reward-is-that-i-have-been-able-to-build-this-wonderful/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-that-the-greatest-reward-for-doing-is-the-opportunity-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If uncovering the truth is the greatest challenge of nonfiction writing, it is also the greatest reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-millard/if-uncovering-the-truth-is-the-greatest-challenge-of-nonfiction/) [Candice Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-millard/) > [It is how we feel about ourselves that provides the greatest reward from any activity. It is not what we get that makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/it-is-how-we-feel-about-ourselves-that-provides-the-greatest-reward/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/to-my-mind-the-greatest-reward-and-luxury-of-travel-is-to-be-able-to/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [The greatest reward in becoming a millionaire is not the amount of money that you earn. It is the kind of person that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-reward-in-becoming-a-millionaire-is-not-the-amount-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [My greatest reward is knowing for certain, as I do with many other acts and artistes, that without Jonathan King being alive and involved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-king/my-greatest-reward-is-knowing-for-certain-as-i-do-with-many-other/) [Jonathan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-king/) > [We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-can-find-meaning-and-reward-by-serving-some-higher-purpose-than/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Do not expect human beings to reward you, don't even think about it, just LOVE, because you know at the end of the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-sanchez/do-not-expect-human-beings-to-reward-you-don-t-even-think-about-it/) [Bo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-sanchez/) > [The reward is in doing, but doing without expecting anything...doing unselfishly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reward-is-in-doing-but-doing-without-expecting-anything-doing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm working on something and I get to the point where I feel it getting interesting, that's my reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-peter-lindstr-m/when-i-m-working-on-something-and-i-get-to-the-point-where-i-feel-it/) [Hans-Peter Lindstrøm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-peter-lindstr-m/) ## More by John Carlos > [ \[Sport officials\] blocked their support of us. But those individuals \[ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar \] were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of-us-but-those-individuals/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [ The black socks \[on me at Olympics in 1968\] emphasized the fact that we had so many Blacks and people of color here in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/the-black-socks-on-me-at-olympics-in-1968-emphasized-the-fact-that-we/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I'm not too proud to do any job to support my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-m-not-too-proud-to-do-any-job-to-support-my-family/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [My kids going to school and teachers denying my kids the grades that they should have once they found out that I was their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/my-kids-going-to-school-and-teachers-denying-my-kids-the-grades-that/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I think it's something that we said collectively, in terms of the fact that we was getting ready to face probably the biggest storms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-think-it-s-something-that-we-said-collectively-in-terms-of-the-fact/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [If you look at the Olympic Games as a whole, if we would say we didn't want to interject politics into the games, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/if-you-look-at-the-olympic-games-as-a-whole-if-we-would-say-we-didn-t/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I think society had to grow up to the mentality of Peter Norman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-think-society-had-to-grow-up-to-the-mentality-of-peter-norman/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I was a pallbearer. I felt, when I got the call that Peter had died, I didn't have any bank account, but I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-was-a-pallbearer-i-felt-when-i-got-the-call-that-peter-had-died-i/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [ It took some time for us to realize that \[people\] didn't particularly say they didn't like us or have the love for us that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/it-took-some-time-for-us-to-realize-that-people-didn-t-particularly/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [Peter Norman is a humanitarian, and I say "is" because in my life, Peter Norman is never deceased. He's always going to live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/peter-norman-is-a-humanitarian-and-i-say-is-because-in-my-life-peter/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [Peter Norman's a man's man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/peter-norman-s-a-man-s-man/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [In life, there's the beginning and the end. The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. All that matters is what you do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/in-life-there-s-the-beginning-and-the-end-the-beginning-don-t-matter/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [ The beads around my neck \[at Olympics in 1968\] indicated that there were so many Blacks throughout the history of this country that have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/the-beads-around-my-neck-at-olympics-in-1968-indicated-that-there/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [ Peter \[Norman\] never vacated from himself as to who he was. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/peter-norman-never-vacated-from-himself-as-to-who-he-was/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) > [I'm sure there was people in Australia that told Peter Norman that hey, man, you shouldn't have done what you did, you shouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/i-m-sure-there-was-people-in-australia-that-told-peter-norman-that/) [John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) [Explore all 38 John Carlos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/) ## More Beginning quotes > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [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/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) [Adam Imad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-imad/) > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [January is the beginning of a new year for us in the Western world. Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [When God made the world, all things began with him. Life, death, it all began when he said so. That includes you and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manae-poet-of-carisis/when-god-made-the-world-all-things-began-with-him-life-death-it-all/) [Manae Poet Of Carisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manae-poet-of-carisis/) > [From the beginning at Intel, we planned on being big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-noyce/from-the-beginning-at-intel-we-planned-on-being-big/) [Robert Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-noyce/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [Some projects feel like the stars are aligning for them from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/some-projects-feel-like-the-stars-are-aligning-for-them-from-the-very/) [Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/) > [Do not judge me by my beginning, Only by my end, Nor by the path I took, But where it led me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacklyn-h-lucas/do-not-judge-me-by-my-beginning-only-by-my-end-nor-by-the-path-i-took/) [Jacklyn H Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacklyn-h-lucas/) [Browse all 3,566 Beginning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The beginning don't matter. The end don't matter. 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