---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Malander had an idea and was trying to…"
description: "\"Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg"
---

#  Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it…

![“Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they forgot their idea along the way and didn't even realise that they forgotten.” quote by Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg)

> “Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they forgot their idea along the way and didn't even realise that they forgotten.”

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often delay acting on ideas until it’s too late, losing clarity and motivation, or simply forget the original vision.

**In simple terms:** Delay erodes clarity and drive.

Key Takeaway

Act promptly before ideas fade.

Themes

procrastination clarity motivation

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- personal goals
- learning new skills

Key Concepts

psychology memory decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- What idea have you postponed?
- How can you maintain focus on a goal?

A Different Perspective

Even with urgency, external obstacles can still hinder execution.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgot/) [Forgot Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgot-idea-1265012/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Malander Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malander-idea-1265013/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Realise Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realise-forgotten-1265014/) [Realising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realising/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/sometimes-people-never-saw-things-clearly-until-it-was-too-late-and/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [Work done for the Self gives no bondage. Neither desire pleasure nor fear pain from work. It is the mind and body that work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/work-done-for-the-self-gives-no-bondage-neither-desire-pleasure-nor/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [I thought I forgot you, but I guess I forgot to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-forgot-you-but-i-guess-i-forgot-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“She was surprised that her hands had not forgotten, that somewhere in her mind, after a year of darkness and slavery, music was still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-was-surprised-that-her-hands-had-not-forgotten-that-somewhere-in/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [Kid is talking to his friend. Kid:OMG OMG OMGOMG!!!!!!!!!! Friend: What? Kid: I forgot. Friend: Damnit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kid-is-talking-to-his-friend-kid-omg-omg-omgomg-friend-what-kid-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What is up,you never look down. What is down, you never look up. But you forgot there is always something missing,the missing piece that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-cliff/what-is-up-you-never-look-down-what-is-down-you-never-look-up-but-you/)

[Ricky Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-cliff/)

> [I can't believe you haven't finished the thing I forgot to tell you to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-believe-you-haven-t-finished-the-thing-i-forgot-to-tell-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It might seem like the hardest thing to do, but you have to forget the person who forgot about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-bianco/it-might-seem-like-the-hardest-thing-to-do-but-you-have-to-forget-the/)

[Tanya Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-bianco/)

> [But today I felt different, today I forgot how long it takes to get into the skin of a character and I remembered it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-parsons/but-today-i-felt-different-today-i-forgot-how-long-it-takes-to-get/)

[Estelle Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-parsons/)

> [I forgot to breathe when I saw you; I think I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-forgot-to-breathe-when-i-saw-you-i-think-i-love-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Oh, I am sorry. I forgot I only exist when you need something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-i-am-sorry-i-forgot-i-only-exist-when-you-need-something/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I forgot to go to the gym today... That's 5 years in a row now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-forgot-to-go-to-the-gym-today-that-s-5-years-in-a-row-now/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“I know her name. I remember because I forgot. That’s one of the joys of love. Well, two of the joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-know-her-name-i-remember-because-i-forgot-that-s-one-of-the-joys-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Just in case you forgot, I'm always here for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-a-bad-bish/just-in-case-you-forgot-i-m-always-here-for-you/)

[Im\_a\_bad\_bish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-a-bad-bish/)

> [I was just going to say something, but I forgot when I started looking at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-just-going-to-say-something-but-i-forgot-when-i-started-looking/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Tove Jansson

> [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“The star we're looking for isn't so very friendly," said Moomintroll. "Quite the contrary, in fact." "What did you say?" said Sniff. Moomintroll went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/the-star-we-re-looking-for-isn-t-so-very-friendly-said-moomintroll/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [It looks rather ordinary," said the Snork. "Unless you consider that a top hat is always somewhat extraordinary, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-looks-rather-ordinary-said-the-snork-unless-you-consider-that-a/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“But Moominpappa wasn't listening, because just at that moment he had got the right grip on a big round boulder, and with a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/but-moominpappa-wasn-t-listening-because-just-at-that-moment-he-had/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/everyone-must-imagine-his-own-snakes-because-no-one-else-s-snakes-can/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/all-men-have-parties-and-are-pals-who-never-let-each-other-down-a-pal/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [Someone who eats pancakes and jam can't be so awfully dangerous. You can talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/someone-who-eats-pancakes-and-jam-can-t-be-so-awfully-dangerous-you/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [It's risky to talk about one's most secret dreams a bit too early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-s-risky-to-talk-about-one-s-most-secret-dreams-a-bit-too-early/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“I cannot stress enough the perils of your friends marrying or becoming court inventors. One day you are all a society of outlaws, adventurous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-cannot-stress-enough-the-perils-of-your-friends-marrying-or/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“Sophia," she said, "this is really not something to argue about. You can see for yourself that life is hard enough without being punished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/sophia-she-said-this-is-really-not-something-to-argue-about-you-can/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [Before we left, Grandmother talked a lot about the arctic night we would fly through. 'Isn't it a mystical word, "arctic"? Pure and quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/before-we-left-grandmother-talked-a-lot-about-the-arctic-night-we/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive. It has come to a standstill; nothing withers, and fall is not ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-is-still-summer-but-the-summer-is-no-longer-alive-it-has-come-to-a/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“It'd be awful if the world exploded, it's so wonderfully splendid”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/it-d-be-awful-if-the-world-exploded-it-s-so-wonderfully-splendid/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [“Grandmother walked up over the bare granite and thought about birds in general. It seemed to her no other creature had the same dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/grandmother-walked-up-over-the-bare-granite-and-thought-about-birds/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [But he thought all the strange words were beautiful, and he had never had a book of his own before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/but-he-thought-all-the-strange-words-were-beautiful-and-he-had-never/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

[Explore all 159 Tove Jansson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

## More Forgot quotes

> [I was just going to say something, but I forgot when I started looking at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-just-going-to-say-something-but-i-forgot-when-i-started-looking/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Just in case you forgot, I'm always here for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-a-bad-bish/just-in-case-you-forgot-i-m-always-here-for-you/)

[Im\_a\_bad\_bish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-a-bad-bish/)

> [“I know her name. I remember because I forgot. That’s one of the joys of love. Well, two of the joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-know-her-name-i-remember-because-i-forgot-that-s-one-of-the-joys-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [I forgot to go to the gym today... That's 5 years in a row now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-forgot-to-go-to-the-gym-today-that-s-5-years-in-a-row-now/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [Oh, I am sorry. I forgot I only exist when you need something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-i-am-sorry-i-forgot-i-only-exist-when-you-need-something/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I forgot to breathe when I saw you; I think I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-forgot-to-breathe-when-i-saw-you-i-think-i-love-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [But today I felt different, today I forgot how long it takes to get into the skin of a character and I remembered it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle-parsons/but-today-i-felt-different-today-i-forgot-how-long-it-takes-to-get/)

[Estelle Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle-parsons/)

> [It might seem like the hardest thing to do, but you have to forget the person who forgot about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-bianco/it-might-seem-like-the-hardest-thing-to-do-but-you-have-to-forget-the/)

[Tanya Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-bianco/)

> [I can't believe you haven't finished the thing I forgot to tell you to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-believe-you-haven-t-finished-the-thing-i-forgot-to-tell-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What is up,you never look down. What is down, you never look up. But you forgot there is always something missing,the missing piece that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-cliff/what-is-up-you-never-look-down-what-is-down-you-never-look-up-but-you/)

[Ricky Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-cliff/)

> [Kid is talking to his friend. Kid:OMG OMG OMGOMG!!!!!!!!!! Friend: What? Kid: I forgot. Friend: Damnit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kid-is-talking-to-his-friend-kid-omg-omg-omgomg-friend-what-kid-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“She was surprised that her hands had not forgotten, that somewhere in her mind, after a year of darkness and slavery, music was still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-was-surprised-that-her-hands-had-not-forgotten-that-somewhere-in/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [I thought I forgot you, but I guess I forgot to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-forgot-you-but-i-guess-i-forgot-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Sometimes, when I was looking out for my own happiness, I almost forgot you existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gibbons/sometimes-when-i-was-looking-out-for-my-own-happiness-i-almost-forgot/)

[Alan Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gibbons/)

> [“God's forgot that ever I lived... He's forgot...and He never cared, nohow…" He smoothed her brown, rough-palmed hand; he held her hands to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-miller/god-s-forgot-that-ever-i-lived-he-s-forgot-and-he-never-cared-nohow/)

[Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/)

[Browse all 602 Forgot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgot/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw things clearly until it was too late and they no longer had the strength to start again. Or else they forgot their idea along the way and didn't even realise that they forgotten.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tove Jansson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-work-it-out-but-it-would-take/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forgot"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-work-it-out-but-it-would-take/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/tove-jansson-1846_forgotten_malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-w_1713097.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Malander had an idea and was trying to work it out, but it would take him time. Sometimes people never saw…” — Tove Jansson",
                "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": "Tove Jansson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Malander had an idea and was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-work-it-out-but-it-would-take/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/malander-had-an-idea-and-was-trying-to-work-it-out-but-it-would-take/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
