--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way to keep a dream, any dream…" description: "\"The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never to live it out.\" — Amos Oz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png" --- # The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a… ![“The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never to live it out.” quote by Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png) > “The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never to live it out.” [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keeping a dream untouched preserves its idealism, but prevents it from becoming reality. **In simple terms:** Protecting a dream can keep it pure but unrealized. Key Takeaway Balance idealism with action. Themes dreams idealism reality Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal aspirations - artistic projects - relationship goals - career planning Key Concepts Psychology philosophy creative tension Questions to Reflect On - What dreams have you kept untouched and why? - How can you honor a dream while still pursuing it? A Different Perspective Living fully often requires confronting imperfections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-perfect-344984/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Intact Unsullied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intact-unsullied-2164278/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect Rosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-rosy-2164280/) [Rosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rosy/) [Rosy Intact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rosy-intact-2164279/) [Unsullied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsullied-662724/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [In order to hold your faith intact be sure it's kept unsullied by fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/in-order-to-hold-your-faith-intact-be-sure-it-s-kept-unsullied-by-fact/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [The part we create from can't be touched by anything our parents did, or society did. That part is unsullied, uncorrupted; soundproof, waterproof, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-part-we-create-from-can-t-be-touched-by-anything-our-parents-did/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [It has passed over mountain ranges and The waters of the seven seas. It has shown upon laborers in the fields, Into the windows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-lee-scott/it-has-passed-over-mountain-ranges-and-the-waters-of-the-seven-seas/) [Clinton Lee Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-lee-scott/) > [“Unsullied!” Dany galloped before them, her silver-gold braid flying behind her, her bell chiming with every stride. “Slay the Good Masters, slay the soldiers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/unsullied-dany-galloped-before-them-her-silver-gold-braid-flying/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Oh my God…How could he do such a thing? What kind of monster is he? (Kiara) You think you’re so unsullied. How dare you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/oh-my-god-how-could-he-do-such-a-thing-what-kind-of-monster-is-he/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Anyone can buy a car or a night on the town. Most of us shell our days like peanuts. One in a thousand can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/anyone-can-buy-a-car-or-a-night-on-the-town-most-of-us-shell-our-days/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“A lady must be born of unsullied blood for at least three generations, on each side of her house. Think for a minute about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/a-lady-must-be-born-of-unsullied-blood-for-at-least-three-generations/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [Very few reputations are gained by unsullied virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/very-few-reputations-are-gained-by-unsullied-virtue/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The moment you carry out any of your dreams or your fantasies - travel around the world, climbing a high mountain, buying a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-moment-you-carry-out-any-of-your-dreams-or-your-fantasies-travel/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [I really can't complain about anything. I'm living a childhood dream and I have a perfect family. There's really nothing that I'm disappointed with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-really-can-t-complain-about-anything-i-m-living-a-childhood-dream/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [Of course I dream to have this perfect man who does not want to change me. And I'm so not marriage material, it's terrible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/of-course-i-dream-to-have-this-perfect-man-who-does-not-want-to/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [“How can i sleep when no dream could ever be as perfect as this reality?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-goodmore/how-can-i-sleep-when-no-dream-could-ever-be-as-perfect-as-this-reality/) [Jade Goodmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-goodmore/) > [We dream of the perfect wave, the perfect job, the perfect house. When we get there, we dream of something else,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-machado/we-dream-of-the-perfect-wave-the-perfect-job-the-perfect-house-when/) [Rob Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-machado/) > [The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-enemy-of-a-good-plan-is-the-dream-of-a-perfect-plan/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Amos Oz > [I find the family the most mysterious and fascinating institution in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-find-the-family-the-most-mysterious-and-fascinating-institution-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“All the profits that Papa made by the sweat of his brow from his mill she extorted from him and spent the lot on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/all-the-profits-that-papa-made-by-the-sweat-of-his-brow-from-his-mill/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Nobody ever predicted, a week before President Sadat came to Jerusalem in 1977, that his arrival would be the beginning of a peace process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/nobody-ever-predicted-a-week-before-president-sadat-came-to-jerusalem/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Every country in the world should follow the example of President Trump and move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. But simultaneously, there should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/every-country-in-the-world-should-follow-the-example-of-president/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Actually, who hasn't been through the ghastly experience of sitting in front of a blank page, with its toothless mouth grinning at you: Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/actually-who-hasn-t-been-through-the-ghastly-experience-of-sitting-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [I think loathing begets fanaticism, and in the end, loathing begets hatred and violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-think-loathing-begets-fanaticism-and-in-the-end-loathing-begets/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Literature is about telling stories. Now, the gift of literature is that, in some lucky cases, reading a novel or a story makes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/literature-is-about-telling-stories-now-the-gift-of-literature-is/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Very often, fanaticism begins at home. It begins inside the family. It begins with the urge to change our kin, to change our beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/very-often-fanaticism-begins-at-home-it-begins-inside-the-family-it/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [When I need to take a side, I write a newspaper article and I tell my government, "You should not do that, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/when-i-need-to-take-a-side-i-write-a-newspaper-article-and-i-tell-my/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [We have to carry through to the next day and hope that we will be okay tomorrow as we are today and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/we-have-to-carry-through-to-the-next-day-and-hope-that-we-will-be/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Trump is many things. He is pampered. He is an immature man. He is a teenager craving unconditional, endless love from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/trump-is-many-things-he-is-pampered-he-is-an-immature-man-he-is-a/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“Judaism and Christianity, and Islam too, all drip honeyed words of love and mercy so long as they do not have access to handcuffs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/judaism-and-christianity-and-islam-too-all-drip-honeyed-words-of-love/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Never cut loose from your longings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/never-cut-loose-from-your-longings/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [If people are pro-Israel, they are pro-Israel one-hundred-and-twenty percent. If they are anti-Israel or pro-Palestinian, they tend to be pro-Palestinian one-hundred-and-twenty percent. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/if-people-are-pro-israel-they-are-pro-israel-one-hundred-and-twenty/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) [Explore all 223 Amos Oz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never to live it out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amos Oz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/amos-oz-1478_dream_the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-a_1817232.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is…” — Amos Oz", "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": "Amos Oz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way to keep a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect-2/#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 } } ] } ```