---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what I am. And it's not…"
description: "\"I don't know what I am. And it's not important.\" — Miguel Angel Ruiz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png"
---

#  I don't know what I am. And it's not important.

![“I don't know what I am. And it's not important.” quote by Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png)

> “I don't know what I am. And it's not important.”

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acceptance of identity ambiguity and its insignificance.

**In simple terms:** Identity isn’t essential.

Key Takeaway

Focus beyond labels.

Themes

identity acceptance philosophy

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career transition
- personal crisis
- relationship dynamics

Key Concepts

existentialism self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might identity matter?
- How can one thrive without a defined self?

A Different Perspective

Overlooks the value of self‑knowledge.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Don Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-know/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-important/)

## Related quotes

> [I know how important it is to have people who believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-know-how-important-it-is-to-have-people-who-believe-in-you-even/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [It's not important to know who you are. It's important to know what you do, and then to do it like hercules!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/it-s-not-important-to-know-who-you-are-it-s-important-to-know-what/)

[Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/)

> [“They knew a tremendous number of things — But was it worthwhile knowing all these things if they did not know the one important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/they-knew-a-tremendous-number-of-things-but-was-it-worthwhile-knowing/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [For people that know my story, they know how important my dad is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-siakam/for-people-that-know-my-story-they-know-how-important-my-dad-is/)

[Pascal Siakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-siakam/)

> [“If I could have one magical power it would be to get inside someone else's head, even just for a second, so that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lodato/if-i-could-have-one-magical-power-it-would-be-to-get-inside-someone/)

[Victor Lodato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lodato/)

> [“We can invest enormous time and energy in serious efforts to know another person, but in the end, how close are we able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-can-invest-enormous-time-and-energy-in-serious-efforts-to-know/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [“Do you know what is an important part of the sport for me? It is giving an opportunity to myself to play it, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhawna-dehariya/do-you-know-what-is-an-important-part-of-the-sport-for-me-it-is/)

[Bhawna Dehariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhawna-dehariya/)

> [“On Knowledge: You know that I know you know, but I want you to know that I know you know I know you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/on-knowledge-you-know-that-i-know-you-know-but-i-want-you-to-know/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Benjamin, we’re meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-roth/benjamin-we-re-meant-to-lose-the-people-we-love-how-else-would-we/)

[Eric Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-roth/)

> [I know how big Liverpool are - and it means everything to me - but I know what is important; I know it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lambert/i-know-how-big-liverpool-are-and-it-means-everything-to-me-but-i-know/)

[Rickie Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lambert/)

> [First you have to know who you are. That is the most important thing, as if you don't know who you are you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/first-you-have-to-know-who-you-are-that-is-the-most-important-thing/)

[Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/)

> [“Kiss me and you'll know how important I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/kiss-me-and-you-ll-know-how-important-i-am/)

[Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/)

> [When someone changes your world, that's when you know he's important to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/when-someone-changes-your-world-that-s-when-you-know-he-s-important/)

[Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/)

> [You may never know how important you are to me or how much I care for you, but you are and you will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-never-know-how-important-you-are-to-me-or-how-much-i-care-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The best advice Drake's given anybody is to know yourself. It's the most important thing to live by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/partynextdoor/the-best-advice-drake-s-given-anybody-is-to-know-yourself-it-s-the/)

[PartyNextDoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/partynextdoor/)

## More by Miguel Angel Ruiz

> [There is nothing to do except to be just who you are. You have the right to feel beautiful and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/there-is-nothing-to-do-except-to-be-just-who-you-are-you-have-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [The only reason you are happy is because you choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice, and so is suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-only-reason-you-are-happy-is-because-you-choose-to-be-happy/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [What we call education is nothing but domestication of the human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/what-we-call-education-is-nothing-but-domestication-of-the-human-being/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [The only way to change the world is to change the main character of our story - the one we believe that we are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-only-way-to-change-the-world-is-to-change-the-main-character-of/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [You can choose to follow your heart always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/you-can-choose-to-follow-your-heart-always/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [What I have most learned from my son is to respect him and to love him unconditionally. I believe that if parents respect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/what-i-have-most-learned-from-my-son-is-to-respect-him-and-to-love/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [We only see what we want to see, and hear what we want to hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/we-only-see-what-we-want-to-see-and-hear-what-we-want-to-hear/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [Today is the most wonderful day of your life. This moment represents eternity. It is the moment when you return to love by deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/today-is-the-most-wonderful-day-of-your-life-this-moment-represents/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [If there is anything in your life that takes away your happiness, you have all the power you need to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/if-there-is-anything-in-your-life-that-takes-away-your-happiness-you/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [Only the truth can set us free from the fear, the drama and the conflict of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/only-the-truth-can-set-us-free-from-the-fear-the-drama-and-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [You can recover the truth of what you really are. When you finally see yourself as you are, when you finally take responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/you-can-recover-the-truth-of-what-you-really-are-when-you-finally-see/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [Every prayer is an agreement with yourself. The mind is asking the real you, which is life, to guide your decisions for every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/every-prayer-is-an-agreement-with-yourself-the-mind-is-asking-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [With knowledge, our creation can go in any direction - from the worst kind of drama, to the most beautiful dream. Then the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/with-knowledge-our-creation-can-go-in-any-direction-from-the-worst/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [You are what you believe you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/you-are-what-you-believe-you-are/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

[Explore all 256 Miguel Angel Ruiz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

## More Important quotes

> [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/)

[Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/)

> [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/)

[Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/)

> [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/)

[Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/)

> [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/)

[Wayne Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-williams/)

> [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/)

[Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/)

> [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/)

> [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/)

[Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/)

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't know what I am. And it's not important.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miguel Angel Ruiz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-important/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Important"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-important/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/miguel-angel-ruiz-1323_important_i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-impo_2506740.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't know what I am. And it's not important.” — Miguel Angel Ruiz",
                "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": "Miguel Angel Ruiz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't know what I am....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-important/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/i-don-t-know-what-i-am-and-it-s-not-important/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
