--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each of us must work to become a…" description: "\"Each of us must work to become a hardheaded realist, or else we risk wasting our time and energy on pursuing impossible dreams. Yet constant naysayers..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/colin-powell-691_built_each-of-us-must-work-to-become-a-hardhea_1691494.jpg" --- # Each of us must work to become a hardheaded realist, or… ![“Each of us must work to become a hardheaded realist, or else we risk wasting our time and energy on pursuing impossible dreams. Yet constant naysayers pursue no less impossible dreams. Their fear and cynicism move nothing forward. They kill progress. How many cynics built empires, great cities, or…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/colin-powell-691_built_each-of-us-must-work-to-become-a-hardhea_1691494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/colin-powell-691_built_each-of-us-must-work-to-become-a-hardhea_1691494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/colin-powell-691_built_each-of-us-must-work-to-become-a-hardhea_1691494.jpg) > “Each of us must work to become a hardheaded realist, or else we risk wasting our time and energy on pursuing impossible dreams. Yet constant naysayers pursue no less impossible dreams. Their fear and cynicism move nothing forward. They kill progress. How many cynics built empires, great cities, or powerful corporations?” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People must adopt realistic thinking to avoid wasted effort, yet cynics also hinder progress despite their skepticism. **In simple terms:** Be realistic, but don’t let cynics stop you. Key Takeaway Balance realism with optimism. Themes realism optimism progress cynicism Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal goals - social activism - innovation Key Concepts critical thinking motivation leadership Questions to Reflect On - What realistic steps can you take toward a big dream? - How can you turn cynicism into constructive critique? A Different Perspective Cynics can sometimes protect against reckless risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Cynics Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics-built-1059946/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Fear Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-cynicism-1059945/) [Great cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-cities/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-dream/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Naysayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naysayers/) [Our time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-time/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-cynics-1059944/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Realist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realist/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-energy/) ## Related quotes > [Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/intellectuals-are-cynical-and-cynics-have-never-built-a-cathedral/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives. The vision of your true destiny does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/never-surrender-your-hopes-and-dreams-to-the-fateful-limitations/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/don-t-take-counsel-of-your-fears-or-naysayers/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [You stay in touch with the boy who dreamed impossible dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/you-stay-in-touch-with-the-boy-who-dreamed-impossible-dreams/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [I love celebrities, and I love the concept of fame, but it took me getting fame to realize that it doesn't exist, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-love-celebrities-and-i-love-the-concept-of-fame-but-it-took-me/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [If you have an impossible dream, a dream that cannot be fulfilled, the friendly thing for me to do is to put a stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-bonaduce/if-you-have-an-impossible-dream-a-dream-that-cannot-be-fulfilled-the/) [Danny Bonaduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-bonaduce/) > [Dream the impossible dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-darion/dream-the-impossible-dream/) [Joe Darion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-darion/) > [If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle, or to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/if-i-thought-that-any-of-this-was-pre-ordained-then-it-takes-away-any/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [“Neil looked down at the key in his hand. 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And the dreams turned out beyond anything I could possibly imagine. You know, from my point of view, I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/i-dreamed-impossible-dreams-and-the-dreams-turned-out-beyond-anything/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [“No matter how sexy or appealing or flashy or tall, dark, and handsome the object of your desire may be...no matter how AMAZING the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/no-matter-how-sexy-or-appealing-or-flashy-or-tall-dark-and-handsome/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [Bill Clinton broke what was known as the Republican electoral lock on the presidency, and Bill Clinton won the White House in 1992. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/bill-clinton-broke-what-was-known-as-the-republican-electoral-lock-on/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [I do not believe we are all created equal. Physical and emotional differences, parental guidance, varying environments, being in the right place at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-physical-and-emotional/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Built quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Do we make ourselves into what we become or is it built into our genes, into the fate spun for us by whatever shapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/do-we-make-ourselves-into-what-we-become-or-is-it-built-into-our/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [God and I have built an immense fire together. We keep each other happy and warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hafez/god-and-i-have-built-an-immense-fire-together-we-keep-each-other/) [Hafez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hafez/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. 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I could have played every RPG video game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imagine-what-i-could-have-done-in-ten-years-i-could-have-learned-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,164 Built quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Each of us must work to become a hardheaded realist, or else we risk wasting our time and energy on pursuing impossible dreams. Yet constant naysayers pursue no less impossible dreams. Their fear and cynicism move nothing forward. They kill progress. 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