--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know not how it is: there are some…" description: "\"I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which dullness seems to be a qualification.\" — William Godwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png" --- # I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which… ![“I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which dullness seems to be a qualification.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png) > “I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which dullness seems to be a qualification.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes that some enterprises value dullness, implying monotony can be a strategic asset. **In simple terms:** Boringness can be useful in business. Key Takeaway Recognize when consistency outweighs excitement. Themes business strategy monotony efficiency Mood analytical critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - long-term projects - regulatory compliance - brand stability - routine operations - risk-averse markets Key Concepts strategic dullness risk management process optimization Questions to Reflect On - When is consistency more valuable than novelty? - How can dullness be leveraged for reliability? A Different Perspective May undervalue innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Businesses Dullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businesses-dullness-5423160/) [Dullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dullness/) [Dullness Qualification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dullness-qualification-5423161/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Businesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-businesses-368938/) [Qualification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualification/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [You know, businesses hate uncertainty more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carwyn-jones/you-know-businesses-hate-uncertainty-more-than-anything-else/) [Carwyn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carwyn-jones/) > [Bankers are likeable rascals. Now that we are all wise to 'em, it's been shown that they don't know any more about finances than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/bankers-are-likeable-rascals-now-that-we-are-all-wise-to-em-it-s-been/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“You cannot have qualifications without experience; and you cannot have experience without personal interest and bias. That may not be an ideal arrangement; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-cannot-have-qualifications-without-experience-and-you-cannot-have/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I have never worked on interrogation; I have never seen an interrogation, and I have only a passing knowledge of the literature on interrogation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/i-have-never-worked-on-interrogation-i-have-never-seen-an/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [“Your inadequacy is your first qualification”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gaynor-banks/your-inadequacy-is-your-first-qualification/) [John Gaynor Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gaynor-banks/) > [In a way, I'm always trying to do something I'm not qualified to do. So I feel that lack of qualification. And I'm scared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/in-a-way-i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-i-m-not-qualified-to-do-so/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Being a farmer is a great qualification to have to serve in the United States Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-braley/being-a-farmer-is-a-great-qualification-to-have-to-serve-in-the/) [Bruce Braley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-braley/) > [“a desired qualification must be preceded by the endeavor to prove that it is deserved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubha-vilas/a-desired-qualification-must-be-preceded-by-the-endeavor-to-prove/) [Shubha Vilas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubha-vilas/) > [Irony is a qualification of subjectivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/irony-is-a-qualification-of-subjectivity/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [My first qualification is I didn't go to Columbia Journalism School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/my-first-qualification-is-i-didn-t-go-to-columbia-journalism-school/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [“At the job interview your qualification and degrees matter but on the job your abilities, effectiveness, and efficiency matter. On the basis of qualification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiyaz-uddin/at-the-job-interview-your-qualification-and-degrees-matter-but-on-the/) [Aiyaz Uddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiyaz-uddin/) > [“The characteristic qualification for the ministry, the unction from on high, is the immediate gift of the Holy Ghost, and cannot be imparted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henley-thornwell/the-characteristic-qualification-for-the-ministry-the-unction-from-on/) [James Henley Thornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henley-thornwell/) > [There is one qualification the manager cannot acquire but must bring to the task. It is not genius; it is character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-one-qualification-the-manager-cannot-acquire-but-must-bring/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [There is no higher qualification than genuine inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/there-is-no-higher-qualification-than-genuine-inspiration/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) ## More by William Godwin > [I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to increase, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-nothing-worth-the-living-for-but-usefulness-and-the-service-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [He that loves reading has everything within his reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/he-that-loves-reading-has-everything-within-his-reach/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-must-be-room-for-the-imagination-to-exercise-its-powers-we-must/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [In infamy, it is wisely provided that he who stands highest in the ranks of society has the heaviest load to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/in-infamy-it-is-wisely-provided-that-he-who-stands-highest-in-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [No man knows the value of innocence and integrity but he who has lost them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/no-man-knows-the-value-of-innocence-and-integrity-but-he-who-has-lost/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/study-with-desire-is-real-activity-without-desire-it-is-but-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Tenderness is the name for a lover's most exquisite sensation; protection is implied in his most generous and heart-thrilling impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/tenderness-is-the-name-for-a-lover-s-most-exquisite-sensation/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/whenever-government-assumes-to-deliver-us-from-the-trouble-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/was-ever-a-great-discovery-prosecuted-or-an-important-benefit/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-real-or-supposed-rights-of-man-are-of-two-kinds-active-and/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/soundness-of-understanding-is-connected-with-freedom-of-enquiry/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/power-is-not-happiness-security-and-peace-are-more-to-be-desired-than/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/strange-that-men-from-age-to-age-should-consent-to-hold-their-lives/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) [Explore all 193 William Godwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which dullness seems to be a qualification.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-businesses-for-which-dullness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-businesses-for-which-dullness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/william-godwin-1978_business_i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-busi_1485302.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know not how it is: there are some businesses for which dullness seems to be a qualification.” — William Godwin", "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": "William Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know not how it is:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-businesses-for-which-dullness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-not-how-it-is-there-are-some-businesses-for-which-dullness/#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 } } ] } ```