--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not a disaster to be unable to…" description: "\"It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture.\" — Benjamin E. Mays" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/benjamin-e-mays-20877_capture_it-is-not-a-disaster-to-be-unable-to-cap_1847827.png" --- # It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal… ![“It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture.” quote by Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/benjamin-e-mays-20877_capture_it-is-not-a-disaster-to-be-unable-to-cap_1847827.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/benjamin-e-mays-20877_capture_it-is-not-a-disaster-to-be-unable-to-cap_1847827.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/benjamin-e-mays-20877_capture_it-is-not-a-disaster-to-be-unable-to-cap_1847827.png) > “It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture.” [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Having no ideal is worse than failing to achieve one; ideals give direction. **In simple terms:** Ideals guide purpose. Key Takeaway Cultivate clear goals. Themes purpose ideals motivation philosophy Mood hopeful inspirational Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - social activism - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - What ideal drives you? - How can you adjust when ideals shift? A Different Perspective Over‑idealizing can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capture/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Disaster Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster-ideal-2402955/) [Disaster Unable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster-unable-2402953/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal/) [Ideal Capture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-capture-2402956/) [Ideal Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-disaster-2402954/) [Unable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unable/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [You can have a value system and be unable to totally live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-brennan-jobs/you-can-have-a-value-system-and-be-unable-to-totally-live-it/) [Lisa Brennan-Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-brennan-jobs/) > [Pre-existing conditions for those previously insured must not lead to someone being unable to get insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/pre-existing-conditions-for-those-previously-insured-must-not-lead-to/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > ['Hatfields & McCoys' is a very profound statement in what happens when you're unable to let go of hatred and hurt and unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fisher/hatfields-mccoys-is-a-very-profound-statement-in-what-happens-when/) [Noel Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fisher/) > [When under siege, if we do not stand for our liberties and for the liberties of those who are unable to stand for themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-huelskamp/when-under-siege-if-we-do-not-stand-for-our-liberties-and-for-the/) [Tim Huelskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-huelskamp/) > [It is a youthful failing to be unable to control one's impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-a-youthful-failing-to-be-unable-to-control-one-s-impulses/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/unable-to-make-what-is-just-strong-we-have-made-what-is-strong-just/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Healthcare reform is a paradigmatic case. 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From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were exterminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/in-1911-turkey-established-gun-control-from-1915-to-1917-1-5-million/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [Fame is very heavy. When there are large crowds, I'm unable to handle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/fame-is-very-heavy-when-there-are-large-crowds-i-m-unable-to-handle-it/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [Conservation destroys the present. If we are only busy preserving the past, we are not living in the present and unable to look forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/conservation-destroys-the-present-if-we-are-only-busy-preserving-the/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) ## More by Benjamin E. Mays > [He who starts behind in the great race of life must forever remain behind or run faster than the man in front.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/he-who-starts-behind-in-the-great-race-of-life-must-forever-remain/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/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/) > [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/) > [Man is what his dreams are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/man-is-what-his-dreams-are/) [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/) > [Not failure, but low aim is sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/not-failure-but-low-aim-is-sin/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [If what is communicated is false, it can hardly be called communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/if-what-is-communicated-is-false-it-can-hardly-be-called-communication/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [ \[H\]owever hard the road, however difficult today, tomorrow things will be better. Tomorrow may not be better, but we must believe that it will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/h-owever-hard-the-road-however-difficult-today-tomorrow-things-will/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [Whatever you do, do it so well that people looking on will feel that the task was reserved especially for you by God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/whatever-you-do-do-it-so-well-that-people-looking-on-will-feel-that/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [A child must learn early to believe that she is somebody worthwhile, and that she can do many praiseworthy things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/a-child-must-learn-early-to-believe-that-she-is-somebody-worthwhile/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The tragedy of life is not found in failure but complacency. Not in you doing too much, but doing too little. Not in you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-tragedy-of-life-is-not-found-in-failure-but-complacency-not-in/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [It isn't a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/it-isn-t-a-disgrace-not-to-reach-the-stars-but-it-is-a-disgrace-to/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [The creation of the spiritual was no accident. It was a creation born of necessity, so that the slave might more adequately adjust himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-creation-of-the-spiritual-was-no-accident-it-was-a-creation-born/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) > [. . . the circumference of life cannot be rightly drawn until the center is set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-mays/the-circumference-of-life-cannot-be-rightly-drawn-until-the-center-is/) [Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) [Explore all 30 Benjamin E. Mays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-mays/) ## More Capture quotes > [You can't cheat comedy. 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