--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can’t begin to tell you the things I…" description: "\"“I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.”\" — Shelby Foote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png" --- # I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I… ![“I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.” quote by Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png) > ““I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.”” [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discovery often occurs when searching for something unrelated, revealing unexpected insights. **In simple terms:** Finding new things while looking elsewhere. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and stay open to surprise. Themes curiosity serendipity learning Mood wonderful inquisitive Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - research - personal growth - problem solving - artistic creation Key Concepts psychology exploration creative insight Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected insight have you missed while focused on a goal? - How can you create space for serendipity? A Different Perspective Unexpected findings may be overlooked if you dismiss unrelated information. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered/) [Discovered Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-looking-2360883/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Tell Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-things/) [Things Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-discovered-2387434/) ## Related quotes > [The outlines of the needed psychology of becoming can be discovered by looking within ourselves; for it is knowledge of our own uniqueness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-outlines-of-the-needed-psychology-of-becoming-can-be-discovered/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the things I discovered about myself is I'm just really positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hince/one-of-the-things-i-discovered-about-myself-is-i-m-just-really/) [Jamie Hince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hince/) > [Although the world places a premium on the latest things, some realities are discovered by looking into the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/although-the-world-places-a-premium-on-the-latest-things-some/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [Not all things are to be discovered; many are better concealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-all-things-are-to-be-discovered-many-are-better-concealed/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“With the beautiful things I had discovered this summer, like loving and being loved, there was also the ugly truth that there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mccrimmon/with-the-beautiful-things-i-had-discovered-this-summer-like-loving/) [Shannon McCrimmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mccrimmon/) > [Get on to social media and ask questions about the areas you're going to. You'll be surprised at the amount of responses from people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/get-on-to-social-media-and-ask-questions-about-the-areas-you-re-going/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [“I wrote about the things I discovered along the way and about how whether we believe it or not, everything we need to succeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kendall/i-wrote-about-the-things-i-discovered-along-the-way-and-about-how/) [Andrew Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kendall/) > [Objects of every sort are materials for the new art: paint, food, chairs, electric and neon lights, smoke, water, old socks, a dog, movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-kaprow/objects-of-every-sort-are-materials-for-the-new-art-paint-food-chairs/) [Allan Kaprow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-kaprow/) > [“One of the biggest things I discovered was that I had been taking a “one size fits all” approach to my marketing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-levesque/one-of-the-biggest-things-i-discovered-was-that-i-had-been-taking-a/) [Ryan Levesque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-levesque/) > [“I think there are lots of things still to be discovered. You just have to be paying attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/i-think-there-are-lots-of-things-still-to-be-discovered-you-just-have/) [Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/) > [I had learned that science is a rewarding, active process of discovery, not the passive absorption of what others had discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/i-had-learned-that-science-is-a-rewarding-active-process-of-discovery/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. All 25 lead to men earning more money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/after-years-of-research-i-discovered-25-differences-in-the-work-life/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Einstein wrestled with a problem back before we even knew the universe was expanding, and he was looking for a way to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-riess/einstein-wrestled-with-a-problem-back-before-we-even-knew-the/) [Adam Riess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-riess/) > [Why do you tell me all the things you should be telling your girlfriend?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-you-tell-me-all-the-things-you-should-be-telling-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can tell me things nobody knows, let me be your man I'll keep you close. If you need medication here's a dose. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-tell-me-things-nobody-knows-let-me-be-your-man-i-ll-keep-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Shelby Foote > [A fact is not a truth until you love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/a-fact-is-not-a-truth-until-you-love-it/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Of all the passions of mankind, the love of novelty most rules the mind. In search of this, from realm to realm we roam.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/of-all-the-passions-of-mankind-the-love-of-novelty-most-rules-the/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I think making mistakes and discovering them for yourself is of great value, but to have someone else to point out your mistakes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-think-making-mistakes-and-discovering-them-for-yourself-is-of-great/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I began the way nearly everybody I ever heard of - I began writing poetry. And I find that to be quite usual with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-began-the-way-nearly-everybody-i-ever-heard-of-i-began-writing/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I never cared what kind of grade I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-never-cared-what-kind-of-grade-i-got/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [And I'm a slow writer: five, six hundred words is a good day. That's the reason it took me 20 years to write those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/and-i-m-a-slow-writer-five-six-hundred-words-is-a-good-day-that-s-the/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [If you want to study writing, read Dickens. That's how to study writing, or Faulkner, or D.H. Lawrence, or John Keats. They can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/if-you-want-to-study-writing-read-dickens-that-s-how-to-study-writing/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I've never shown anybody a draft of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-ve-never-shown-anybody-a-draft-of-anything/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I ran into Ku Klux Klan and the threat of hurricanes, and those two things made me decide not to build on the Alabama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-ran-into-ku-klux-klan-and-the-threat-of-hurricanes-and-those-two/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I took five years on the first volume, five years on the second volume, and ten years on the third volume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-took-five-years-on-the-first-volume-five-years-on-the-second-volume/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Grant was something rare in that or any war. He could learn from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/grant-was-something-rare-in-that-or-any-war-he-could-learn-from/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Getting close to books, and spending time by myself, I was obliged to think about things I would never have thought about if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/getting-close-to-books-and-spending-time-by-myself-i-was-obliged-to/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“Right now I'm thinking a good deal about emancipation. One of our sins was slavery, another was emancipation. It's a paradox. In theory, emancipation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/right-now-i-m-thinking-a-good-deal-about-emancipation-one-of-our-sins/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) [Explore all 52 Shelby Foote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) ## More Discovered quotes > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I can't really remember, but I think my life must have been a lot more productive before I discovered Facebook...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-really-remember-but-i-think-my-life-must-have-been-a-lot-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first time I went to Abbey Road and put those headphones on, I discovered I had two voices. I no longer had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/the-first-time-i-went-to-abbey-road-and-put-those-headphones-on-i/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [My singing led into acting, and that is how I discovered acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalaine/my-singing-led-into-acting-and-that-is-how-i-discovered-acting/) [Lalaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalaine/) > [At Ungaro, I discovered the flou and the language of Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-valli/at-ungaro-i-discovered-the-flou-and-the-language-of-paris/) [Giambattista Valli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-valli/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. All 25 lead to men earning more money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/after-years-of-research-i-discovered-25-differences-in-the-work-life/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [The big problem is just this kind of gigantic piece, of kids reading less and liking it less and so getting worse at it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/the-big-problem-is-just-this-kind-of-gigantic-piece-of-kids-reading/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [“I discovered race in America and it fascinated me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/i-discovered-race-in-america-and-it-fascinated-me/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [All my words are sort of shaped, all my words, my voice, my gestures, my imagination, are shaped by centuries, really. They are educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rohrwacher/all-my-words-are-sort-of-shaped-all-my-words-my-voice-my-gestures-my/) [Alice Rohrwacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rohrwacher/) > [I first discovered YouTube while browsing the web, and then I found people just talking into their cameras. I never even knew it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-first-discovered-youtube-while-browsing-the-web-and-then-i-found/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [I'm a perceptive person. I know what's good and I don't venture into what's not good. I've discovered my own khazana. Everybody should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rekha/i-m-a-perceptive-person-i-know-what-s-good-and-i-don-t-venture-into/) [Rekha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rekha/) > [When I discovered acting, I decided that's what I wanted to do above everything else. It was the first time I was passionate about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/when-i-discovered-acting-i-decided-that-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-above/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) [Browse all 653 Discovered quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shelby Foote" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-discovered-while-i-was-looking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discovered" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-discovered-while-i-was-looking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/shelby-foote-13013_discovered_i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-d_2925087.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can’t begin to tell you the things I discovered while I was looking for something else.” — Shelby Foote", "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": "Shelby Foote", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I can’t begin to tell you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-discovered-while-i-was-looking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-can-t-begin-to-tell-you-the-things-i-discovered-while-i-was-looking/#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 } } ] } ```