--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I knew certain things and it…" description: "\"I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn't, so I don't really try and anticipate so much anymore. I'm not making any bets on the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/michelle-williams-9367_time_i-thought-i-knew-certain-things-and-it-t_925977.png" --- # I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I… ![“I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn't, so I don't really try and anticipate so much anymore. I'm not making any bets on the future.” quote by Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/michelle-williams-9367_time_i-thought-i-knew-certain-things-and-it-t_925977.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/michelle-williams-9367_time_i-thought-i-knew-certain-things-and-it-t_925977.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ac/michelle-williams-9367_time_i-thought-i-knew-certain-things-and-it-t_925977.png) > “I thought I knew certain things and it turned out that I didn't, so I don't really try and anticipate so much anymore. I'm not making any bets on the future.” [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages letting go of predictions, living without betting on the future. **In simple terms:** Stop trying to predict; live in present. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty, avoid over‑planning. Themes uncertainty mindfulness life philosophy Mood thoughtful calming Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - relationships - financial decisions - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What benefits come from not over‑planning? - How do you balance spontaneity with responsibility? A Different Perspective May lead to lack of preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Margaret thought of all she knew for certain, that day would always follow night that love was never wasted nor was it lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/margaret-thought-of-all-she-knew-for-certain-that-day-would-always/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Don't try to anticipate an ideal reader - or any reader. He/she might exist - but is reading someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/don-t-try-to-anticipate-an-ideal-reader-or-any-reader-he-she-might/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [In a general way, we try to anticipate some of your questions so that I can respond 'no comment' with some degree of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-potter/in-a-general-way-we-try-to-anticipate-some-of-your-questions-so-that/) [Stephen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-potter/) > [My advice to authors would be to try to do something original rather than to try to anticipate what the market is looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/my-advice-to-authors-would-be-to-try-to-do-something-original-rather/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) > [I try to please myself. I don't try to anticipate what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-try-to-please-myself-i-don-t-try-to-anticipate-what-people-want-to/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [One of the lessons learned in the Middle East is to never try to anticipate the other side's moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/one-of-the-lessons-learned-in-the-middle-east-is-to-never-try-to/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Don't try to anticipate or worry about something you can't control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/don-t-try-to-anticipate-or-worry-about-something-you-can-t-control/) [Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/) > [Sometimes I find myself somewhere and I'm just like, 'Oh, it'd be really fun to get married here.' I really don't know what that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/sometimes-i-find-myself-somewhere-and-i-m-just-like-oh-it-d-be-really/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I just try and anticipate the play - whether it's a steal, rebound, assist or a shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-just-try-and-anticipate-the-play-whether-it-s-a-steal-rebound/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [“There was power in the pen, I knew this for certain...It was there all the time, just waiting for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-youngblood/there-was-power-in-the-pen-i-knew-this-for-certain-it-was-there-all/) Shay Youngblood > [“He knew for certain that she belonged forever in his arms, just as he knew she didn’t realize it yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-m-pillow/he-knew-for-certain-that-she-belonged-forever-in-his-arms-just-as-he/) [Michelle M. Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-m-pillow/) > [“Confused and fearful as he was, this one thing Tom knew for certain. No man ever took another man's balls in his mouth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jez-morrow/confused-and-fearful-as-he-was-this-one-thing-tom-knew-for-certain-no/) [Jez Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jez-morrow/) > [“Jamie knew now that were certain things you had to let go. But that didn't mean they ever had to leave you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailey-abbott/jamie-knew-now-that-were-certain-things-you-had-to-let-go-but-that/) [Hailey Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailey-abbott/) > [“At that point in time, there were three things in life that I knew for certain: (1) I was a girl who’d never met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/at-that-point-in-time-there-were-three-things-in-life-that-i-knew-for/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“One thing we knew for certain- despite all our certainties, it was very difficult to guess what one individual was thinking at any given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/one-thing-we-knew-for-certain-despite-all-our-certainties-it-was-very/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) ## More by Michelle Williams > [Everything's connected, and everything has meaning if you look for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/everything-s-connected-and-everything-has-meaning-if-you-look-for-it/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I'm not going to rush anything and scamper around like a mad person and make myself crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-m-not-going-to-rush-anything-and-scamper-around-like-a-mad-person/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I started acting as a child in Community Theatre but I didn't do any serious stuff. It was all musicals like 'Annie' and 'Wizard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-started-acting-as-a-child-in-community-theatre-but-i-didn-t-do-any/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [Is there anything better than making a kid laugh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/is-there-anything-better-than-making-a-kid-laugh/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I feel like myself with short hair. And it's been a really long time since I had long hair, five years. Of course, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-feel-like-myself-with-short-hair-and-it-s-been-a-really-long-time/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [Even the simplest things, I'm guilty of making really bad decisions a lot of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/even-the-simplest-things-i-m-guilty-of-making-really-bad-decisions-a/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I just came in this morning with one goal; to make it back tonight, so I'm very excited for the final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-just-came-in-this-morning-with-one-goal-to-make-it-back-tonight-so/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I experienced a lot of loss after his death. I lost my city because of all the paparazzi descending upon us. I actually lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-experienced-a-lot-of-loss-after-his-death-i-lost-my-city-because-of/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I love things that are old and beautiful and tell a story, even if it's a sad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-love-things-that-are-old-and-beautiful-and-tell-a-story-even-if-it/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I have the usual self-loathing and body issues and yet I seem to be naked in a lot of movies. The nudity has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-have-the-usual-self-loathing-and-body-issues-and-yet-i-seem-to-be/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I don't want to do anything to embarrass my family or my church because the town that I come from is so small. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-to-embarrass-my-family-or-my-church/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [Every movie I make I find kind of excruciating. I get a lot back from it, but I feel like I'm kind of always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/every-movie-i-make-i-find-kind-of-excruciating-i-get-a-lot-back-from/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [Maybe it has something to do with turning 30. I don't feel as shy or nervous or self-conscious. I have more confidence that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/maybe-it-has-something-to-do-with-turning-30-i-don-t-feel-as-shy-or/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [I feel like I'm watching a movie. I watch the news and the television, and I think it's going to hit me sometime soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/i-feel-like-i-m-watching-a-movie-i-watch-the-news-and-the-television/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [An interview is like a minefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/an-interview-is-like-a-minefield/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) [Explore all 72 Michelle Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) ## More Time quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/) [Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. 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