--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...we have the satisfaction of knowing…" description: "\"“...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we did, we did at the time in the best of faith. Of course, we took some bold steps and often did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg" --- # ...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we… ![“...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we did, we did at the time in the best of faith. Of course, we took some bold steps and often did things with much single-mindedness; but this is surely preferable to never putting one's convictions to the test, for lack of will or courage.” quote by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg) > ““...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we did, we did at the time in the best of faith. Of course, we took some bold steps and often did things with much single-mindedness; but this is surely preferable to never putting one's convictions to the test, for lack of will or courage.”” [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting on convictions, even imperfectly, is better than never testing them; boldness and single‑mindedness matter. **In simple terms:** Act on beliefs rather than avoid them. Key Takeaway Choose action over in. Themes courage conviction action integrity Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - political activism - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts Ethics existentialism personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What conviction have you avoided testing? - How can you act boldly yet responsibly? A Different Perspective Bold steps can lead to unintended harm if not balanced with reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Let us share to others the wonderful things we received from God and the best of them all is the faith in Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/let-us-share-to-others-the-wonderful-things-we-received-from-god-and/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Always hope for the best, but have faith you can handle the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester/always-hope-for-the-best-but-have-faith-you-can-handle-the-worst/) Sylvester > [I swear I will never henceforth have to do with the faith that tells the best! I will have to do only with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-swear-i-will-never-henceforth-have-to-do-with-the-faith-that-tells/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Unbelief will destroy the best of us; faith will save the worst of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/unbelief-will-destroy-the-best-of-us-faith-will-save-the-worst-of-us/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [... we have the satisfaction of knowing that because all of us believed, we inspired, motivated, and liberated some of the most beautiful people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-allison-burch/we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-because-all-of-us-believed/) Mary Allison Burch > [There is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that you know how to do your job and can go on to the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-kongara/there-is-a-deep-sense-of-satisfaction-in-knowing-that-you-know-how-to/) [Sudha Kongara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-kongara/) > [“There is satisfaction in knowing that something good and right and true was part of you. That you had the blessing, gift, good fortune,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/there-is-satisfaction-in-knowing-that-something-good-and-right-and/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [Dont let him have the satisfaction of knowing youll always be there waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/dont-let-him-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-youll-always-be-there/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [Let the spirit of your work be right, and whether your task be great or small you will then have the satisfaction of knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-the-spirit-of-your-work-be-right-and-whether-your-task-be-great/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [I get enormous satisfaction from knowing I'm doing something for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-get-enormous-satisfaction-from-knowing-i-m-doing-something-for/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/success-is-peace-of-mind-which-is-a-direct-result-of-self-2/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I believe happiness is a chemical imbalance - it's a silly thing to strife for. But satisfaction - if you seek satisfaction, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-believe-happiness-is-a-chemical-imbalance-it-s-a-silly-thing-to/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I love to do things like sail and hike, but they don't give me the satisfaction of knowing the potential of something you've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mello/i-love-to-do-things-like-sail-and-hike-but-they-don-t-give-me-the/) [Craig Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mello/) > [I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something useful for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/i-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-i-did-something-useful-for-society/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/success-is-peace-of-mind-which-is-a-direct-result-of-self/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More by Kazuo Ishiguro > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [As a writer, I'm more interested in what people tell themselves happened rather than what actually happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/as-a-writer-i-m-more-interested-in-what-people-tell-themselves/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“About him and his wife voting for different parties. A few years ago that would have been unthinkable.” “No doubt.” “Quite extraordinary the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/about-him-and-his-wife-voting-for-different-parties-a-few-years-ago/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“But what is the sense in forever speculating what might have happened had such and such a moment turned out differently? One could presumably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/but-what-is-the-sense-in-forever-speculating-what-might-have-happened/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“Silence is just as likely to indicate the most profound ideas forming, the deepest energies being summoned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/silence-is-just-as-likely-to-indicate-the-most-profound-ideas-forming/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“I don't know why, but it didn't seem an option for more than one of us to storm off, and I wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-don-t-know-why-but-it-didn-t-seem-an-option-for-more-than-one-of-us/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [Our family arrived in England in 1960. At that time I thought the war was ancient history. But if I think of 15 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/our-family-arrived-in-england-in-1960-at-that-time-i-thought-the-war/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/he-chose-a-certain-path-in-life-it-proved-to-be-a-misguided-one-but/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“For however one may come in later years to reassess one’s achievements, it is always a consolation to know that one’s life has contained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/for-however-one-may-come-in-later-years-to-reassess-one-s/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [You're always in a rush, or else you're too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/you-re-always-in-a-rush-or-else-you-re-too-exhausted-to-have-a-proper/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I don't think it's any fun, even if you are one of the most respected authors in the world like Margaret Atwood, to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-don-t-think-it-s-any-fun-even-if-you-are-one-of-the-most-respected/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I think it's quite difficult to understand what kind of life a writer leads. They might be millionaires, or they might be starving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-think-it-s-quite-difficult-to-understand-what-kind-of-life-a-writer/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“But this small episode is as good an illustration as any of the hazards of uttering witticisms. By the very nature of a witticism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/but-this-small-episode-is-as-good-an-illustration-as-any-of-the/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [There comes a point when you can more or less count the number of books you're going to write before you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/there-comes-a-point-when-you-can-more-or-less-count-the-number-of/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [My wife is the most savage critic. She doesn't feel intimidated by my reputation. As far as she's concerned, she's just criticising a boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/my-wife-is-the-most-savage-critic-she-doesn-t-feel-intimidated-by-my/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) [Explore all 292 Kazuo Ishiguro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) Kristen Armstrong > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we did, we did at the time in the best of faith. Of course, we took some bold steps and often did things with much single-mindedness; but this is surely preferable to never putting one's convictions to the test, for lack of will or courage.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kazuo Ishiguro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-whatever-we-did-we-did-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-whatever-we-did-we-did-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/539/kazuo-ishiguro-1029_courage_we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that_836932.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...we have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever we did, we did at the time in the best of faith. Of…” — Kazuo Ishiguro", "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": "Kazuo Ishiguro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...we have the satisfaction of knowing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-whatever-we-did-we-did-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/we-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-whatever-we-did-we-did-at/#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 } } ] } ```