But, look, it is good to have a dream so long as you do…
““But, look, it is good to have a dream so long as you do not let it gnaw at the substance of your present. I have seen men consumed by their dreams, and it is a sour business. If you cling too tightly to a dream—a poodle bitch or a personal sausage chef or whatever—then you miss the felicity of your heart beating and the smell of the grass growing and the sounds lizards make when you run through the neighborhood with our friend. Your dream should be like a favorite old bone that you savor and cherish and chew upon gently. Then, rather than stealing from you a wasted sigh or the life of an idle hour, it nourishes you, and you become strangely contented by nostalgia for a possible future, so juicy with possibility and redolent of sautéed garlic and decadent slabs of bacon that you feel full when you’ve eaten nothing. And then, one fine day when the sun smiles upon your snout, then the time is right, you bite down hard. The dream is yours. And then you chew on the next one.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Dreams should inspire without dominating present life; enjoy them lightly and act when ready.
In simple terms: Enjoy dreams but stay present.
Key Takeaway
Balance dreaming with living.
Themes
dreams
presence
contentment
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- creative projects
- personal growth
Key Concepts
mindfulness
moderation
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you keep dreams from consuming daily life?
- When is the right moment to act on a dream?
A Different Perspective
Dreams can become distractions if over‑valued.