--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never…" description: "\"I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I was capable of doing.\" — Tom Petty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png" --- # I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I… ![“I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I was capable of doing.” quote by Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png) > “I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I was capable of doing.” [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quitting earlier would have prevented discovering personal potential, highlighting the value of perseverance. **In simple terms:** Giving up early hides your true abilities. Key Takeaway Keep going to uncover hidden strengths. Themes perseverance self‑discovery growth Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - personal challenges Key Concepts resilience potential career development Questions to Reflect On - What would you attempt if you weren’t afraid to fail? - How does past perseverance shape your confidence? A Different Perspective Some risks may be worth taking early on. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Capable Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-doing/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit/) [Quit Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit-years-1150753/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-quit-1150754/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Golf is like smoking, I have been trying to quit for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-weiss/golf-is-like-smoking-i-have-been-trying-to-quit-for-years/) [Brian Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-weiss/) > [I went to the Strasberg Institute and then quit that again. Because every few years, I would have this realization, 'No youre not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-khouri/i-went-to-the-strasberg-institute-and-then-quit-that-again-because/) [Callie Khouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-khouri/) > [It makes my wife mad, you know, she wants me to stay home all the time. But its what I've done all my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/it-makes-my-wife-mad-you-know-she-wants-me-to-stay-home-all-the-time/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Before u talk, listen, before u react, think, before u quit, try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cookie/before-u-talk-listen-before-u-react-think-before-u-quit-try/) [Cookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cookie/) > [Before you react, think. Before you quit, try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-react-think-before-you-quit-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can try your passion for a while and see if it works and if it doesn't, at least you tried. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ellis/you-can-try-your-passion-for-a-while-and-see-if-it-works-and-if-it/) [Jay Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ellis/) > [Before you speak listen, before you write think, Before you quit try, Before you take a SHIT, look at the toilet paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-speak-listen-before-you-write-think-before-you-quit-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know what I'm capable of doing. I just want to stay fit and healthy and let my football take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-doing-i-just-want-to-stay-fit-and-healthy/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [I know what I'm capable of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-know-what-i-m-capable-of-doing/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I don't want to prove to anyone or prove to myself. I'd rather just enjoy and show myself that I am capable of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-stojko/i-don-t-want-to-prove-to-anyone-or-prove-to-myself-i-d-rather-just/) [Elvis Stojko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-stojko/) > [Women I know are smart, educated, intelligent, capable of doing anything that anybody else can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/women-i-know-are-smart-educated-intelligent-capable-of-doing-anything/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-difference-between-what-we-do-and-what-we-are-capable-of-doing/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Believe in yourself, because you are capable of doing amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believe-in-yourself-because-you-are-capable-of-doing-amazing-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/only-when-someone-refuses-to-do-certain-things-will-he-be-capable-of/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Tom Petty > [Where the sky begins, the horizon ends, despite the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/where-the-sky-begins-the-horizon-ends-despite-the-best-intentions/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [As time goes by, you seem to weed out the things that were making your life hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/as-time-goes-by-you-seem-to-weed-out-the-things-that-were-making-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I would never put my songs in a commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-would-never-put-my-songs-in-a-commercial/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Take back your insurance, baby, nothing is guaranteed. Take back your acid rain, let your TV bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/take-back-your-insurance-baby-nothing-is-guaranteed-take-back-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-great-thing-about-the-wilburys-was-that-none-of-us-had-to-take/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that an artist has to take some moral responsibility for what he or she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-but-i-do-believe-that-an-artist-has-to/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Any time you're making a living at what you love to do, you're blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/any-time-you-re-making-a-living-at-what-you-love-to-do-you-re-blessed/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [A rebel without a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/a-rebel-without-a-clue/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you look around at America, that's one of its biggest problems is you have corporations that can never be pleased at a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-look-around-at-america-that-s-one-of-its-biggest-problems-is/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Even the losers get lucky sometimes. Even the losers keep a little bit of pride. They get lucky sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/even-the-losers-get-lucky-sometimes-even-the-losers-keep-a-little-bit/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you stretch your imagination, I'll tell you all a tale, about a time when everything wasn't up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-stretch-your-imagination-i-ll-tell-you-all-a-tale-about-a-time/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Buy me a drink, sing me a song; take me as I come, cause I can't stay long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/buy-me-a-drink-sing-me-a-song-take-me-as-i-come-cause-i-can-t-stay/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I never could have dreamed that her heart was so wicked, but I keep coming back because it's so hard to kick it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-never-could-have-dreamed-that-her-heart-was-so-wicked-but-i-keep/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [She's a good girl, crazy about Elvis, loves horses, and her boyfriend, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/she-s-a-good-girl-crazy-about-elvis-loves-horses-and-her-boyfriend-too/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I'm more interested in what I'm going to leave behind me than in making a big hit record. I've refined what I do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-m-more-interested-in-what-i-m-going-to-leave-behind-me-than-in/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) [Explore all 190 Tom Petty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“If you not yet try How to know you can or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sopharat/if-you-not-yet-try-how-to-know-you-can-or-not/) [Sopharat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sopharat/) > [I'm attracted to the garden, without a doubt, but I always try and image the wolf that's there, too. And that wolf would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-light/i-m-attracted-to-the-garden-without-a-doubt-but-i-always-try-and/) [Michael Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-light/) > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. If you want to be a player for all your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/playing-is-much-much-harder-than-composing-in-my-opinion-becoming-a/) [John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/) > [How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/how-difficult-the-task-to-quench-the-fire-and-the-pride-of-private/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) [Browse all 3,861 Capable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I was capable of doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Petty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never-have-known-what-i-was-capable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never-have-known-what-i-was-capable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/tom-petty-2030_capable_i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never_891304.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think if I'd quit years ago, I'd never have known what I was capable of doing.” — Tom Petty", "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": "Tom Petty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think if I'd quit years...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never-have-known-what-i-was-capable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-think-if-i-d-quit-years-ago-i-d-never-have-known-what-i-was-capable/#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 } } ] } ```