--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What better way to discover the unknown…" description: "\"What better way to discover the unknown than to follow your instincts instead of your plans.\" — Rolf Potts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png" --- # What better way to discover the unknown than to follow… ![“What better way to discover the unknown than to follow your instincts instead of your plans.” quote by Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png) > “What better way to discover the unknown than to follow your instincts instead of your plans.” [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trusting intuition can lead to discoveries that rigid planning misses. **In simple terms:** Follow instincts to uncover new possibilities. Key Takeaway Listen to gut, explore beyond plans. Themes intuition exploration creativity Mood curious adventurous Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - travel - career pivots - artistic projects - personal growth Key Concepts spontaneity risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - When have you ignored a plan and succeeded? - What risks do you fear when following intuition? A Different Perspective Instincts can be unreliable and lead to reckless choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) [Better ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-ways/) [Discover Unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover-unknown-1547377/) [Follow Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-instincts-290059/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Instead Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-plans-3199428/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts/) [Instincts Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts-instead-3199427/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“The whole journey is yours alone, to unfold & discover the unknown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bri-miller/the-whole-journey-is-yours-alone-to-unfold-discover-the-unknown/) [Bri Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bri-miller/) > [Acting helps to discover an unknown side of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chef-damu/acting-helps-to-discover-an-unknown-side-of-yourself/) [Chef Damu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chef-damu/) > [I don't follow fashion and I don't follow trends, I just follow my instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-beckham/i-don-t-follow-fashion-and-i-don-t-follow-trends-i-just-follow-my/) [Victoria Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-beckham/) > [Follow your instincts and do not let other people's opinion of you become your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/follow-your-instincts-and-do-not-let-other-people-s-opinion-of-you/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [“to follow one’s instincts with due regard to the policeman round the corner, had not acted very well there: it was because Cronshaw had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/to-follow-one-s-instincts-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [All I can do is follow my instincts, because I'll never please everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-i-can-do-is-follow-my-instincts-because-i-ll-never-please-everyone/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [A woman should always follow her instincts cause when it speaks it never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-ann/a-woman-should-always-follow-her-instincts-cause-when-it-speaks-it/) [Shelly-Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-ann/) > [Follow your instincts - you never know if your ideas will work out unless you try them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lulu-guinness/follow-your-instincts-you-never-know-if-your-ideas-will-work-out/) [Lulu Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lulu-guinness/) > [It is not so important where one settles down. The best thing is to follow your instincts without too much reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/it-is-not-so-important-where-one-settles-down-the-best-thing-is-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I will follow my instincts, and be myself for good or ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-and-be-myself-for-good-or-ill/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Never to be frightened of taking risks and always follow your instincts!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/never-to-be-frightened-of-taking-risks-and-always-follow-your/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I follow my instincts and my excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-follow-my-instincts-and-my-excitement/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [Follow your instincts and live with the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/follow-your-instincts-and-live-with-the-consequences/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“It does no good to run. And it does no good to hide. But I know what it's like. Your brain shuts down, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey-peter-gross/it-does-no-good-to-run-and-it-does-no-good-to-hide-but-i-know-what-it/) [Mike Carey & Peter Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey-peter-gross/) > [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More by Rolf Potts > [“Ironically, the best litmus test for measuring your vagabonding gumption is found not in travel but in the process of earning your freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/ironically-the-best-litmus-test-for-measuring-your-vagabonding/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [The secret of adventure, then, is not to carefully seek it out but to travel in such a way that it finds you. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/the-secret-of-adventure-then-is-not-to-carefully-seek-it-out-but-to/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Travel, I was coming to realize, was a metaphor not only for the countless options life offers but also for the fact that choosing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/travel-i-was-coming-to-realize-was-a-metaphor-not-only-for-the/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [The mind can be a crazy monkey that is always dying to escape from the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/the-mind-can-be-a-crazy-monkey-that-is-always-dying-to-escape-from/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [In a way, simplifying your life for vagabonding is easier than it sounds. This is because travel by its very nature demands simplicity. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/in-a-way-simplifying-your-life-for-vagabonding-is-easier-than-it/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Zamunda represent everything that is kewl and real about vagabonding…being the person that discovered Zamunda (for independent travelers) during the research of my book,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/zamunda-represent-everything-that-is-kewl-and-real-about-vagabonding/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Seeing' as you travel is somewhat of a spiritual exercise: a process not of seeking interesting surroundings, but of being continually interested in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/seeing-as-you-travel-is-somewhat-of-a-spiritual-exercise-a-process/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Long-term travel doesn't require a massive bundle of cash; it requires only that we walk through the world in a more deliberate way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/long-term-travel-doesn-t-require-a-massive-bundle-of-cash-it-requires/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [“Of all the intoxicants you can find on the road (including a "national beer" for nearly every country in the world), marijuana deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/of-all-the-intoxicants-you-can-find-on-the-road-including-a-national/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [“My greatest skill has been to want little. —HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/my-greatest-skill-has-been-to-want-little-henry-david-thoreau-walden-a/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [“Thus, the question of how and when to start vagabonding is not really a question at all. Vagabonding starts now. Even if the practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/thus-the-question-of-how-and-when-to-start-vagabonding-is-not-really/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Begin to look at maps with the narcotic tingle of possibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/begin-to-look-at-maps-with-the-narcotic-tingle-of-possibility/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [In reality long-term travel has nothing to do with demographics, age, ideology, income, and everything to do with personal outlook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/in-reality-long-term-travel-has-nothing-to-do-with-demographics-age/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [If in doubt, just walk until your day becomes interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/if-in-doubt-just-walk-until-your-day-becomes-interesting/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Vagabonding is about refusing to exile travel to some other, seemingly more appropriate, time of your life. Vagabonding is about taking control of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/vagabonding-is-about-refusing-to-exile-travel-to-some-other-seemingly/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) [Explore all 39 Rolf Potts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) ## More Better way quotes > [We're also fairly stubborn, I think, fairly independent. We have our share of difficulties with our federal government, although I've tried to as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/we-re-also-fairly-stubborn-i-think-fairly-independent-we-have-our/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I believe there should be a better way to start each day...instead of waking up every morning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-there-should-be-a-better-way-to-start-each-day-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [WE NEED TO TALK. Why do we fear these four little words? Why do they arouse the same physical protective responses that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/we-need-to-talk-why-do-we-fear-these-four-little-words-why-do-they/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Frequently, when I suggest to people that they detach from a person or problem, they recoil in horror. “Oh, no!” they say. “I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/frequently-when-i-suggest-to-people-that-they-detach-from-a-person-or/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [“No better way to avoid making a decision than burying yourself in a big fat book.” (p. 105).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bard/no-better-way-to-avoid-making-a-decision-than-burying-yourself-in-a/) [Elizabeth Bard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bard/) > [Failure does not mean that God has left you, but it does mean that God has a better way and idea for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/failure-does-not-mean-that-god-has-left-you-but-it-does-mean-that-god/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [The answer lies in preventing these failures, not in looking for better ways to fix the people who are failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/the-answer-lies-in-preventing-these-failures-not-in-looking-for/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [There never was a tonic that would cure more social ailments than a healthy, happy home. There never was a greater source of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/there-never-was-a-tonic-that-would-cure-more-social-ailments-than-a/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [There is no better way of elevating the novel than by making it into a construct which contains ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-mann/there-is-no-better-way-of-elevating-the-novel-than-by-making-it-into/) [Heinrich Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-mann/) [Browse all 882 Better way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What better way to discover the unknown than to follow your instincts instead of your plans.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rolf Potts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown-than-to-follow-your-instincts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better way" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown-than-to-follow-your-instincts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7de/rolf-potts-16781_better-way_what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown_345204.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What better way to discover the unknown than to follow your instincts instead of your plans.” — Rolf Potts", "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": "Rolf Potts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What better way to discover the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown-than-to-follow-your-instincts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/what-better-way-to-discover-the-unknown-than-to-follow-your-instincts/#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 } } ] } ```