--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s one thing to decide what you want…" description: "\"“It’s one thing to decide what you want. It’s quite another to know how to get it. William doesn’t know how, but he is trying.”\" — Joshilyn Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/joshilyn-jackson-12303_quote_it-s-one-thing-to-decide-what-you-want-i_1374356.jpg" --- # It’s one thing to decide what you want. It’s quite another… ![“It’s one thing to decide what you want. It’s quite another to know how to get it. William doesn’t know how, but he is trying.” quote by Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/joshilyn-jackson-12303_quote_it-s-one-thing-to-decide-what-you-want-i_1374356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/joshilyn-jackson-12303_quote_it-s-one-thing-to-decide-what-you-want-i_1374356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/joshilyn-jackson-12303_quote_it-s-one-thing-to-decide-what-you-want-i_1374356.jpg) > ““It’s one thing to decide what you want. It’s quite another to know how to get it. William doesn’t know how, but he is trying.”” [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire and execution are distinct; knowing the path is as crucial as wanting it. **In simple terms:** Wanting isn’t enough; you need a plan. Key Takeaway Develop a clear strategy to achieve goals. Themes goal‑setting action knowledge Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - skill acquisition Key Concepts planning self‑efficacy motivation Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to bridge desire and execution? - How do you acquire the knowledge needed for your goals? A Different Perspective Without a plan, effort may be misdirected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decide Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-want-412457/) [Know Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-trying-363034/) [Know William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-william-2617470/) [Thing Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-decide-1054577/) ## Related quotes > [The last thing we decide in writing a book is what to put first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-last-thing-we-decide-in-writing-a-book-is-what-to-put-first/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“The only thing you can do is decide how to live your own life. And to hell with everybody else”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-sexton/the-only-thing-you-can-do-is-decide-how-to-live-your-own-life-and-to/) [Marie Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-sexton/) > [“I don't know that I ever planned on having children, but it's one thing to decide you aren't going to do something and another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-gironimi/i-don-t-know-that-i-ever-planned-on-having-children-but-it-s-one/) [Jay Gironimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-gironimi/) > [“Someone who hasn't read a novel doesn't really know what it's about, William.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/someone-who-hasn-t-read-a-novel-doesn-t-really-know-what-it-s-about/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Be true to yourself. because if your not you, dont know who you are (By William Avery Smith)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-avery-smith/be-true-to-yourself-because-if-your-not-you-dont-know-who-you-are-by/) [William Avery Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-avery-smith/) > [If you're saved and you're breathing, you need to know who William Tyndale is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/if-you-re-saved-and-you-re-breathing-you-need-to-know-who-william/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [If I have several bad guys and I only want to end up with one of them, then I have to decide which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-i-have-several-bad-guys-and-i-only-want-to-end-up-with-one-of-them/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Once they see that you're doing better without them, then they decide that they want you back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-they-see-that-you-re-doing-better-without-them-then-they-decide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Who gets to decide what you want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/who-gets-to-decide-what-you-want/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [In order to get what you want, you must first decide what you want. Most people really foul up at this crucial first step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/in-order-to-get-what-you-want-you-must-first-decide-what-you-want/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [The first step to getting the things you want from life is to decide what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-step-to-getting-the-things-you-want-from-life-is-to-decide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first step in getting what you want from life-decide what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/the-first-step-in-getting-what-you-want-from-life-decide-what-you-want/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Every pro has to decide what they want from their ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/every-pro-has-to-decide-what-they-want-from-their-ball/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming too styled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-don-t-want-other-people-to-decide-who-i-am-i-want-to-decide-that/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) [Raajni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raajni/) ## More by Joshilyn Jackson > [“I wanted her note to say that I was a red hole dug out of the guts of her, a seeping wound that hadn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/i-wanted-her-note-to-say-that-i-was-a-red-hole-dug-out-of-the-guts-of/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“A whole and grown-­up person would go and simply tell him. I’m in love with you. A whole and grown-­up person would ask him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/a-whole-and-grown-up-person-would-go-and-simply-tell-him-i-m-in-love/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“Young men, romantics, call it love at first sight, but even then I understood it was only prettiness. Young men see pretty, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/young-men-romantics-call-it-love-at-first-sight-but-even-then-i/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“He was so beautiful. He wasn’t mine. I should run to the mountains now, and hide. I should run right into his arms and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/he-was-so-beautiful-he-wasn-t-mine-i-should-run-to-the-mountains-now/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“Saying it it loud, she felt every inch of distance between them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/saying-it-it-loud-she-felt-every-inch-of-distance-between-them/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“You go to bed, too, and don’t fret, hear me? Things feel hard now, but it will pass. Everything passes, and something new comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/you-go-to-bed-too-and-don-t-fret-hear-me-things-feel-hard-now-but-it/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“William knows that science and magic are the same thing; magic is only science that hasn’t been explained yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/william-knows-that-science-and-magic-are-the-same-thing-magic-is-only/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“He was treating me like something breakable, which is different from how you treat something you yourself have broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/he-was-treating-me-like-something-breakable-which-is-different-from/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“I wanted to show up. I wanted you to know, I will show up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/i-wanted-to-show-up-i-wanted-you-to-know-i-will-show-up/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“The playground song in my head went, First comes love, then comes hideous betrayal, then comes endless regret requiring expensive therapy. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/the-playground-song-in-my-head-went-first-comes-love-then-comes/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“I'd let him put his hand under my shirt, over the bra, where he kneaded with delighted disbelief at my booby. It had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/i-d-let-him-put-his-hand-under-my-shirt-over-the-bra-where-he-kneaded/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“You go to bed, too, and don’t fret, hear me? Things feel hard now, but it will pass. Everything passes, and something new comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/you-go-to-bed-too-and-don-t-fret-hear-me-things-feel-hard-now-but-it-2/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“This was another pretend, and here in a yard on a bench was his real wife, with sad, kind, tired eyes. The lesson of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/this-was-another-pretend-and-here-in-a-yard-on-a-bench-was-his-real/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“Lavender and I have been living in a house of cards, while Smiley Daddy took us to Greece. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/lavender-and-i-have-been-living-in-a-house-of-cards-while-smiley/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [I would take today's joy, and tomorrow's. I would take it with both hands, anywhere it came.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/i-would-take-today-s-joy-and-tomorrow-s-i-would-take-it-with-both/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) [Explore all 55 Joshilyn Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) [Raajni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raajni/) > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) [Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s one thing to decide what you want. 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