--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought that I couldn't do what I…" description: "\"I never thought that I couldn't do what I set out to do. It wasn't from arrogance; it was from ignorance.\" — Orson Bean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/orson-bean-5446_arrogance_i-never-thought-that-i-couldn-t-do-what_744619.jpg" --- # I never thought that I couldn't do what I set out to do… ![“I never thought that I couldn't do what I set out to do. It wasn't from arrogance; it was from ignorance.” quote by Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/orson-bean-5446_arrogance_i-never-thought-that-i-couldn-t-do-what_744619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/orson-bean-5446_arrogance_i-never-thought-that-i-couldn-t-do-what_744619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74e/orson-bean-5446_arrogance_i-never-thought-that-i-couldn-t-do-what_744619.jpg) > “I never thought that I couldn't do what I set out to do. It wasn't from arrogance; it was from ignorance.” [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Failure stems from ignorance, not arrogance. **In simple terms:** Ignorance, not pride, limits achievement. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge before acting. Themes humility learning self-awareness Mood thoughtful encouraging Type motivational educational When to use this quote - education - career planning - self-improvement Key Concepts psychology personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What knowledge gaps hinder your goals? - How can you turn ignorance into growth? A Different Perspective Ignorance can be mitigated through learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“Sir Eustace was with Royce and Stefan looking over some maps when he was informed by the guard that the ladies were asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/sir-eustace-was-with-royce-and-stefan-looking-over-some-maps-when-he/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [You know when you're young, you have this unbelievable stupidity and arrogance and ignorance all mixed in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/you-know-when-you-re-young-you-have-this-unbelievable-stupidity-and/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [ You don't have to be Dave Halberstam to see that the American role in both conflicts \[the Iraq war and the Vietnam conflict\] is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-yardley/you-don-t-have-to-be-dave-halberstam-to-see-that-the-american-role-in/) [Jonathan Yardley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-yardley/) > [“Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metallica/arrogance-and-ignorance-go-hand-in-hand/) [Metallica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metallica/) > [Would-be novelists need to bring equal parts arrogance and ignorance to the task before them. The arrogance is almost self-explanatory. Walk into any bookstore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/would-be-novelists-need-to-bring-equal-parts-arrogance-and-ignorance/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [In terms of the ego, most religions teach in some way that all of us must die before we die, and then we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-terms-of-the-ego-most-religions-teach-in-some-way-that-all-of-us/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-worst-kind-of-arrogance-is-arrogance-from-ignorance/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Foolishness is more than being stupid, that deadly combination of arrogance and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/foolishness-is-more-than-being-stupid-that-deadly-combination-of/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“The imbecile always want to give suggestions in areas they know nothing about. There you have, arrogance and ignorance supporting one another and justifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/the-imbecile-always-want-to-give-suggestions-in-areas-they-know/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence. Not a pretty cocktail of personality traits in the best of situations. No sirree. Not a pretty cocktail in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/arrogance-ignorance-and-incompetence-not-a-pretty-cocktail-of/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [When someone has that combination of arrogance and ignorance - that drives me crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lucci/when-someone-has-that-combination-of-arrogance-and-ignorance-that/) [Susan Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lucci/) > [Never mistake your arrogance for confidence and then let your ignorance become you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-quinlan/never-mistake-your-arrogance-for-confidence-and-then-let-your/) Ryan Quinlan > [Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikki-rogers/strength-doesn-t-come-from-what-you-can-do-it-comes-from-overcoming/) Rikki Rogers > [I thought I couldn't make a difference because I was too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-thought-i-couldn-t-make-a-difference-because-i-was-too-small/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [“In fact, after some thought, he couldn’t think of a word that meant female that men hadn’t imbued with some belittling shade of meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-meyer/in-fact-after-some-thought-he-couldn-t-think-of-a-word-that-meant/) [Scott Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-meyer/) ## More by Orson Bean > [Possessions can possess you. Even a lawn can possess you. It makes you buy a garden hose. Which makes you water. Which cuts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/possessions-can-possess-you-even-a-lawn-can-possess-you-it-makes-you/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [One night in a club in Boston, I tried the name Roger Duck. No laughs. The next night, I tried Orson Bean, putting together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/one-night-in-a-club-in-boston-i-tried-the-name-roger-duck-no-laughs/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [In the long period of time when I did talk shows and game shows, a whole new generation of people came along who thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/in-the-long-period-of-time-when-i-did-talk-shows-and-game-shows-a/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [I'm not a pessimist. I do believe that in some way we don't understand, God has a hand in things and it will all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-m-not-a-pessimist-i-do-believe-that-in-some-way-we-don-t-understand/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [What I learned at home was despair and hopelessness. What I learned at the pictures was don't give up the ship, we have only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/what-i-learned-at-home-was-despair-and-hopelessness-what-i-learned-at/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [Hollywood is very divisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/hollywood-is-very-divisive/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [My wife and I sold our house New York and moved to Australia for a year; then we came back and spent almost three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/my-wife-and-i-sold-our-house-new-york-and-moved-to-australia-for-a/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [What is it with me? I seem to be an incorrigible black-listee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/what-is-it-with-me-i-seem-to-be-an-incorrigible-black-listee/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [I think America was a miracle. I think God loves this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-think-america-was-a-miracle-i-think-god-loves-this-country/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [Left-wingers and right-wingers come together when they become extreme enough. The Nazi Party was called National Socialism, very similar to Stalin's Communism, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/left-wingers-and-right-wingers-come-together-when-they-become-extreme/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [I loved New York in the '50s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-loved-new-york-in-the-50s/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [One of the things I'm proudest of, one year on my refrigerator, I taped a Christmas card from the Republican National Committee and season's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/one-of-the-things-i-m-proudest-of-one-year-on-my-refrigerator-i-taped/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [I never cared what anyone thought about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-never-cared-what-anyone-thought-about-me/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [You know when I was a kid, I hated every day I was in school, from the kindergarten right through to my last day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/you-know-when-i-was-a-kid-i-hated-every-day-i-was-in-school-from-the/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [TV has changed everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/tv-has-changed-everything/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) [Explore all 100 Orson Bean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) ## More Arrogance quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought that I couldn't do what I set out to do. 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