---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It must be borne in mind that the tragedy…"
description: "\"It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.\" — Benja..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg"
---

#  It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not…

![“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.” quote by Benjamin E Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg)

> “It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.”

Benjamin E Mays

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s tragedy is not failing to meet a goal, but lacking any goal at all, leaving existence directionless.

**In simple terms:** Without a goal, life feels empty.

Key Takeaway

Set a meaningful purpose.

Themes

purpose direction meaning motivation

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- education
- community service

Key Concepts

Existentialism goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- What purpose drives you?
- How do you balance ambition with wellbeing?

A Different Perspective

Goals can become sources of pressure and disappointment if unrealistic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/)

## Related quotes

> [The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not/)

Benjamin E Mays

> [The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy-2/)

[Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/)

> [“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/the-tragedy-in-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy/)

Benjamin E Mays

> [“It is born in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching the goal. The tragedy of life lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-is-born-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [Failure isn't in not reaching your goal but in having no goal to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/failure-isn-t-in-not-reaching-your-goal-but-in-having-no-goal-to-reach/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-2/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching our goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tragedy-in-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-our-goal-the-tragedy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-lies-in-having-no-goal-to-reach/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [“Sometimes you run away by yourself purely so someone who cares will come to find you. Half the time nobody does. That's the tragedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-davis/sometimes-you-run-away-by-yourself-purely-so-someone-who-cares-will/)

[Lindsey Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-davis/)

> [The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-often-not-in-our-failure-but-rather-in-our/)

[Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/)

> [The tragedy in his life already existed. To love an atmospheric spirit. That was the real sorrow. Hopelessness itself. Nowhere on the printed page,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-tragedy-in-his-life-already-existed-to-love-an-atmospheric-spirit/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [The most fundamental tragedy of my life is that the ones who I see do not exist and the one who exists I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/the-most-fundamental-tragedy-of-my-life-is-that-the-ones-who-i-see-do/)

[Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/)

> [“The tragedy of life is that it comes just once and before you know it, it is gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-tragedy-of-life-is-that-it-comes-just-once-and-before-you-know-it/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/the-greatest-tragedy-in-life-is-not-death-but-a-life-without-a-purpose/)

[Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/)

## More by Benjamin E Mays

> [“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not/)

Benjamin E Mays

> [“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/the-tragedy-in-life-doesn-t-lie-in-not-reaching-your-goal-the-tragedy/)

Benjamin E Mays

Explore all 3 Benjamin E Mays quotes

## More Goals quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/)

[Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/)

[Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/)

[C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/)

[Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in having no goal to reach.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin E Mays"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Goals"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/479/benjamin-e-mays-2-83710_goals_it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-traged_3193895.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of…” — Benjamin E Mays",
                "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": "Benjamin E Mays",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It must be borne in mind...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays-2/it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-the-tragedy-of-life-does-not-lie-in-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
