--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have to answer. Until you know…" description: "\"I don't have to answer. Until you know the question.\" — Julie Anne Peters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eee/julie-anne-peters-2961_answer_i-don-t-have-to-answer-until-you-know-th_1401918.png" --- # I don't have to answer. Until you know the question. ![“I don't have to answer. Until you know the question.” quote by Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eee/julie-anne-peters-2961_answer_i-don-t-have-to-answer-until-you-know-th_1401918.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eee/julie-anne-peters-2961_answer_i-don-t-have-to-answer-until-you-know-th_1401918.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eee/julie-anne-peters-2961_answer_i-don-t-have-to-answer-until-you-know-th_1401918.png) > “I don't have to answer. Until you know the question.” [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) ## 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 suggests that without a clear question, one cannot provide an answer, emphasizing the need for clarity before responding. **In simple terms:** You need a clear question before answering. Key Takeaway Clarify the question first. Themes communication clarity questioning Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - debates - customer service - education - legal proceedings Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What question are you trying to answer? - How can you ensure the question is well‑formed? A Different Perspective If the question is vague, any answer may be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [When you don't know what the answer is, you know \*Who\* the answer is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-burkett/when-you-don-t-know-what-the-answer-is-you-know-who-the-answer-is/) [Larry Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-burkett/) > [I don't give in, I don't give up, I don't take no for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-roberts/i-don-t-give-in-i-don-t-give-up-i-don-t-take-no-for-an-answer/) [Doris Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-roberts/) > [I really don't have to answer to nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phife-dawg/i-really-don-t-have-to-answer-to-nobody/) [Phife Dawg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phife-dawg/) > [Don't take 'no' for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-no-for-an-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is the answer. What we dont know is the question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-reay/life-is-the-answer-what-we-dont-know-is-the-question/) Joanne Reay > [Never in his life had occasion to ask himself, "Why are things the way they are?" Why should he bother, when the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/never-in-his-life-had-occasion-to-ask-himself-why-are-things-the-way/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [What was life asking of me? How could I respond when I didn't know the question?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/what-was-life-asking-of-me-how-could-i-respond-when-i-didn-t-know-the/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“I want to ask you something.' 'The answer's yes.' 'What? You don't know the question yet.' 'Yes, I do. It's am I fantastic in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jarratt/i-want-to-ask-you-something-the-answer-s-yes-what-you-don-t-know-the/) Laura Jarratt > [All I am saying is that if you want to answer a question, then we need to examine and weigh up the evidence. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/all-i-am-saying-is-that-if-you-want-to-answer-a-question-then-we-need/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“Be sure you want the answer before you ask the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mcbride/be-sure-you-want-the-answer-before-you-ask-the-question/) Carolyn McBride > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [You ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/you-ask-me-a-question-i-m-going-to-give-you-an-honest-answer/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [ “What is the answer?" \[ I \[Alice B Toklas\] was silent \] In that case, what is the question?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was-silent-in-that-case-what-is/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Julie Anne Peters > [I don't have alot of people to talk to. Not alot of people are worth my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-don-t-have-alot-of-people-to-talk-to-not-alot-of-people-are-worth/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [You won't know until it's over. You won't find me in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/you-won-t-know-until-it-s-over-you-won-t-find-me-in-time/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Stop trying to save me. You couldn't then; you can't now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/stop-trying-to-save-me-you-couldn-t-then-you-can-t-now/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I'm scared. What will tomorrow bring? It has to be better than today. It has to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-m-scared-what-will-tomorrow-bring-it-has-to-be-better-than-today-it/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“During those times, they'd stand there watching me watching them. I'd pray, please. Put a pillow to my face. Clench a hand around my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/during-those-times-they-d-stand-there-watching-me-watching-them-i-d/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I may be fat and ugly, but I'm not stupid. If anyone had ever gotten past my looks, they might've noticed I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-may-be-fat-and-ugly-but-i-m-not-stupid-if-anyone-had-ever-gotten/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Our eyes met across the crowded room, like in the movies, except we didn't share a knowing smile and race into each other's arms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/our-eyes-met-across-the-crowded-room-like-in-the-movies-except-we/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“I can't. I don't trust people anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-can-t-i-don-t-trust-people-anymore/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I want to tell them, "Chip, Kim, there is no way to suicide-proof a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-want-to-tell-them-chip-kim-there-is-no-way-to-suicide-proof-a-person/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [I throw him two bones: a smile and a nod. Both lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-throw-him-two-bones-a-smile-and-a-nod-both-lies/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“Sometimes I felt as if there were no tomorrows, that everything, my whole life, was crammed into one long day. A continuos stretch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/sometimes-i-felt-as-if-there-were-no-tomorrows-that-everything-my/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“I wanted to be with her, like all the time. Eliminate the obstacles, the people and things in our lives that were keeping us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/i-wanted-to-be-with-her-like-all-the-time-eliminate-the-obstacles-the/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“My name, from his lips. It still made my heart leap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/my-name-from-his-lips-it-still-made-my-heart-leap/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [What I know is you can't go back. You can't press delete and re-key your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/what-i-know-is-you-can-t-go-back-you-can-t-press-delete-and-re-key/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) [Explore all 143 Julie Anne Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't have to answer. 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