--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Long ago I learned nothing gets done by…" description: "\"Long ago I learned nothing gets done by just wishing it. You have to do it.\" — Louis L'Amour" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/louis-l-amour-876_action_long-ago-i-learned-nothing-gets-done-by_2147361.jpg" --- # Long ago I learned nothing gets done by just wishing it… ![“Long ago I learned nothing gets done by just wishing it. You have to do it.” quote by Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/louis-l-amour-876_action_long-ago-i-learned-nothing-gets-done-by_2147361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/louis-l-amour-876_action_long-ago-i-learned-nothing-gets-done-by_2147361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/418/louis-l-amour-876_action_long-ago-i-learned-nothing-gets-done-by_2147361.jpg) > “Long ago I learned nothing gets done by just wishing it. You have to do it.” [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action is required to achieve results; wishing alone is insufficient. **In simple terms:** Wishes alone won’t work; you must act. Key Takeaway Take decisive action. Themes effort responsibility achievement Mood determined motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - personal projects - career goals - health habits - community service Key Concepts agency self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What concrete step can you take today? - How do you overcome procrastination? A Different Perspective Wishes may motivate but cannot replace concrete steps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/) ## Related quotes > [“I just keep wishing, I could think of a way, to show to them that they don't own me. That if I'm gonna die,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-just-keep-wishing-i-could-think-of-a-way-to-show-to-them-that-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Long, long ago, I learned the heart cannot live in two places. I had to choose. My heart is in America. Where is yours?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marivi-soliven/long-long-ago-i-learned-the-heart-cannot-live-in-two-places-i-had-to/) Marivi Soliven > [When it gets down to it you just have to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/when-it-gets-down-to-it-you-just-have-to-act/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) > [“It's not what you're not sure of that gets you: It's when you just know it's okay, and you don't check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-lewis/it-s-not-what-you-re-not-sure-of-that-gets-you-it-s-when-you-just/) S.J. Lewis > [It doesn't matter who gets what. It's just a matter of doing what it takes to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/it-doesn-t-matter-who-gets-what-it-s-just-a-matter-of-doing-what-it/) [Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/) > [“When life gets you down, just keep swimming”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorry/when-life-gets-you-down-just-keep-swimming/) dorry > [A long time ago I learned how to shut my mouth, listen to my coaches and put trust in my coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-hager/a-long-time-ago-i-learned-how-to-shut-my-mouth-listen-to-my-coaches/) [Jake Hager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-hager/) > [“Long ago, I had learned that you could imagine anything you wanted, that the space inside your head belonged to you. Furnished and decorated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatriz-williams/long-ago-i-had-learned-that-you-could-imagine-anything-you-wanted/) [Beatriz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatriz-williams/) > [“She'd long ago learned that only those with something to lose were afraid of dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/she-d-long-ago-learned-that-only-those-with-something-to-lose-were/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) > [“Here was where she had learned this skill all those years ago, where she had learned how good it felt to run away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/here-was-where-she-had-learned-this-skill-all-those-years-ago-where/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A long time ago, I learned not to go up to the boss and ask what's happening to my character. I haven't done that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-easton/a-long-time-ago-i-learned-not-to-go-up-to-the-boss-and-ask-what-s/) [Michael Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-easton/) > [I feel like a caged bird waiting to be freed Living in a world where people are not what they seem Not knowing not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curly-girl/i-feel-like-a-caged-bird-waiting-to-be-freed-living-in-a-world-where/) Curly Girl > [I felt proud of them and happy for them as friends. But then I was, not jealous in a bad way, but I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-rose/i-felt-proud-of-them-and-happy-for-them-as-friends-but-then-i-was-not/) Malik Rose > [Just wishing I could do the job for you, sir. I'd give her a HA! And a HI-YA! And then a OUU-WA! And I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bartok/just-wishing-i-could-do-the-job-for-you-sir-i-d-give-her-a-ha-and-a/) Bartok > [Im not saying you have to love me, Im just wishing one day you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/im-not-saying-you-have-to-love-me-im-just-wishing-one-day-you-will/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) ## More by Louis L'Amour > [“If you play games with men,” he replied, “you’ll play by men’s rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/if-you-play-games-with-men-he-replied-you-ll-play-by-men-s-rules/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [He never knew when he was whipped ... So he never was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-never-knew-when-he-was-whipped-so-he-never-was/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“It is through wonder that we come to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/it-is-through-wonder-that-we-come-to-know/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [We are, finally, all wanderers in search of knowledge. Most of us hold the dream of becoming something better than we are, something larger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/we-are-finally-all-wanderers-in-search-of-knowledge-most-of-us-hold/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Much of command is the ability to take command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/much-of-command-is-the-ability-to-take-command/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“he had been so right, and she hated him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-had-been-so-right-and-she-hated-him-for-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“I will go with you, and when you make your camp, I will cook your meat, and when you wish to sleep, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-will-go-with-you-and-when-you-make-your-camp-i-will-cook-your-meat/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/men-strive-for-peace-but-it-is-their-enemies-that-give-them-strength/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-will-come-a-time-when-you-believe-everything-is-finished-yet/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Destarte! How musical! What does it mean?” “You can’t say it except in Mescalero. It means Morning, but that isn’t what it means, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/destarte-how-musical-what-does-it-mean-you-can-t-say-it-except-in/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [You can't fight the desert... you have to ride with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/you-can-t-fight-the-desert-you-have-to-ride-with-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Must one seek something? I seek to be seeking, as I learn to be learning. Each book is an adventure as is each day’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/must-one-seek-something-i-seek-to-be-seeking-as-i-learn-to-be/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [A man in his life may have many teachers, some most unexpected. The question lies with the man himself: Will he learn from them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/a-man-in-his-life-may-have-many-teachers-some-most-unexpected-the/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Like I say, I killed a man or two but I'm no thief. My ma raised me better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/like-i-say-i-killed-a-man-or-two-but-i-m-no-thief-my-ma-raised-me/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) [Explore all 337 Louis L'Amour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## More Action 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/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Long ago I learned nothing gets done by just wishing it. 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