--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not enough to know what you want…" description: "\"It is not enough to know what you want, you must also know why you want it, and what you will do once you have it! All those elements impact the world ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/kathleen-mcgowan-22129_elements_it-is-not-enough-to-know-what-you-want-y_310723.jpg" --- # It is not enough to know what you want, you must also know… ![“It is not enough to know what you want, you must also know why you want it, and what you will do once you have it! All those elements impact the world around you and therefore must be considered.” quote by Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/kathleen-mcgowan-22129_elements_it-is-not-enough-to-know-what-you-want-y_310723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/kathleen-mcgowan-22129_elements_it-is-not-enough-to-know-what-you-want-y_310723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/kathleen-mcgowan-22129_elements_it-is-not-enough-to-know-what-you-want-y_310723.jpg) > “It is not enough to know what you want, you must also know why you want it, and what you will do once you have it! All those elements impact the world around you and therefore must be considered.” [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding both desire and purpose guides meaningful action and impact. **In simple terms:** Know why you want something and act accordingly. Key Takeaway Align goals with purpose before acting. Themes purpose goal setting self-awareness Mood thoughtful determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - project execution Key Concepts motivation decision making Questions to Reflect On - What is your core motivation for this goal? - How will you measure success after achieving it? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on purpose can lead to analysis paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-want/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-elements-2949931/) [Want Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-know/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I want to put elements from movies into TV to raise the quality of TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lau/i-want-to-put-elements-from-movies-into-tv-to-raise-the-quality-of-tv/) [Andrew Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lau/) > [I do not always know what I want, but I do know what I don't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/i-do-not-always-know-what-i-want-but-i-do-know-what-i-don-t-want/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [I know what I want because I know what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-know-what-i-want-because-i-know-what-i-want/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [“Know what you really want. Know why you want it and how you will get it. That's the key!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/know-what-you-really-want-know-why-you-want-it-and-how-you-will-get/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Go to college for what you want to know, not what you want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-walla/go-to-college-for-what-you-want-to-know-not-what-you-want-to-do/) [Chris Walla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-walla/) > [I don’t want to know anything, and I want to know it all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-don-t-want-to-know-anything-and-i-want-to-know-it-all/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“If you don't know what you want, others will want you for what they know! You must know yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-don-t-know-what-you-want-others-will-want-you-for-what-they/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I don't know what I want, but I know what I don't want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-don-t-know-what-i-want-but-i-know-what-i-don-t-want/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You will never know what you want to become until you know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tirelo-answer-phokane/you-will-never-know-what-you-want-to-become-until-you-know-yourself/) [Tirelo Answer Phokane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tirelo-answer-phokane/) > [What I told you before is still true. I want to know that when you're with me, it's because you want to be, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/what-i-told-you-before-is-still-true-i-want-to-know-that-when-you-re/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [“I want to know everything. I want to know how the clouds move and why islands fall into the sea. I want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-graham/i-want-to-know-everything-i-want-to-know-how-the-clouds-move-and-why/) [Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-graham/) > [People want to know more about me. They want to know who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-otunga/people-want-to-know-more-about-me-they-want-to-know-who-i-am/) [David Otunga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-otunga/) > [The more I know you, the more I want to know you more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lessin/the-more-i-know-you-the-more-i-want-to-know-you-more/) [Roy Lessin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lessin/) > [“I want to know what I want. For in setting forth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/i-want-to-know-what-i-want-for-in-setting-forth/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [If you don't know what you want, you will probably never get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/if-you-don-t-know-what-you-want-you-will-probably-never-get-it/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) ## More by Kathleen McGowan > [The pure perfect truth of life is that we are here to create heaven on earth, to bring the perfection of what is above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/the-pure-perfect-truth-of-life-is-that-we-are-here-to-create-heaven/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“You cannot save another person from his or her spiritual lessons, no matter how much you may want to or how hard you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/you-cannot-save-another-person-from-his-or-her-spiritual-lessons-no/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“No matter what anyone “does to you” along your path to either personal or professional happiness, that person cannot interfere with your destiny. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/no-matter-what-anyone-does-to-you-along-your-path-to-either-personal/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“And whose rules will choose to you follow? God's? Or man's? You say you want to break the outmoded patterns and crate a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/and-whose-rules-will-choose-to-you-follow-god-s-or-man-s-you-say-you/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [For love that is not requited in equal measure is not love at all; it is not sacred. And holding on to the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/for-love-that-is-not-requited-in-equal-measure-is-not-love-at-all-it/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“Dear God, please help me find the strength and love within myself to forgive others so that I may move forward on my path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/dear-god-please-help-me-find-the-strength-and-love-within-myself-to/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [History is not what happened but what is written down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/history-is-not-what-happened-but-what-is-written-down/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“True love cannot be stolen. The right mate is out there for me and will come into my life as soon as I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/true-love-cannot-be-stolen-the-right-mate-is-out-there-for-me-and/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“I tell you the truth. The person that believes in me will do the same things I have done. Yes! He will do even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/i-tell-you-the-truth-the-person-that-believes-in-me-will-do-the-same/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“FINDING FORGIVENESS : THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF AMY BIEHL AND HER FAMILY”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/finding-forgiveness-the-extraordinary-legacy-of-amy-biehl-and-her/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/give-to-the-one-who-asks-you-and-do-not-turn-away-from-the-one-who/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“THE PARABLE OF THE LABORER AND THE BOOTS Long ago there lived a man called Frederick who worked hard to provide for his wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/the-parable-of-the-laborer-and-the-boots-long-ago-there-lived-a-man/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“I am worthy of my healthy, direct relationship with God, and I surrender all my doubt about this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/i-am-worthy-of-my-healthy-direct-relationship-with-god-and-i/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [The stars remind us every night that we have the opportunity to create heaven on earth. from The Expected One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/the-stars-remind-us-every-night-that-we-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) > [“Forgiveness is the great equalizer. It costs you nothing but buys you everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcgowan/forgiveness-is-the-great-equalizer-it-costs-you-nothing-but-buys-you/) [Kathleen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) [Explore all 28 Kathleen McGowan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcgowan/) ## More Elements quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [I find in working always the disturbing intrusion of elements not a part of my most interested vision, and the inevitable obliteration and replacement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/i-find-in-working-always-the-disturbing-intrusion-of-elements-not-a/) [Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/) > [Music and language are a vital element. We, as actors and directors, offer it to people who want to experience it. Sometimes the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/music-and-language-are-a-vital-element-we-as-actors-and-directors/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [Intelligence is a separate gift, for the benefit of students, so that they may think of themselves as intellectual and not very intelligent, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/intelligence-is-a-separate-gift-for-the-benefit-of-students-so-that/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [To me, the most important elements in a theatre are the actors and the texts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/to-me-the-most-important-elements-in-a-theatre-are-the-actors-and-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Two elements are needed to form a truth - a fact and an abstraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/two-elements-are-needed-to-form-a-truth-a-fact-and-an-abstraction/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) [Browse all 3,647 Elements quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not enough to know what you want, you must also know why you want it, and what you will do once you have it! 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