--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For myself, I have no aim. I have no…" description: "\"“For myself, I have no aim. I have no ambition. I will let myself be carried on by the general impulse. The surface of my mind slips along like a pale-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/virginia-woolf-the-waves-11251_dreams_for-myself-i-have-no-aim-i-have-no-ambit_2120688.jpg" --- # For myself, I have no aim. I have no ambition. I will let… ![“For myself, I have no aim. I have no ambition. I will let myself be carried on by the general impulse. The surface of my mind slips along like a pale-grey stream reflecting what passes. I cannot remember my past, my nose, or the colour of my eyes, or what my general opinion of myself is. Only in…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/virginia-woolf-the-waves-11251_dreams_for-myself-i-have-no-aim-i-have-no-ambit_2120688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/virginia-woolf-the-waves-11251_dreams_for-myself-i-have-no-aim-i-have-no-ambit_2120688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/virginia-woolf-the-waves-11251_dreams_for-myself-i-have-no-aim-i-have-no-ambit_2120688.jpg) > ““For myself, I have no aim. I have no ambition. I will let myself be carried on by the general impulse. The surface of my mind slips along like a pale-grey stream reflecting what passes. I cannot remember my past, my nose, or the colour of my eyes, or what my general opinion of myself is. Only in moments of emergency, at a crossing, at a kerb, the wish to preserve my body springs out and seizes me and stops me, here, before this omnibus. We insist, it seems, on living. Then again, indifference descends. The roar of the traffic, the passage of undifferentiated faces, this way and that way, drugs me into dreams; rubs the features from faces. People might walk through me. And, what is this moment of time, this particular day in which I have found myself caught? The growl of traffic might be any uproar – forest trees or the roar of wild beasts. Time has whizzed back an inch or two on its reel; our short progress has been cancelled. I think also that our bodies are in truth naked. We are only lightly covered with buttoned cloth; and beneath these pavements are shells, bones and silence.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects a stream-of-consciousness meditation on aimlessness, sensory overload, and fleeting moments of self-preservation amidst modern life's chaos. **In simple terms:** It describes feeling directionless, overwhelmed by surroundings, and briefly aware of bodily survival. Key Takeaway Notice how sensory overload can trigger self‑preservation instincts. Themes aimlessness sensory overload existential reflection urban alienation Mood reflective melancholic philosophical Type literary existential observational When to use this quote - commuting - city walking - traffic noise - momentary crisis - mindfulness practice Key Concepts consciousness identity mortality body awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does modern urban noise affect your sense of self? - What moments make you feel truly alive? A Different Perspective The abstract style may obscure practical relevance for readers seeking concrete guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wild beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-beast/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot remember my past, my nose, or the colour of my eyes, or what my general opinion of myself is. Only in moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/i-cannot-remember-my-past-my-nose-or-the-colour-of-my-eyes-or-what-my/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“We insist, it seems, on living. Then again, indifference descends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/we-insist-it-seems-on-living-then-again-indifference-descends/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“There is a moment between waking and sleeping and between sleeping and waking when the mind seems to be in many places at once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-d-lachlan/there-is-a-moment-between-waking-and-sleeping-and-between-sleeping/) [M.D. Lachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-d-lachlan/) > [“We are the road that winds down a sound mind, then slips into the sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/we-are-the-road-that-winds-down-a-sound-mind-then-slips-into-the-sea/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Choose your friends wisely, an insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-your-friends-wisely-an-insincere-and-evil-friend-is-more-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God drove Cain out of his presence and sent him into exile far away from his native land, so that he passed from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-drove-cain-out-of-his-presence-and-sent-him-into-exile-far-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may would your body, but an evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-insincere-and-evil-friend-is-more-to-be-feared-than-a-wild-beast-a-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My birth is imminent. Forgive me, brethren. Do not prevent me from coming to life. – As he faced the prospect of being devoured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-birth-is-imminent-forgive-me-brethren-do-not-prevent-me-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But if you could read my thoughts, you would be welcome to come in and listen to the story of my life. At least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-if-you-could-read-my-thoughts-you-would-be-welcome-to-come-in-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When two people in love breakup, they cant be friends as they hurt each other. They cant be enemies as once they loved each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-two-people-in-love-breakup-they-cant-be-friends-as-they-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The main qualities that had earned him this universal respect in the service were, first, an extreme indulgence towards people, based on his awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-main-qualities-that-had-earned-him-this-universal-respect-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“One result for many people is a tendency to think that power comes from cruelty or indifference. But, in reality such things are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-result-for-many-people-is-a-tendency-to-think-that-power-comes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Throughout the 1980's, we did hear too much about individual gain and the ethos of selfishness and greed. We did not hear enough a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/throughout-the-1980-s-we-did-hear-too-much-about-individual-gain-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just — just to be clear,” he said. “You want to leave Tonks at her parents’ house and come away with us?” “She’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-just-to-be-clear-he-said-you-want-to-leave-tonks-at-her-parents/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Desire is half of life, indifference is half of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/desire-is-half-of-life-indifference-is-half-of-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For myself, I have no aim. I have no ambition. I will let myself be carried on by the general impulse. The surface of my mind slips along like a pale-grey stream reflecting what passes. I cannot remember my past, my nose, or the colour of my eyes, or what my general opinion of myself is. Only in moments of emergency, at a crossing, at a kerb, the wish to preserve my body springs out and seizes me and stops me, here, before this omnibus. We insist, it seems, on living. Then again, indifference descends. The roar of the traffic, the passage of undifferentiated faces, this way and that way, drugs me into dreams; rubs the features from faces. People might walk through me. And, what is this moment of time, this particular day in which I have found myself caught? The growl of traffic might be any uproar – forest trees or the roar of wild beasts. Time has whizzed back an inch or two on its reel; our short progress has been cancelled. I think also that our bodies are in truth naked. 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