--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God knows, I'm no the thing I should be…" description: "\"God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.\" — Robert Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png" --- # God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the… ![“God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png) > “God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.” [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses feeling of falling short of expectations and potential. **In simple terms:** Self‑doubt about not meeting ideals. Key Takeaway Accept your imperfect self. Themes self‑esteem aspiration identity Mood melancholic hopeful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - mental health counseling Key Concepts existentialism poetry Questions to Reflect On - What defines your true potential? - How can you reconcile who you are with who you could be? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can paralyze progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-knows/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-thing-589126/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-thing/) ## Related quotes > [And any man who knows a thing, knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-naan/and-any-man-who-knows-a-thing-knows-he-knows-not-a-damn-damn-thing-at/) [K'naan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-naan/) > [There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/there-is-hardly-any-place-or-any-company-where-you-may-not-gain/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Still, she knows one thing for certain: never judge a relationship unless you are the one wrapped up in its arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/still-she-knows-one-thing-for-certain-never-judge-a-relationship/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [ “I said, "Some people do know more than others. That contributes to the impression that someone, somewhere,knows the whole thing." \[p. 38\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/i-said-some-people-do-know-more-than-others-that-contributes-to-the/) [Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/) > [It's like he knows, he knows I have a thing for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-s-like-he-knows-he-knows-i-have-a-thing-for-her/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Every white person in this country-and I do not care what he or she says-knows one thing. They may not know, as they put,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/every-white-person-in-this-country-and-i-do-not-care-what-he-or-she/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Every person that you meet knows at least one thing that you don't. Don't let them leave without learning it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/every-person-that-you-meet-knows-at-least-one-thing-that-you-don-t/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“One thing? One thing I like? Okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/one-thing-one-thing-i-like-okay/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [All that matters is that the thing be the thing of the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-olson/all-that-matters-is-that-the-thing-be-the-thing-of-the-thing/) [Charles Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-olson/) > [“I do my thing, and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-perls/i-do-my-thing-and-you-do-your-thing-i-am-not-in-this-world-to-live-up/) [Fritz Perls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-perls/) > [Sometimes the only thing to do is to take the thing that you must have. Even if someone gets hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sometimes-the-only-thing-to-do-is-to-take-the-thing-that-you-must/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The story is the first thing and the last thing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/the-story-is-the-first-thing-and-the-last-thing/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/a-thing-is-a-thing-not-what-is-said-of-that-thing/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The celebrity thing is such a thing in itself now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/the-celebrity-thing-is-such-a-thing-in-itself-now/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [“Fear will do one thing and one thing only: hold you back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kya-aliana/fear-will-do-one-thing-and-one-thing-only-hold-you-back/) [Kya Aliana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kya-aliana/) ## More by Robert Burns > [Some wee short hour ayont the twal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-wee-short-hour-ayont-the-twal/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o' the morn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-snowdrop-and-primrose-our-woodlands-adorn-and-violets-bathe-in/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Oh my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/oh-my-luve-s-like-a-red-red-rose-that-s-newly-sprung-in-june-oh-my/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Again rejoicing Nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues Her leafy locks wave in the breeze, All freshly steep'd in the morning dews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/again-rejoicing-nature-sees-her-robe-assume-its-vernal-hues-her-leafy/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Gin a body meet a body Coming thro' the rye, Gin a body kiss a body— Need a body cry?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/gin-a-body-meet-a-body-coming-thro-the-rye-gin-a-body-kiss-a-body/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/o-wad-some-power-the-giftie-gie-us-to-see-oursels-as-ithers-see-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/liberty-s-in-every-blow-let-us-do-or-die/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Dare to be honest and fear no labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/dare-to-be-honest-and-fear-no-labor/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Look abroad through Nature's range, Nature's mighty law is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/look-abroad-through-nature-s-range-nature-s-mighty-law-is-change/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [ “All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn." \[ Brigs of Ayr \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/all-cheering-plenty-with-her-flowing-horn-led-yellow-autumn-wreath-d/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [To make three guineas do the work of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/to-make-three-guineas-do-the-work-of-five/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Some books are lies frae end to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-books-are-lies-frae-end-to-end/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Who made the heart, 'tis He alone Decidedly can try us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/who-made-the-heart-tis-he-alone-decidedly-can-try-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.--Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/nursing-her-wrath-to-keep-it-warm-robert-burns/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/it-is-cruelty-to-be-humane-to-rebels-and-humanity-is-cruelty/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) [Explore all 233 Robert Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-nor-am-i-even-the-thing-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-nor-am-i-even-the-thing-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-burns-1511_god_god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-n_1858138.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.” — Robert Burns", "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": "Robert Burns", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God knows, I'm no the thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-nor-am-i-even-the-thing-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/god-knows-i-m-no-the-thing-i-should-be-nor-am-i-even-the-thing-i/#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 } } ] } ```