--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never knew what I was doing until I was…" description: "\"I never knew what I was doing until I was done.\" — Man Ray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png" --- # I never knew what I was doing until I was done. ![“I never knew what I was doing until I was done.” quote by Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png) > “I never knew what I was doing until I was done.” [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑realization often arrives only after completing an action, highlighting hindsight’s role in understanding. **In simple terms:** Understanding comes after doing. Key Takeaway Act first, reflect later. Themes self‑discovery process reflection Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - creative projects - personal goals - skill acquisition - life decisions Key Concepts experience learning awareness Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn after finishing? - How does hindsight shape future actions? A Different Perspective Risk of acting without foresight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Knew Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-doing/) ## Related quotes > [I knew what I was doing, but I never really considered the magnitude of how my images were transformative to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-knew-what-i-was-doing-but-i-never-really-considered-the-magnitude/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I always knew what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-gleason/i-always-knew-what-i-was-doing/) [Jackie Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-gleason/) > [If I told people that I knew what I was doing, nobody would believe me, so why even try and fake it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mason/if-i-told-people-that-i-knew-what-i-was-doing-nobody-would-believe-me/) [Andrew Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mason/) > [I knew I was doing something right because it was selling so I didn't want to interfere with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/i-knew-i-was-doing-something-right-because-it-was-selling-so-i-didn-t/) [Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/) > [“Once I knew what I was doing I was there and with it; I had the total knowing. I Googled God and orgasmed At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/initially-no/once-i-knew-what-i-was-doing-i-was-there-and-with-it-i-had-the-total/) [Initially NO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/initially-no/) > [Nature knew what she was doing when she figured out the penis and the cunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/nature-knew-what-she-was-doing-when-she-figured-out-the-penis-and-the/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [Do you think God knew what he was doing when he created woman?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/do-you-think-god-knew-what-he-was-doing-when-he-created-woman/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [My mom was a single mom, and she had enough on her plate. I knew when I was doing something I wasn't supposed to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/my-mom-was-a-single-mom-and-she-had-enough-on-her-plate-i-knew-when-i/) [Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/) > [In a novel, you can always go back and make it look like you knew what you were doing all along before the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/in-a-novel-you-can-always-go-back-and-make-it-look-like-you-knew-what/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I really wish I knew what I was doing because I'd be writing hit songs every minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/i-really-wish-i-knew-what-i-was-doing-because-i-d-be-writing-hit/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [That was all Rose, and Rose knew what she was doing. Her main thing was story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goodman/that-was-all-rose-and-rose-knew-what-she-was-doing-her-main-thing-was/) [John Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goodman/) > [When I started working, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, in that I was just wandering around, hoping that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/when-i-started-working-i-didn-t-have-a-clue-what-i-was-doing-in-that/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [Ultimately you should follow advice not because someone tells you to, but because it was something that you already knew you should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-tao/ultimately-you-should-follow-advice-not-because-someone-tells-you-to/) [Terence Tao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-tao/) > [I love Lauryn Hill when she first came out with her solo project because it felt like she just knew what she was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-love-lauryn-hill-when-she-first-came-out-with-her-solo-project/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [From nine, I started playing cricket. From 11, I knew this is what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/from-nine-i-started-playing-cricket-from-11-i-knew-this-is-what-i-m/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) ## More by Man Ray > [All critics should be assassinated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/all-critics-should-be-assassinated/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Each one of us, in his timidity, has a limit beyond which he is outraged. It is inevitable that he who by concentrated application…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/each-one-of-us-in-his-timidity-has-a-limit-beyond-which-he-is/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [A camera alone does not make a picture. To make a picture you need a camera, a photographer and above all a subject. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/a-camera-alone-does-not-make-a-picture-to-make-a-picture-you-need-a/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/personally-i-have-always-preferred-inspiration-to-information/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [I believe in the relation between photography and music; And thats my inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-believe-in-the-relation-between-photography-and-music-and-thats-my/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Just as I work with paints, brushes, and canvas, I work with the light, pieces of glass and chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/just-as-i-work-with-paints-brushes-and-canvas-i-work-with-the-light/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Lipstick is the red badge of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/lipstick-is-the-red-badge-of-courage/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Speaking of nudes, I have always had a great fondness for this subject, both in my paintings and in my photos, and I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/speaking-of-nudes-i-have-always-had-a-great-fondness-for-this-subject/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [All my life I have painted pictures so that certain people would drop dead when they looked at them, but I have not succeeded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/all-my-life-i-have-painted-pictures-so-that-certain-people-would-drop/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [You don’t ask a writer what typewriter he uses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/you-don-t-ask-a-writer-what-typewriter-he-uses/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [I am not going to be dictated to by the size of the camera. I use everything from an 8 x 10 to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-am-not-going-to-be-dictated-to-by-the-size-of-the-camera-i-use/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [An original is a creation motivated by desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/an-original-is-a-creation-motivated-by-desire/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Dada cannot live in New York. All New York is dada, and will not tolerate a rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/dada-cannot-live-in-new-york-all-new-york-is-dada-and-will-not/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [Quote me as much as you like; as a matter of fact I don’t even mind if you misquote me !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/quote-me-as-much-as-you-like-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-don-t-even-mind-if/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [If I'd had the nerve, I'd have become a thief or a gangster, but since I didn't, I became a photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/if-i-d-had-the-nerve-i-d-have-become-a-thief-or-a-gangster-but-since/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) [Explore all 53 Man Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) ## More Doing quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [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/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [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/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/) [Kitty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [“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 dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) [Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never knew what I was doing until I was done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Man Ray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-was-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-was-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/man-ray-12681_doing_i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-wa_1411364.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never knew what I was doing until I was done.” — Man Ray", "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": "Man Ray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never knew what I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-was-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/i-never-knew-what-i-was-doing-until-i-was-done/#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 } } ] } ```