--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Getting to know oneself is a lifelong…" description: "\"“Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing God is a matter that takes eternity; yet it is only as we get to know ourselves as well as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg" --- # Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing… ![“Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing God is a matter that takes eternity; yet it is only as we get to know ourselves as well as the God who transcends us that we can discover our unique reasons for being, our goals.” quote by Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg) > ““Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing God is a matter that takes eternity; yet it is only as we get to know ourselves as well as the God who transcends us that we can discover our unique reasons for being, our goals.”” [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains that self‑knowledge and divine understanding are intertwined, leading to personal purpose and goals. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself and God together helps find life’s purpose. Key Takeaway Seek deeper self‑reflection and spiritual connection. Themes self‑discovery spirituality purpose Mood inspirational thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal counseling - faith retreats - life coaching - educational seminars Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does your belief system shape your self‑understanding? - What practices deepen both self and spiritual insight? A Different Perspective May not apply to non‑theistic perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity-know-397441/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Know God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-god/) [Know Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-oneself/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Oneself Lifelong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-lifelong-2923664/) ## Related quotes > [“In some strange way, when we are about His business, He makes the eternity, about which we know so very little, work in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/in-some-strange-way-when-we-are-about-his-business-he-makes-the/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“The nature of one's own consciousness is the same as the nature of God and Godhead and, therefore, to know God, one must seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tau-malachi/the-nature-of-one-s-own-consciousness-is-the-same-as-the-nature-of/) [Tau Malachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tau-malachi/) > [For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/for-what-higher-more-exalted-and-more-compelling-goal-can-there-be/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [“YOU COULD HAVE HAD ETERNITY." "I know, I've been very lucky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-could-have-had-eternity-i-know-i-ve-been-very-lucky/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You just promised me eternity, you know. I can make you live to regret it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-just-promised-me-eternity-you-know-i-can-make-you-live-to-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're going to fellowship in eternity. We know that because that's all who's going to be there - is believers. What does God want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-re-going-to-fellowship-in-eternity-we-know-that-because-that-s-all/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [This is earth again, the earth where I've lived and now will live once more ... I've been to eternity and back. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/this-is-earth-again-the-earth-where-i-ve-lived-and-now-will-live-once/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [“This is a life you do not understand. Yes, your home is in the city, and you have furnished it with vanities, with pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/this-is-a-life-you-do-not-understand-yes-your-home-is-in-the-city-and/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [We're always thinking of eternity as an idea that cannot be understood, something immense. But why must it be? What if, instead of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/we-re-always-thinking-of-eternity-as-an-idea-that-cannot-be/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Do you know at this very moment you are surrounded by eternity? And do you know that you can use that eternity if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/do-you-know-at-this-very-moment-you-are-surrounded-by-eternity-and-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Eternity! How know we but we stand On the precipitous and crumbling verge Of Time e'en now, Eternity below?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-coles/eternity-how-know-we-but-we-stand-on-the-precipitous-and-crumbling/) [Abraham Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-coles/) > [I have never come to know God, to see God, to believe in God through doing science. He's not the conclusion of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/i-have-never-come-to-know-god-to-see-god-to-believe-in-god-through/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-want-to-know-how-god-created-this-world-i-am-not-interested-in-this/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [We should bathe our spirits in the deep, pure feeling that stirs within us when we gaze on the glories of His creation. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) ## More by Karen Burton Mains > [“Hospitality, however, seeks to minister. It says, "This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/hospitality-however-seeks-to-minister-it-says-this-home-is-not-mine/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“Secular entertaining is a terrible bondage. Its source is human pride. Demanding perfection, fostering the urge to impress, it is a rigorous taskmaster which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/secular-entertaining-is-a-terrible-bondage-its-source-is-human-pride/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“It is proper to say that the Christian's primary purpose as a steward is to add to the estate of his Master and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/it-is-proper-to-say-that-the-christian-s-primary-purpose-as-a-steward/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“Home is the place we should return to with eager spirits, the journey's end we reach with sighs of contentment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/home-is-the-place-we-should-return-to-with-eager-spirits-the-journey/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“In some strange way, when we are about His business, He makes the eternity, about which we know so very little, work in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/in-some-strange-way-when-we-are-about-his-business-he-makes-the/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“When we understand that He is Lord of our time, we realize that interruptions are of His planning. They become opportunities to serve rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/when-we-understand-that-he-is-lord-of-our-time-we-realize-that/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) > [“...the heart is a vessel not large enough to sustain love. Kneeling is the proper position for discovering love again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/the-heart-is-a-vessel-not-large-enough-to-sustain-love-kneeling-is/) [Karen Burton Mains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) [Explore all 8 Karen Burton Mains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing God is a matter that takes eternity; yet it is only as we get to know ourselves as well as the God who transcends us that we can discover our unique reasons for being, our goals.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Burton Mains" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-process-and-knowing-god-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-process-and-knowing-god-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/karen-burton-mains-47173_goals_getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-pr_307231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Getting to know oneself is a lifelong process, and knowing God is a matter that takes eternity; yet it is…” — Karen Burton Mains", "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": "Karen Burton Mains", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-burton-mains/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Getting to know oneself is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-process-and-knowing-god-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-burton-mains/getting-to-know-oneself-is-a-lifelong-process-and-knowing-god-is-a/#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 } } ] } ```