--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It isn't a calamity to die with dreams…" description: "\"It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.\" — Benjamin E. Mays" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/benjamin-e-mays-20877_calamity_it-isn-t-a-calamity-to-die-with-dreams-u_2446050.png" --- # It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it… ![“It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.” quote by Benjamin E. Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/benjamin-e-mays-20877_calamity_it-isn-t-a-calamity-to-die-with-dreams-u_2446050.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/benjamin-e-mays-20877_calamity_it-isn-t-a-calamity-to-die-with-dreams-u_2446050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/benjamin-e-mays-20877_calamity_it-isn-t-a-calamity-to-die-with-dreams-u_2446050.png) > “It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.” [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. Dying without dreams is not tragic, but failing to dream at all is a true loss. **In simple terms:** Not dreaming is worse than unfulfilled dreams. Key Takeaway Cultivate and pursue dreams. Themes aspiration purpose life meaning Mood hopeful inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - social activism - creative projects Key Concepts career planning personal development Questions to Reflect On - What dreams motivate you? - How can you keep dreaming despite setbacks? A Different Perspective Some may argue contentment without dreams is fine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Calamity Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity-dream-529022/) [Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die/) [Die Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-dreams-376282/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Unfulfilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-unfulfilled-529020/) [Unfulfilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfulfilled/) [Unfulfilled Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfulfilled-calamity-529021/) ## Related quotes > [“Do I dream you? Or you dream me? Or does someone, something bigger than all' - her hands swept the vast constellations above them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hewson/do-i-dream-you-or-you-dream-me-or-does-someone-something-bigger-than/) [David Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hewson/) > [If the father put the burden of unfulfilled dreams are unfulfilled dream or do you think it means it's half way to the floor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-the-father-put-the-burden-of-unfulfilled-dreams-are-unfulfilled/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Hidden dreams unfulfilled, broken promises. Nonetheless find yourself holding on to this. Look what you do to me, when you get running hot I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zulu/hidden-dreams-unfulfilled-broken-promises-nonetheless-find-yourself/) [Zulu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zulu/) > [Dreams don't come true. Dreams die. Dreams get compromised. Dreams end up dealing meth in a booth at the back of the Olive Garden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/dreams-don-t-come-true-dreams-die-dreams-get-compromised-dreams-end/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [people can die , dreams cant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-hurley/people-can-die-dreams-cant/) [Tonya Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-hurley/) > [“When people die, our dreams of what they could be die with them. Even if ours is the hand that ends them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-people-die-our-dreams-of-what-they-could-be-die-with-them-even/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I resolve that I would not die with my dreams unlived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mass/i-resolve-that-i-would-not-die-with-my-dreams-unlived/) [Leslie Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mass/) > [I'm not going to die with dreams, I'm going to die with memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/i-m-not-going-to-die-with-dreams-i-m-going-to-die-with-memories/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [“They say people who die in dreams are supposed to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sakurazaka/they-say-people-who-die-in-dreams-are-supposed-to-live-forever/) [Hiroshi Sakurazaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sakurazaka/) > [When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/when-the-legends-die-the-dreams-end-there-is-no-more-greatness/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [“Die in your dreams, wake up insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/die-in-your-dreams-wake-up-insane/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“So many people die with their dreams in their hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rogers/so-many-people-die-with-their-dreams-in-their-hands/) [Alex Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rogers/) > [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/) > [All those promises Unfulfilled dreams They all left with you Nothing is left here except Grey skies, dying trees Poor disabled time Darkness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kler/all-those-promises-unfulfilled-dreams-they-all-left-with-you-nothing/) [Nick Kler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kler/) > [As an actor, you just want to continue to work on things that you like. You can be in this business a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/as-an-actor-you-just-want-to-continue-to-work-on-things-that-you-like/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) ## 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 Calamity quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [In spite of calamity, He still has a plan for me, And it’s working for my good, And it’s building my testimony...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-sapp/in-spite-of-calamity-he-still-has-a-plan-for-me-and-it-s-working-for/) [Marvin Sapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-sapp/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I doubt if I have made the best use of all my calamities. Soft, amiable natures they would have refined to saintliness; of strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-doubt-if-i-have-made-the-best-use-of-all-my-calamities-soft-amiable/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/drudgery-calamity-exasperation-want-are-instructors-in-eloquence-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-a-blessing-when-we-are-inclined-to-write/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There is a big lesson in experiencing uncertainty and calamity with a sober focus - the most chaotic moments are the ones from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-is-a-big-lesson-in-experiencing-uncertainty-and-calamity-with-a/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [The worst calamity: 'To have eyes and fail to see.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-worst-calamity-to-have-eyes-and-fail-to-see/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Such exceptional suffering and calamity, then, affecting the hero, and-we must now add-generally extending far and wide beyond him, so as to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bradley/such-exceptional-suffering-and-calamity-then-affecting-the-hero-and/) [A. C. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bradley/) > [When a man has calamity upon calamity the world generally concludes that he must be a very wicked man to deserve them. Perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/when-a-man-has-calamity-upon-calamity-the-world-generally-concludes/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) [Tom Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-dunne/) [Browse all 442 Calamity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin E. 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