--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is…" description: "\"“The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists. One has heard of it, of course, but has its e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/p-g-wodehouse-723_really-exists_the-first-thing-to-do-said-psmith-is-to_1865945.png" --- # The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is to ascertain that… ![“The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists. One has heard of it, of course, but has its existence ever been proved? I think not.” quote by P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/p-g-wodehouse-723_really-exists_the-first-thing-to-do-said-psmith-is-to_1865945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/p-g-wodehouse-723_really-exists_the-first-thing-to-do-said-psmith-is-to_1865945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/p-g-wodehouse-723_really-exists_the-first-thing-to-do-said-psmith-is-to_1865945.png) > ““The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists. One has heard of it, of course, but has its existence ever been proved? I think not.”” [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Question the existence of places we assume exist without proof; skepticism is healthy. **In simple terms:** Question assumptions. Key Takeaway Seek evidence before belief. Themes skepticism inquiry humor Mood witty reflective Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - research projects - travel planning - academic debates - personal decision‑making Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions have you accepted without proof? - When is healthy skepticism appropriate? A Different Perspective Excessive doubt can hinder action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clapham Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clapham-common-2542782/) [Exists Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-heard-2542785/) [Place Clapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-clapham-2542784/) [Really Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-exists-236311/) [Said Psmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-psmith-2542783/) ## Related quotes > [“Mike’s statement that he wanted to get up early and have a ride had been received by Psmith, with whom early rising was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/mike-s-statement-that-he-wanted-to-get-up-early-and-have-a-ride-had/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [We must always remember, however,' said Psmith gravely, 'that poets are also God's creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-must-always-remember-however-said-psmith-gravely-that-poets-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that what you call 'God' really exists, but not in the form you think; God is primal cosmic energy, the love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/i-know-that-what-you-call-god-really-exists-but-not-in-the-form-you/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I'm going to prove the impossible really exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-m-going-to-prove-the-impossible-really-exists/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [“Does this mean Harry Potter really exists?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corwin/does-this-mean-harry-potter-really-exists/) [John Corwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corwin/) > [You wonder and you wonder until you wander out into Infinity, where - if it is to be found anywhere - Truth really exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-bonner/you-wonder-and-you-wonder-until-you-wander-out-into-infinity-where-if/) [Marita Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-bonner/) > [God really exists, I tell you like this: It resides inside. And anybody tell you different, Just selling you religion, Tryin' to keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/god-really-exists-i-tell-you-like-this-it-resides-inside-and-anybody/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [It's hard to imagine a place like that really exists. People have been judging me my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/it-s-hard-to-imagine-a-place-like-that-really-exists-people-have-been/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“Oh my God" ... "Not sure he really exists”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/oh-my-god-not-sure-he-really-exists/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Intellect really exists in its products; its kingdom is here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/intellect-really-exists-in-its-products-its-kingdom-is-here/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I guess what I'm trying to say is that you two make me believe that true love really exists. And that even the darkest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-you-two-make-me-believe-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [That which is impenetrable to us really exists. Behind the secrets of nature remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/that-which-is-impenetrable-to-us-really-exists-behind-the-secrets-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I love stories that exist in this amped-up, personal world - sort of like 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday,' actually. That world really only exists inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/i-love-stories-that-exist-in-this-amped-up-personal-world-sort-of/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [I think I'm a love agnostic - not sure, one way or another, if it really exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-m-drury/i-think-i-m-a-love-agnostic-not-sure-one-way-or-another-if-it-really/) [Joan M. Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-m-drury/) > [We are all captives of the picture in our head - our belief that the world we have experienced is the world that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/we-are-all-captives-of-the-picture-in-our-head-our-belief-that-the/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## More by P.G. Wodehouse > [“Love, Miss Halliday, is a delicate plant. It needs tending, nurturing, assiduous fostering. This cannot be done by throwing the breakfast bacon at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/love-miss-halliday-is-a-delicate-plant-it-needs-tending-nurturing/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [ “\[A\]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/a-lways-get-to-the-dialogue-as-soon-as-possible-i-always-feel-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Good Lord, Jeeves! Is there anything you don’t know?’ ‘I couldn’t say, sir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/good-lord-jeeves-is-there-anything-you-don-t-know-i-couldn-t-say-sir/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Ask the first lion cub you meet, and it will tell you that, once you’ve tasted blood, there is no pulling up, and it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/ask-the-first-lion-cub-you-meet-and-it-will-tell-you-that-once-you-ve/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“He will lunch with you at your flat tomorrow at one-thirty. Please remember that he drinks no wine, strongly disapproves of smoking, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-will-lunch-with-you-at-your-flat-tomorrow-at-one-thirty-please/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Too often on such occasions one feels, as I feel so strongly with regard to poor old Stilton, that the kindly thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/too-often-on-such-occasions-one-feels-as-i-feel-so-strongly-with/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“My late Uncle Henry, you see, was by way of being the blot on the Wooster escutcheon. An extremely decent chappie personally, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/my-late-uncle-henry-you-see-was-by-way-of-being-the-blot-on-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [ “...he switched on the \[flashlight\]. When he did so, he instantly became the center attraction to a rowdy mob of those gnats, moths, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-switched-on-the-flashlight-when-he-did-so-he-instantly-became-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Conversationally, I am like a clockwork toy. I have to be set going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/conversationally-i-am-like-a-clockwork-toy-i-have-to-be-set-going/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“One of the advantages a sister has when arguing with a brother is that she is under no obligation to be tactful. If she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/one-of-the-advantages-a-sister-has-when-arguing-with-a-brother-is/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Liz," said Mr. Cootes, lost in admiration, "when it comes to doping out a scheme, you're the snake's eyebrows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/liz-said-mr-cootes-lost-in-admiration-when-it-comes-to-doping-out-a/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“a chap who's supposed to stop chaps pinching things from chaps having a chap come along and pinch something from him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/a-chap-who-s-supposed-to-stop-chaps-pinching-things-from-chaps-having/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Bertie, do you read Tennyson?" "Not if I can help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/bertie-do-you-read-tennyson-not-if-i-can-help/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“It seems to be one of Nature’s laws that the most attractive girls should have the least attractive brothers. Fillmore Nicholas had not worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/it-seems-to-be-one-of-nature-s-laws-that-the-most-attractive-girls/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) [Explore all 389 P.G. Wodehouse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) ## More Really Exists quotes > [I know that what you call 'God' really exists, but not in the form you think; God is primal cosmic energy, the love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/i-know-that-what-you-call-god-really-exists-but-not-in-the-form-you/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I think I'm a love agnostic - not sure, one way or another, if it really exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-m-drury/i-think-i-m-a-love-agnostic-not-sure-one-way-or-another-if-it-really/) [Joan M. Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-m-drury/) > [I love stories that exist in this amped-up, personal world - sort of like 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday,' actually. That world really only exists inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/i-love-stories-that-exist-in-this-amped-up-personal-world-sort-of/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [That which is impenetrable to us really exists. Behind the secrets of nature remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/that-which-is-impenetrable-to-us-really-exists-behind-the-secrets-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I guess what I'm trying to say is that you two make me believe that true love really exists. And that even the darkest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-you-two-make-me-believe-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Intellect really exists in its products; its kingdom is here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/intellect-really-exists-in-its-products-its-kingdom-is-here/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“Oh my God" ... "Not sure he really exists”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/oh-my-god-not-sure-he-really-exists/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [It's hard to imagine a place like that really exists. People have been judging me my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/it-s-hard-to-imagine-a-place-like-that-really-exists-people-have-been/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [God really exists, I tell you like this: It resides inside. And anybody tell you different, Just selling you religion, Tryin' to keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/god-really-exists-i-tell-you-like-this-it-resides-inside-and-anybody/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [You wonder and you wonder until you wander out into Infinity, where - if it is to be found anywhere - Truth really exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-bonner/you-wonder-and-you-wonder-until-you-wander-out-into-infinity-where-if/) [Marita Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-bonner/) > [“Does this mean Harry Potter really exists?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corwin/does-this-mean-harry-potter-really-exists/) [John Corwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corwin/) > [I'm going to prove the impossible really exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-m-going-to-prove-the-impossible-really-exists/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [We are all captives of the picture in our head - our belief that the world we have experienced is the world that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/we-are-all-captives-of-the-picture-in-our-head-our-belief-that-the/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I don't think some perfect concept of closure ever really exists; it's not really a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/i-don-t-think-some-perfect-concept-of-closure-ever-really-exists-it-s/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [How do we know that anything really exists, that anything is really the way it seems ot us through our senses?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/how-do-we-know-that-anything-really-exists-that-anything-is-really/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) [Browse all 17 Really Exists quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-exists-236311/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first thing to do,' said Psmith, 'is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists. 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