--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lord, we know what we are, but know not…" description: "\"“Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg" --- # Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. ![“Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg) > ““Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.”” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We know our current self but cannot predict future potential. **In simple terms:** We know who we are now, not who we may become. Key Takeaway Stay open to growth and unknown possibilities. Themes identity potential uncertainty Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - life transitions Key Concepts existentialism self-development Questions to Reflect On - What future possibilities excite you? - How do you balance self-knowledge with openness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on unknown can cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) ## Related quotes > [Thy will be done, my Lord. Because you know the weakness in the heart of your children, and you assign each of them only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/thy-will-be-done-my-lord-because-you-know-the-weakness-in-the-heart/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Only the destructive forces know death as lord. Only spiritual forces know life as the Lord. Know ye the Lord!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/only-the-destructive-forces-know-death-as-lord-only-spiritual-forces/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. – John 21:17”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/lord-you-know-all-things-you-know-that-i-love-you-john-21-17/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [Lord,,, you know my love had fallen to him, Lord,,, hopefully, be my destiny to live with him, until death. heart and my live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisel-rifmily/lord-you-know-my-love-had-fallen-to-him-lord-hopefully-be-my-destiny/) [Gisel Rifmily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisel-rifmily/) > [Despite our sins, we can say with Peter: Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/despite-our-sins-we-can-say-with-peter-lord-you-know-everything-you/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Oh, my lord, I know it, I do.” The beggar laughed. “I own the place, technically. Now, regarding those coins for old Hoid, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/oh-my-lord-i-know-it-i-do-the-beggar-laughed-i-own-the-place/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [I said, O Love, tell me this: Does the Lord know you are treating me this way? Love said to me, yes He does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-said-o-love-tell-me-this-does-the-lord-know-you-are-treating-me/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I'm a Christian but only me and the Lord know that for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/i-m-a-christian-but-only-me-and-the-lord-know-that-for-sure/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [O Lord, you know what is best for me. Let this or that be done, as you please. Give what you will, how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/o-lord-you-know-what-is-best-for-me-let-this-or-that-be-done-as-you/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” – John 21:16”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/he-said-to-him-yes-lord-you-know-that-i-love-you-john-21-16/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [Lord, you know all things. Look on me with love, and hear my prayer. Forgive my sins, and give me strength to turn away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jgs-10-10-16/lord-you-know-all-things-look-on-me-with-love-and-hear-my-prayer/) Jgs 10:10-16 > [“You certainly are Lord Know-It-All this evening, aren’t you?” “Only when necessary. Otherwise I try not to let my brilliance overshadow my giving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-aiken/you-certainly-are-lord-know-it-all-this-evening-aren-t-you-only-when/) [G.A. Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [Lord all I know is that I dont wanna breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/lord-all-i-know-is-that-i-dont-wanna-breathe/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“It is an early step in this knowledge of Christ, to know and to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; to know that Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spurgeon-charles-h/it-is-an-early-step-in-this-knowledge-of-christ-to-know-and-to/) Spurgeon, Charles H > [“President Howard W. Hunter once said, 'God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see' (in Conference Report, Oct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/president-howard-w-hunter-once-said-god-knows-what-we-do-not-know-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-what-we-may-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-what-we-may-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/william-shakespeare-4_god_lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-wh_887595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.” — William Shakespeare", "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 Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Lord, we know what we are,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-what-we-may-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/lord-we-know-what-we-are-but-know-not-what-we-may-be/#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 } } ] } ```