--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The center of every man's existence is a…" description: "\"The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That thes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anonymous-1_accidents_the-center-of-every-man-s-existence-is-a_509726.jpg" --- # The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death… ![“The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are the citadel.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anonymous-1_accidents_the-center-of-every-man-s-existence-is-a_509726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anonymous-1_accidents_the-center-of-every-man-s-existence-is-a_509726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/anonymous-1_accidents_the-center-of-every-man-s-existence-is-a_509726.jpg) > “The center of every man's existence is a dream. Death, disease, insanity, are merely material accidents, like a toothache or a twisted ankle. That these brutal forces always besiege and often capture the citadel does not prove that they are the citadel.” [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. Human existence is driven by dreams, while suffering and death are incidental, not defining the core self. **In simple terms:** Dreams shape life; suffering is incidental. Key Takeaway Focus on aspirations over hardships. Themes existence dreams uffering Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal goal setting - coping with illness - philosophical reflection Key Concepts philosophy human condition Questions to Reflect On - What dream guides your life? - How do you reconcile suffering with purpose? A Different Perspective Dreams may not fully shield from reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Toothache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toothache/) ## Related quotes > [Disease, insanity, and death were the angels that attended my cradle, and since then have followed me throughout my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/disease-insanity-and-death-were-the-angels-that-attended-my-cradle/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Music helps not a toothache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-helps-not-a-toothache/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Solitude becomes a sort of tangible enemy, the more dangerous, because it dwells within the citadel itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/solitude-becomes-a-sort-of-tangible-enemy-the-more-dangerous-because/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [When all is said and done, the real citadel of strength of any community is in the hearts and minds and desires of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-dirksen/when-all-is-said-and-done-the-real-citadel-of-strength-of-any/) [Everett Dirksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-dirksen/) > [Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/most-benefactors-are-like-unskillful-generals-who-take-the-city-and/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [“I would not trade one day of our life for all the gold in the citadel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janell-rhiannon/i-would-not-trade-one-day-of-our-life-for-all-the-gold-in-the-citadel/) [Janell Rhiannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janell-rhiannon/) > [Earth is our only citadel in the universe; but we have illogically built many more fortresses within this beautiful castle!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/earth-is-our-only-citadel-in-the-universe-but-we-have-illogically/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The success story at Citadel has been written by a number of people who have backgrounds from the University of Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-griffin/the-success-story-at-citadel-has-been-written-by-a-number-of-people/) [Kenneth C. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-griffin/) > [“I brought you back because I could not find the strength to fight her without you but for that same reason I will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-shannon/i-brought-you-back-because-i-could-not-find-the-strength-to-fight-her/) [Samantha Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-shannon/) > [“If the self remains in its citadel, anxious to control and heavily defended, it declines in the sources of vitality. To lay the citadel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mangabeira-unger/if-the-self-remains-in-its-citadel-anxious-to-control-and-heavily/) [Roberto Mangabeira Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mangabeira-unger/) > [“It was no difficult to protect a citadel that had never been stormed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacquie-d-alessandro/it-was-no-difficult-to-protect-a-citadel-that-had-never-been-stormed/) Jacquie D'Alessandro > [What we love intensely or for a long time we are likely to bring within the citadel, and to assert as part of oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/what-we-love-intensely-or-for-a-long-time-we-are-likely-to-bring/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Citadel is a global technology leader, recognized for its work to level the playing field for investors and make markets more fair, transparent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-kevin-turner/citadel-is-a-global-technology-leader-recognized-for-its-work-to/) [B. Kevin Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-kevin-turner/) > [In our firm's earliest days, our understanding of the power of great software engineering and quantitative analytics helped Citadel stand out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-griffin/in-our-firm-s-earliest-days-our-understanding-of-the-power-of-great/) [Kenneth C. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-griffin/) > [Modesty is the citadel of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demades/modesty-is-the-citadel-of-beauty/) Demades ## 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 Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The center of every man's existence is a dream. 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