--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always had an intelligence with me, I…" description: "\"I always had an intelligence with me, I was always in the streets, I was always trying to do good. I was always looking for something to guide me. In t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/rakim-1390_always-trying_i-always-had-an-intelligence-with-me-i-w_2485120.jpg" --- # I always had an intelligence with me, I was always in the… ![“I always had an intelligence with me, I was always in the streets, I was always trying to do good. I was always looking for something to guide me. In the beginning church wasn't it.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/rakim-1390_always-trying_i-always-had-an-intelligence-with-me-i-w_2485120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/rakim-1390_always-trying_i-always-had-an-intelligence-with-me-i-w_2485120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b32/rakim-1390_always-trying_i-always-had-an-intelligence-with-me-i-w_2485120.jpg) > “I always had an intelligence with me, I was always in the streets, I was always trying to do good. I was always looking for something to guide me. In the beginning church wasn't it.” [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist reflects on a lifelong inner guide and moral compass, often found outside formal institutions. **In simple terms:** Guidance can come from within, not just churches. Key Takeaway Trust your inner moral compass. Themes self‑reflection spirituality urban life Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - street life - personal growth - decision making Key Concepts personal ethics search for meaning Questions to Reflect On - What inner guides have you relied on? - How do you balance street wisdom with formal teachings? A Different Perspective Reliance on internal guidance may lack external accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Beginning Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-church-906527/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-wasn-464713/) [Guide me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guide-me/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-good/) ## Related quotes > [From the beginning of church history, music, writing, literature, and the greatest works of art all came from the church. To change the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/from-the-beginning-of-church-history-music-writing-literature-and-the/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/in-the-beginning-the-church-was-a-fellowship-of-men-and-women/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [Life is good and is always trying to do us a good turn if we will only allow it to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-hamblin/life-is-good-and-is-always-trying-to-do-us-a-good-turn-if-we-will/) [Henry Thomas Hamblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-hamblin/) > [I make my decisions and my judgments not based on what a prime minister of another country says, but based on what my principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-israel/i-make-my-decisions-and-my-judgments-not-based-on-what-a-prime/) [Steve Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-israel/) > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Everytime I play something for someone there is an emotional thing that happens that guides me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-swihart/everytime-i-play-something-for-someone-there-is-an-emotional-thing/) [John Swihart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-swihart/) > [I feel like Black Jesus got his hands on me and guides me through life to put me where I'm supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-feel-like-black-jesus-got-his-hands-on-me-and-guides-me-through/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I almost feel like I'm still in a molding stage so the feedback and response not only inspires me but guides me in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-ink/i-almost-feel-like-i-m-still-in-a-molding-stage-so-the-feedback-and/) [Kid Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-ink/) > [It is only from the people I've had the good fortune to meet that I am learning the lessons to guide me. Baz Luhrmann,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/it-is-only-from-the-people-i-ve-had-the-good-fortune-to-meet-that-i/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Extinction is the beginning of the path: it is traveling to God Most High. Guidance comes afterwards. What I mean by guidance is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/extinction-is-the-beginning-of-the-path-it-is-traveling-to-god-most/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) > [I have only a small flickering light to guide me in the darkness of a thick forest. Up comes a theologian and blows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/i-have-only-a-small-flickering-light-to-guide-me-in-the-darkness-of-a/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Though I may not flow where the wind guides me, I won’t become still water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tablo/though-i-may-not-flow-where-the-wind-guides-me-i-won-t-become-still/) [Tablo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tablo/) > [Occasionally, I like to select a mentor, a master, and let him guide me through a revision of one of my paintings... I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-lebrun/occasionally-i-like-to-select-a-mentor-a-master-and-let-him-guide-me/) [Rico Lebrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-lebrun/) > [Women have endeavored to guide men to love because patriarchal thinking has sanctioned this work even as it has undermined it by teaching men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/women-have-endeavored-to-guide-men-to-love-because-patriarchal/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More by Rakim > [I love Jay-Z, I love Kanye, and I praise the way he's been able to bring more business out of the jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-love-jay-z-i-love-kanye-and-i-praise-the-way-he-s-been-able-to/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Feed me hip-hop and I start tremblin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/feed-me-hip-hop-and-i-start-tremblin/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [To me, sometimes things outside of rap inspire me to rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/to-me-sometimes-things-outside-of-rap-inspire-me-to-rap/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Elements burst, gave birth the the verse, get the pen from the nurse, but hook the mic up first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/elements-burst-gave-birth-the-the-verse-get-the-pen-from-the-nurse/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I got a lot of vinyl, a lot of music in general in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-got-a-lot-of-vinyl-a-lot-of-music-in-general-in-the-house/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Whenever I write a song I see the whole song anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/whenever-i-write-a-song-i-see-the-whole-song-anyway/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Sometimes I feel I'm the luckiest rapper in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/sometimes-i-feel-i-m-the-luckiest-rapper-in-the-world/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I think rap was a better move for me but football's been my love since I learned how to walk. I was gonna be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-think-rap-was-a-better-move-for-me-but-football-s-been-my-love/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [There are certain things that I wish people knew - certain things that I feel I started and certain things that I'm responsible for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/there-are-certain-things-that-i-wish-people-knew-certain-things-that/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/so-i-start-my-mission-leave-my-residence-thinkin-how-could-i-get-some/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My approach to writing rhymes went hand in hand with the music. I'd try to make different rhythms with my rhymes on the track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-approach-to-writing-rhymes-went-hand-in-hand-with-the-music-i-d/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My whole thing is if it wasn't for people like ya'll and people like them I wouldn't be me. I love every minute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-whole-thing-is-if-it-wasn-t-for-people-like-ya-ll-and-people-like/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My son plays football so I coach a couple of his teams. My youngest son just started playing last year and I assistant coached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-son-plays-football-so-i-coach-a-couple-of-his-teams-my-youngest/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I always had deep respect for my peoples 'cause of the love they gave me and the know how that they showed me through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-always-had-deep-respect-for-my-peoples-cause-of-the-love-they-gave/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [When I broke up with Eric B., I went on a little hiatus. Then all I was trying do is find producers. It's real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/when-i-broke-up-with-eric-b-i-went-on-a-little-hiatus-then-all-i-was/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) [Explore all 247 Rakim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## More Always trying quotes > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I think we're always trying to push ourselves to do new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-preciado/i-think-we-re-always-trying-to-push-ourselves-to-do-new-things/) [Jaime Preciado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-preciado/) > [I'm always trying to remember that kindness goes a long, long way. I think that's something that people will definitely take out of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-m-always-trying-to-remember-that-kindness-goes-a-long-long-way-i/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [I like embracing kind of normal forms but am always trying to approach them as if no one's ever done that before. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-like-embracing-kind-of-normal-forms-but-am-always-trying-to/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I believe in believing. My coach John Kavanagh is a big atheist, and he is always trying to persuade people to his way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-believe-in-believing-my-coach-john-kavanagh-is-a-big-atheist-and-he/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [I'm always trying to do something active because I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-agdal/i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-active-because-i-love-it/) [Nina Agdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-agdal/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I'm always trying to encourage people not to limit themselves in the same way that many of our parents stayed with one job forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-m-always-trying-to-encourage-people-not-to-limit-themselves-in-the/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My thing was always trying to do as much as I possibly could do. I wanted to do all the things the other kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/my-thing-was-always-trying-to-do-as-much-as-i-possibly-could-do-i/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Your parents were always trying to get you to be careful when you were a kid, and that's all pervasive in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/your-parents-were-always-trying-to-get-you-to-be-careful-when-you/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [I would not call myself an optimist, even though I would aspire to be. I am innately a skeptic. There's kind of an incessant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-would-not-call-myself-an-optimist-even-though-i-would-aspire-to-be/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [They say that to be a writer you must first have an unhappy childhood. I don't know if unhappiness is necessary, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/they-say-that-to-be-a-writer-you-must-first-have-an-unhappy-childhood/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) [Browse all 232 Always trying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always had an intelligence with me, I was always in the streets, I was always trying to do good. I was always looking for something to guide me. 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