--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My parents always told me I could do…" description: "\"My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take\" — Rita Rudner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png" --- # My parents always told me I could do anything, but never… ![“My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take” quote by Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png) > “My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take” [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouragement without realistic expectations can set up frustration. **In simple terms:** Support without guidance leads to uncertainty. Key Takeaway Set clear goals and timelines alongside encouragement. Themes motivation expectation planning parenting humor Mood encouraging realistic thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - education - fitness goals - project deadlines - personal projects Key Concepts goal setting time management self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What realistic steps can you define? - How do you balance optimism with planning? A Different Perspective Over‑optimism may cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [“I told you this long ago, and it is still true. I am a man with but one heart to give, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-haeger/i-told-you-this-long-ago-and-it-is-still-true-i-am-a-man-with-but-one/) [Diane Haeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-haeger/) > [We should not be told what to do. We are being told since our childhood about things that we should do and should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/we-should-not-be-told-what-to-do-we-are-being-told-since-our/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [I told you once I told you twice, the next time I won't be so nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmine-sullivan/i-told-you-once-i-told-you-twice-the-next-time-i-won-t-be-so-nice/) [Jazmine Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmine-sullivan/) > [“You know I don't like being told what to do. Then do without being told.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-smith/you-know-i-don-t-like-being-told-what-to-do-then-do-without-being-told/) Maureen Smith > [“Maybe I . . . shouldn’t tell him what I thought I’d heard. Not until I knew more. How exactly would I put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/maybe-i-shouldn-t-tell-him-what-i-thought-i-d-heard-not-until-i-knew/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [When I was growing up, my parents told me, 'Finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.' 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She picked up her handbag and made a point of slamming the front door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell/told-to-get-up-and-do-as-she-was-told-she-picked-up-her-handbag-and/) [Jamie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell/) > [“Really, Agatha, you might have told me.” "Told you what?” Mairelon said. “That my ward was once a street thief? I didn’t think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/really-agatha-you-might-have-told-me-told-you-what-mairelon-said-that/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) ## More by Rita Rudner > [I worry about Las Vegas schools. I hear in math, they only teach them to count to 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-worry-about-las-vegas-schools-i-hear-in-math-they-only-teach-them/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Going out to eat is expensive. I was out at one restaurant and they didn't have prices on the menu. Just faces with different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/going-out-to-eat-is-expensive-i-was-out-at-one-restaurant-and-they/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Men are very confident people. Even a sixty-year-old man with no arms thinks he could play in the Super Bowl if he had to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-are-very-confident-people-even-a-sixty-year-old-man-with-no-arms/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Envy the kangaroo. That pouch setup is extraordinary; the baby crawls out of the womb when it is about two inches long, gets into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/envy-the-kangaroo-that-pouch-setup-is-extraordinary-the-baby-crawls/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [The way a man looks at himself in a mirror will tell you if he can ever care about anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/the-way-a-man-looks-at-himself-in-a-mirror-will-tell-you-if-he-can/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [They usually have two tellers in my local bank, except when it's very busy, when they have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/they-usually-have-two-tellers-in-my-local-bank-except-when-it-s-very/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [My Vegas act is how I make my money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-vegas-act-is-how-i-make-my-money/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Men are self-confident because they grow up identifying with super-heroes. Women have bad self-images because they grow up identifying with Barbie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-are-self-confident-because-they-grow-up-identifying-with-super/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [We've begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet - so we bought a dog. Well, it's cheaper, and you get more feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-ve-begun-to-long-for-the-pitter-patter-of-little-feet-so-we-bought/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [... life is broken down into these stages: you're born and you don't know how anything works; gradually you find out how everything works;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/life-is-broken-down-into-these-stages-you-re-born-and-you-don-t-know/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [We live in Los Angeles, where you are expected to move every two to four years, so people can see how well your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-live-in-los-angeles-where-you-are-expected-to-move-every-two-to/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [A good place to meet a man is at the dry cleaner. These men usually have jobs and bathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/a-good-place-to-meet-a-man-is-at-the-dry-cleaner-these-men-usually/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I have been doing leg lifts faithfully for about fifteen years, and the only thing that has gotten thinner is the carpet where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-have-been-doing-leg-lifts-faithfully-for-about-fifteen-years-and/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) [Explore all 217 Rita Rudner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) ## More Inspiration quotes > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/) Fash > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/) Lashauna D. Hinton [Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Rudner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-anything-but-never-told-me-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-anything-but-never-told-me-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/rita-rudner-1679_inspiration_my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-any_1974652.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My parents always told me I could do anything, but never told me how long it would take” — Rita Rudner", "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": "Rita Rudner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My parents always told me I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-anything-but-never-told-me-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/my-parents-always-told-me-i-could-do-anything-but-never-told-me-how/#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 } } ] } ```