--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody smart knows what they want to do…" description: "\"Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.\" — Michael Crichton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg" --- # Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get… ![“Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.” quote by Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg) > “Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.” [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-discovery often occurs later in life as experience clarifies personal aspirations. **In simple terms:** Clarity of purpose emerges with age. Key Takeaway Purpose is refined through lived experience. Themes self-discovery life stages personal growth career development identity formation Mood reflective inquisitive Type observational advice When to use this quote - career planning - midlife transition - educational counseling - personal coaching - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts experience reflection maturity Practical Applications - career counseling - personal development workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does experience shape your goals? - What steps can you take now to explore future interests? A Different Perspective Some individuals have clear goals early on, driven by innate passion or early exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Thirties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirties/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [I made a lot of changes in my life between my twenties and thirties, and it all sort of revolves around how I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/i-made-a-lot-of-changes-in-my-life-between-my-twenties-and-thirties/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [I told her it was a bigger than life musical, that all the actors were going to be about the same age, late twenties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randal-kleiser/i-told-her-it-was-a-bigger-than-life-musical-that-all-the-actors-were/) [Randal Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randal-kleiser/) > [If you're a man in your twenties or thirties, and you have yet to make your fortune, I would urge you not to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/if-you-re-a-man-in-your-twenties-or-thirties-and-you-have-yet-to-make/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [During my twenties and thirties, my interest in the political poem increased as my apparent access to it declined. I sensed resistances around me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eavan-boland/during-my-twenties-and-thirties-my-interest-in-the-political-poem/) [Eavan Boland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eavan-boland/) > [I'd never want to go back to being in my twenties or thirties. I was lost and confused and uncomfortable in my own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/i-d-never-want-to-go-back-to-being-in-my-twenties-or-thirties-i-was/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [Lust comes and goes, even in your twenties and thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marsh/lust-comes-and-goes-even-in-your-twenties-and-thirties/) [Jean Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marsh/) > [I spent my late twenties and all of my thirties figuring out what I was supposed to be doing and where my home was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-salie/i-spent-my-late-twenties-and-all-of-my-thirties-figuring-out-what-i/) [Faith Salie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-salie/) > [Oh, the twenties and the thirties were not otherwise designedThan other times when blind men into ditches led the blind,When the rich mouse ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-plomer/oh-the-twenties-and-the-thirties-were-not-otherwise-designedthan/) [William Plomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-plomer/) > [“We all spend our twenties and thirties trying so hard to be perfect, because we’re so worried about what people will think of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/we-all-spend-our-twenties-and-thirties-trying-so-hard-to-be-perfect/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [For a while in the twenties and thirties, art was talked about as a substitute for religion; now B movies are a substitute for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/for-a-while-in-the-twenties-and-thirties-art-was-talked-about-as-a/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [It doesn't surprise me that men in their twenties and thirties are often looking for a much older woman. What is the problem with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/it-doesn-t-surprise-me-that-men-in-their-twenties-and-thirties-are/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [“It was one thing to be depressed in your twenties or thirties, when the aspect of youth gave it an undeniable poignancy, a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-merkin/it-was-one-thing-to-be-depressed-in-your-twenties-or-thirties-when/) [Daphne Merkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-merkin/) > [I like being 30. I wouldn't want to do the twenties again. They are their own entity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rhys-meyers/i-like-being-30-i-wouldn-t-want-to-do-the-twenties-again-they-are/) [Jonathan Rhys Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rhys-meyers/) > [It does not matter how smart you are if nobody knows what you are talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/it-does-not-matter-how-smart-you-are-if-nobody-knows-what-you-are/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [This race is not for the swift, but for the smart, for the one who knows himself as the winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burning-spear/this-race-is-not-for-the-swift-but-for-the-smart-for-the-one-who/) [Burning Spear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burning-spear/) ## More by Michael Crichton > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“it is important to recognize that the behavior of the two antagonists mirrors each other, like a Rorschach inkblot. The value of a Rorschach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/it-is-important-to-recognize-that-the-behavior-of-the-two-antagonists/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Exercise invigorates the body and sharpens the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/exercise-invigorates-the-body-and-sharpens-the-mind/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Social control is best managed through fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/social-control-is-best-managed-through-fear/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [They always say they didn't. I never heard of one who said, 'You know, I deserve this.' Never happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-always-say-they-didn-t-i-never-heard-of-one-who-said-you-know-i/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I can tell you that second hand smoke is not a health hazard to anyone and never was, and the EPA has always known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/i-can-tell-you-that-second-hand-smoke-is-not-a-health-hazard-to/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [As the practical value of altering consciousness becomes recognized, procedures to effect these alterations will become increasingly ordinary and unremarkable. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/as-the-practical-value-of-altering-consciousness-becomes-recognized/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/books-aren-t-written-they-re-rewritten-including-your-own-it-is-one/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [One of the things that Americans, as a multiracial society, feel is a tremendous sensitivity to racial comments of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-things-that-americans-as-a-multiracial-society-feel-is-a/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This fascination with computer models is something I understand very well. Richard Feynmann called it a disease. I fear he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-fascination-with-computer-models-is-something-i-understand-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [At forty, I was too old to work as a programmer myself anymore; writing code is a young person’s job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/at-forty-i-was-too-old-to-work-as-a-programmer-myself-anymore-writing/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More Smart quotes > [Voltaire was a smart cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/voltaire-was-a-smart-cookie/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [A lot of times when you're around really, really smart people, you don't really understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/a-lot-of-times-when-you-re-around-really-really-smart-people-you-don/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [We're all born with different talents. I'm really not that smart, but I can see things - financially and development-wise. It's just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilman-j-fertitta/we-re-all-born-with-different-talents-i-m-really-not-that-smart-but-i/) [Tilman J. Fertitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilman-j-fertitta/) > [Thirty guys equals five percent die-off among active wingsuit base jumpers. That means there's a flaw in our system and you're an idiot if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/thirty-guys-equals-five-percent-die-off-among-active-wingsuit-base/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The strange rejection of the expert is mind boggling to me. When we're told that the worst word in politics is 'elite,' I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/the-strange-rejection-of-the-expert-is-mind-boggling-to-me-when-we-re/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If you're a smart writer, you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/if-you-re-a-smart-writer-you-listen/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [Oxymoron: She's Smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/oxymoron-she-s-smart/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling its spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/widespread-use-of-antibiotics-promotes-the-spread-of-antibiotic/) [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-j-abdul-kalam/) > [Smart people don't carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/smart-people-don-t-carry-the-weight-of-the-world-on-their-shoulders/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [As an actor, it was great to work with Harry Lloyd because he's wicked smart, and he is very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/as-an-actor-it-was-great-to-work-with-harry-lloyd-because-he-s-wicked/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [What I think is that Fox has done a very smart job of carving out their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/what-i-think-is-that-fox-has-done-a-very-smart-job-of-carving-out/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) [Browse all 4,830 Smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Crichton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Smart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-crichton-694_smart_nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do_77370.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.” — Michael Crichton", "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": "Michael Crichton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nobody smart knows what they want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/#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 } } ] } ```