---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I raised my hand to wave in case he…"
description: "\"“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like a Howard. We never look back. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg"
---

#  I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he…

![“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like a Howard. We never look back. We have no time for regrets or second thoughts. If a plan goes awry we make another, if one weapon breaks in our hands, we find a second. If the…” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg)

> ““I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like a Howard. We never look back. We have no time for regrets or second thoughts. If a plan goes awry we make another, if one weapon breaks in our hands, we find a second. If the steps fall down before us we overleap them and go up. It is always onwards and upwards for the Howards; and my father was on his way back to court and to the company of the King without a backwards glance for me.””

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

## About This Quote

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

A relentless drive forward, rejecting regret and embracing adaptability, epitomized by the Howard archetype.

**In simple terms:** Unyielding forward momentum.

Key Takeaway

Never look back; keep moving.

Themes

determination resilience adaptability legacy forward-thinking

Mood

defiant determined hopeful

Type

narrative philosophical historical

When to use this quote

- facing unexpected setbacks
- dealing with loss of resources
- navigating personal or professional crossroads

Key Concepts

self-reliance strategic planning overcoming obstacles

Practical Applications

- motivational speaking
- leadership training

Questions to Reflect On

- How does refusing to dwell on past failures shape future success?
- What risks arise from never reassessing past decisions?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Howards Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/howards-father-639280/) [King Backwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-backwards-639283/) [Like Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-howard-639281/) [Looking forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-forward/) [Onwards And Upwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onwards-and-upwards-217312/) [Rode Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rode-straight-639282/) [Second thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-thoughts/) [Upwards Howards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upwards-howards-639284/)

## Related quotes

> [So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away, to the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/so-i-cut-off-my-hair-and-i-rode-straight-away-to-the-wild-unknown/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [“Write that novel, sail that boat. And if you can't, immerse yourself in the fantasy, be the ultimate dabbler, just enjoy what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolfe/write-that-novel-sail-that-boat-and-if-you-can-t-immerse-yourself-in/)

[Meg Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolfe/)

> [It was an impossible ask to go out to Russia and knock out Kovalev. I felt that was the only way I'd win, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-yarde/it-was-an-impossible-ask-to-go-out-to-russia-and-knock-out-kovalev-i/)

[Anthony Yarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-yarde/)

> [People have always asked whether evolution is constantly driving onwards and upwards. Is there always going to be improvement? The answer is no: evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-brenner/people-have-always-asked-whether-evolution-is-constantly-driving/)

[Sydney Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-brenner/)

> [When the sunset of life arrives, and its twilight shadows fade away; while dreams of the next begin to appear more vividly; may the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/when-the-sunset-of-life-arrives-and-its-twilight-shadows-fade-away/)

[Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/)

> [Onwards and upwards, and never give your failures a second thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/onwards-and-upwards-and-never-give-your-failures-a-second-thought/)

[George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/)

> [People talk, 'Oh your father's a misogynist, look what he said about women,' like, on 'Howard Stern.' When he gets with Howard Stern, who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/people-talk-oh-your-father-s-a-misogynist-look-what-he-said-about/)

[Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/)

> [I could never do a show, or be a personality like Howard Stern, where you take all that heat from critics. What he does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-barris/i-could-never-do-a-show-or-be-a-personality-like-howard-stern-where/)

[Chuck Barris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-barris/)

> [Guys like Howard Stern, Bill O'Reilly, Jim Rome, Bill Maher, those are the guys I love and respect as broadcasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/guys-like-howard-stern-bill-o-reilly-jim-rome-bill-maher-those-are/)

[Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/)

> [Imagine Jon Stewart if he gave a damn. He's like Howard Zinn after 12 beers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/imagine-jon-stewart-if-he-gave-a-damn-he-s-like-howard-zinn-after-12/)

[David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/)

> [Maybe I had something to do with that. I don't know. But public don't believe press. If you were straight and really told it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/maybe-i-had-something-to-do-with-that-i-don-t-know-but-public-don-t/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Brick Squad like Wack and them. If its Gucci like D. Howard I get a block for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/brick-squad-like-wack-and-them-if-its-gucci-like-d-howard-i-get-a/)

[Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/)

> [I am like Howard Beale. When he came out of the rain and he was like, none of this makes any sense. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-am-like-howard-beale-when-he-came-out-of-the-rain-and-he-was-like/)

[Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/)

> [Do you know what writing a book is? It's sitting alone in a room for weeks without making contact with another human. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/do-you-know-what-writing-a-book-is-it-s-sitting-alone-in-a-room-for/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

## More by Philippa Gregory

> [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“But I warn you that a woman who seeks great power and wealth has to pay a great price, Perhaps you will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/but-i-warn-you-that-a-woman-who-seeks-great-power-and-wealth-has-to/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“When you are still and thoughtful you are as lovely as the statues they are carving in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-you-are-still-and-thoughtful-you-are-as-lovely-as-the-statues/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [Edward lives as if there is no tomorrow, Richard as if he wants no tomorrow, and George as though someone should give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/edward-lives-as-if-there-is-no-tomorrow-richard-as-if-he-wants-no/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-can-smile-when-your-heart-is-breaking-because-you-re-a-woman/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“We fell asleep wrapped in each other as if we could not bear to part, even in sleep we could not bear to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-fell-asleep-wrapped-in-each-other-as-if-we-could-not-bear-to-part/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“One little boy, and he a bastard,' Anne said thoughtfully. 'One little girl of six, one elderly Queen and a King in the prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/one-little-boy-and-he-a-bastard-anne-said-thoughtfully-one-little/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“We have been married little more than a year and already there is a terrible silence around some subjects. We never speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-have-been-married-little-more-than-a-year-and-already-there-is-a/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“It doesn’t matter if you call it magic or determination. It doesn’t matter if you make a spell or a plot. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-call-it-magic-or-determination-it-doesn-t/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“You are my heart. Even if you are a broken heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-are-my-heart-even-if-you-are-a-broken-heart/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I have overturned the order. Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-have-overturned-the-order-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-for-any/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I will make my own future, not predict it. I don’t need a charm to tell me what I hope will happen. I throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-will-make-my-own-future-not-predict-it-i-don-t-need-a-charm-to-tell/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I can’t think why men would believe that it is a better world where something beautiful is destroyed and something broken left in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-can-t-think-why-men-would-believe-that-it-is-a-better-world-where/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

[Explore all 408 Philippa Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

## More Looking forward quotes

> [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [Vo5C0y Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serivce/vo5c0y-muchos-gracias-for-your-article-really-looking-forward-to-read/)

[Serivce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serivce/)

> [I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-focus-on-this-one-thing-forgetting-the-past-and-looking-forward-to/)

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

> [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/)

[Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/)

> [On 'Ghost In The Shell,' I'm looking forward more to working with Scarlett Johannson and Rupert Sanders than portraying a lead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilou-asbaek/on-ghost-in-the-shell-i-m-looking-forward-more-to-working-with/)

[Pilou Asbaek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilou-asbaek/)

> [I'm looking forward to go bald for a film but nothing has been offered to me yet. Given a chance I'd take a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshara-haasan/i-m-looking-forward-to-go-bald-for-a-film-but-nothing-has-been/)

[Akshara Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshara-haasan/)

> [I'm really looking forward to getting back and winning some matches but I'm not thinking about the U.S. Open yet, just getting through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rusedski/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-getting-back-and-winning-some-matches/)

[Greg Rusedski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rusedski/)

> [Very good post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheap/very-good-post-really-looking-forward-to-read-more-really-cool/)

[Cheap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheap/)

> [“Have you ever done this before?" "Done what?" "Attacked two armed men with sticks?" "No, but I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lenahan/have-you-ever-done-this-before-done-what-attacked-two-armed-men-with/)

[John Lenahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lenahan/)

> [ Yeah, it was horrible! I mean really horrible. I felt incredibly awkward. It was not something I was \[looking forward to\]. I don't know,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/yeah-it-was-horrible-i-mean-really-horrible-i-felt-incredibly-awkward/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [“You’re taking this very well, my boy. Very well indeed. You’re taking it like a man. I confess I expected arguments, even tantrums.” “Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/you-re-taking-this-very-well-my-boy-very-well-indeed-you-re-taking-it/)

[Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/)

> [“The very best memories of my life happened when I was broke, had nothing, was nobody. We came to the city and all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-gardner/the-very-best-memories-of-my-life-happened-when-i-was-broke-had/)

[M.L. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-gardner/)

> [I lived in Japan for eight years before moving to New York, but I was looking forward to a place like America to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cai-guo-qiang/i-lived-in-japan-for-eight-years-before-moving-to-new-york-but-i-was/)

[Cai Guo-Qiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cai-guo-qiang/)

> [I feel like I have had the most amazing life in my public service. And for the last 17 years, ever since my husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-feel-like-i-have-had-the-most-amazing-life-in-my-public-service-and/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

[Browse all 1,343 Looking forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-forward/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like a Howard. We never look back. We have no time for regrets or second thoughts. If a plan goes awry we make another, if one weapon breaks in our hands, we find a second. If the steps fall down before us we overleap them and go up. It is always onwards and upwards for the Howards; and my father was on his way back to court and to the company of the King without a backwards glance for me.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philippa Gregory"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Looking forward"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/philippa-gregory-674_looking-forward_i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-look_42872.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward…” — Philippa Gregory",
                "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": "Philippa Gregory",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I raised my hand to wave...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
