--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail…" description: "\"“Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. And go in swinging.”\" — Patrick Ness" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/patrick-ness-449_river_know-yourself-he-thinks-as-they-sail-pas_2440070.jpg" --- # Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. And… ![“Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. And go in swinging.” quote by Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/patrick-ness-449_river_know-yourself-he-thinks-as-they-sail-pas_2440070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/patrick-ness-449_river_know-yourself-he-thinks-as-they-sail-pas_2440070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/patrick-ness-449_river_know-yourself-he-thinks-as-they-sail-pas_2440070.jpg) > ““Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. And go in swinging.”” [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges self‑knowledge and bold action when confronting personal challenges. **In simple terms:** Know yourself and act decisively. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑awareness and courage. Themes self‑knowledge action courage Mood motivational determined Type advice literary When to use this quote - facing fear - making decisions - personal development Key Concepts personal growth literary advice Questions to Reflect On - What does “swinging” mean to you? - How can self‑knowledge guide bold moves? A Different Perspective Bold action can overlook careful planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [House Swinging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-swinging-479929/) [Know Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-thinks-479930/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Sail Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sail-past-479928/) [Swinging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swinging/) [Thinks Sail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks-sail-479927/) ## Related quotes > [“go in swinging”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/go-in-swinging/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Know yourself and go in swinging, if it hurts when you hit, it might be real, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging-if-it-hurts-when-you-hit-it-might-be/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Know yourself and go in swinging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/know-yourself-and-go-in-swinging/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [There is but a slight difference between the man who may be said to know nothing and him who thinks he knows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/there-is-but-a-slight-difference-between-the-man-who-may-be-said-to/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [All I want kids to know is that I see them for who they are and not who everyone thinks they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reynolds/all-i-want-kids-to-know-is-that-i-see-them-for-who-they-are-and-not/) [Jason Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reynolds/) > [Never let anyone know what you're thinking - always know what the other thinks of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/never-let-anyone-know-what-you-re-thinking-always-know-what-the-other/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [“Honesty is a fine foundation from which to build upon; for if one was to really know what another thinks and how they feel…they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-aldana/honesty-is-a-fine-foundation-from-which-to-build-upon-for-if-one-was/) [Jeremy Aldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-aldana/) > [Surprising, I know. Everyone thinks I'm older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/surprising-i-know-everyone-thinks-i-m-older/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Know that most everyone thinks that what they did, and what they are doing, is much more important than it really is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/know-that-most-everyone-thinks-that-what-they-did-and-what-they-are/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“He thinks I might leave if I know him. He thinks that I might leave if he’s himself. Oh, this man is so complicated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/he-thinks-i-might-leave-if-i-know-him-he-thinks-that-i-might-leave-if/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [I must know, he thinks. It must be clear to me. There is a world which is closed to him, a world of shadings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-must-know-he-thinks-it-must-be-clear-to-me-there-is-a-world-which/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I'm one of those people who doesn't really know what he thinks until he writes it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-doesn-t-really-know-what-he-thinks-until/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When you love someone as a friend let him know before he thinks it is something more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lockedupoet/when-you-love-someone-as-a-friend-let-him-know-before-he-thinks-it-is/) [Lockedupoet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lockedupoet/) > [The person we know at first, she thinks, is not the one we know at last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-person-we-know-at-first-she-thinks-is-not-the-one-we-know-at-last/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [ “The repeated lies become history, but they don't necessarily become the truth. The person we know at first, \[she thinks\] is not the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-repeated-lies-become-history-but-they-don-t-necessarily-become/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) ## More by Patrick Ness > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“The Prince had fallen in love. She was only a farmer's daughter, but she was was beautiful, and also smart, as the daughters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-prince-had-fallen-in-love-she-was-only-a-farmer-s-daughter-but/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This is it. This is goodbye. A goodbye I wasn't even looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-is-it-this-is-goodbye-a-goodbye-i-wasn-t-even-looking-for/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“ But what is a dream, Conor O'Malley? the monster said, bending down so it's face was close to Conor's. Who is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-what-is-a-dream-conor-o-malley-the-monster-said-bending-down-so/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“And I feel her against me - And I think Viola - I think VIOLA! - I think VIOLA!!!! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/and-i-feel-her-against-me-and-i-think-viola-i-think-viola-i-think/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“But I'm still thinking about being born on a spaceship, an honest to badness spaceship. Growing up while flying along the stars, able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-i-m-still-thinking-about-being-born-on-a-spaceship-an-honest-to/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“When luck ain't with you, it's against you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/when-luck-ain-t-with-you-it-s-against-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“You starting to feel hope yet?" Viola asks, her voice curious. "No," I say, fuddling my noise. "You?" Her eyebrows are up but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/you-starting-to-feel-hope-yet-viola-asks-her-voice-curious-no-i-say/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“I have two maxims that I believe, dear girl. One, if you can control yourself, you can control others. Two, if you can control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-have-two-maxims-that-i-believe-dear-girl-one-if-you-can-control/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [To live is to fight, to preserve life is to fight everything that man stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/to-live-is-to-fight-to-preserve-life-is-to-fight-everything-that-man/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Because he KNEW he was doing wrong. He felt the PAIN of his actions'-- 'But he did not amen them,' shows the Sky. 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/because-he-knew-he-was-doing-wrong-he-felt-the-pain-of-his-actions/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“This was a kingdom. (“What?” Conor said, looking around his backyard. “Here?”) (The monster cocked its head at him curiously. You have not heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/this-was-a-kingdom-what-conor-said-looking-around-his-backyard-here/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [If you ever see a war," she says, not looking up from her clipboard, "you'll learn that war only destroys. No one escapes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/if-you-ever-see-a-war-she-says-not-looking-up-from-her-clipboard-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) [Explore all 527 Patrick Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) ## More River quotes > [The least unhappy persons do, in so fickle and so tempestuous a sea as this world, meet with many more either cross winds or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/the-least-unhappy-persons-do-in-so-fickle-and-so-tempestuous-a-sea-as/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [“The river itself is not a hundred yards across, and pa and Vernon and Vardaman and Dewey Dell are the only things in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-river-itself-is-not-a-hundred-yards-across-and-pa-and-vernon-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [One of the unique things is that whether we were out at sea or in the middle of the water tank, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/one-of-the-unique-things-is-that-whether-we-were-out-at-sea-or-in-the/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [“It’s a big ocean crossed by busy ships. I went slowly, observing much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/it-s-a-big-ocean-crossed-by-busy-ships-i-went-slowly-observing-much/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Life is like the ocean. It can be calm and still or rough and rigid but in the end, it is always beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-the-ocean-it-can-be-calm-and-still-or-rough-and-rigid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I've never been far from the river. I'm sort of like a Thames-nymph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-ve-never-been-far-from-the-river-i-m-sort-of-like-a-thames-nymph/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“Mungu akikubariki kipaji chako watu watasema ni laana. Maisha yako ni sawa na mto. Unakoelekea ni baharini. Lakini sasa umefika kwenye mlango wa bahari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-akikubariki-kipaji-chako-watu-watasema-ni-laana-maisha-yako-ni/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/ships-at-a-distance-have-every-man-s-wish-on-board-for-some-they-come/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [The tides which flow and lapse in the Bristol Channel are often distained by the freshets of many streams falling through wooded coombes below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/the-tides-which-flow-and-lapse-in-the-bristol-channel-are-often/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [In the road ships must ride in 30, 40, or 50 fathom water, not above half a mile from the shore at farthest: and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/in-the-road-ships-must-ride-in-30-40-or-50-fathom-water-not-above/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) > [I finished 'Hell or High Water' and started writing 'Wind River' literally the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-finished-hell-or-high-water-and-started-writing-wind-river/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) [Browse all 3,638 River quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Know yourself, he thinks, as they sail past his house. 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