--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: one is that you attain the goal and…" description: "\"“one is that you attain the goal and realize the shocking realization that attaining the goal does not complete or redeem you, does not make everything..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/david-foster-wallace-161_goals_one-is-that-you-attain-the-goal-and-real_402704.jpg" --- # one is that you attain the goal and realize the shocking… ![“one is that you attain the goal and realize the shocking realization that attaining the goal does not complete or redeem you, does not make everything for your life “OK ” as you are, in the culture, educated to assume it will do this, the goal. And then you face this fact that what you had thought…” quote by David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/david-foster-wallace-161_goals_one-is-that-you-attain-the-goal-and-real_402704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/david-foster-wallace-161_goals_one-is-that-you-attain-the-goal-and-real_402704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/david-foster-wallace-161_goals_one-is-that-you-attain-the-goal-and-real_402704.jpg) > ““one is that you attain the goal and realize the shocking realization that attaining the goal does not complete or redeem you, does not make everything for your life “OK ” as you are, in the culture, educated to assume it will do this, the goal. And then you face this fact that what you had thought would have the meaning does not have the meaning when you get it, and you are impaled by shock.”” [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving a long‑sought goal often fails to bring the expected fulfillment, exposing a cultural myth that success equals meaning. **In simple terms:** Success may not bring happiness. Key Takeaway Reevaluate what truly matters beyond achievement. Themes meaning disillusionment culture expectation identity Mood reflective melancholy thoughtful Type philosophical critical personal. When to use this quote - career promotion - graduation - relationship milestones - financial gain Key Concepts existentialism psychology social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - What deeper values will you pursue after reaching a goal? - How does cultural conditioning shape your expectations of success? A Different Perspective The shock can lead to deeper dissatisfaction if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Person who is making plan & setting goal must realize the completion of his goal. 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But after getting all the information about the path, you must begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-ramakrishna/in-the-scriptures-you-will-find-the-way-to-realize-god-but-after/) [Sri Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-ramakrishna/) > [Happiness is a process of understanding our power to attain a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/happiness-is-a-process-of-understanding-our-power-to-attain-a-goal/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [“To regain your lost years, you must make sure that any activity targeted at attaining your goal must be done with the qualities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/to-regain-your-lost-years-you-must-make-sure-that-any-activity/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [It's not about failure; it's about trying something and risking something for attaining your goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-alt/it-s-not-about-failure-it-s-about-trying-something-and-risking/) [Carol Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-alt/) > [“Men and women who come to the closing chapter of life disappointed because they did not attain the goal which they had set their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/men-and-women-who-come-to-the-closing-chapter-of-life-disappointed/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Communicating directly and truthfully Pave the path toward attaining a goal and bringing the things we love into our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/communicating-directly-and-truthfully-pave-the-path-toward-attaining/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [When I was younger, I used to always think making it to the NBA would be the coolest thing in the world. I'd dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-crawford/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-always-think-making-it-to-the-nba-would/) [Jamal Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-crawford/) > [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/) > [I don't really like too much credit. 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I was impossible to knock down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-felt-more-solidly-composed-now-that-i-was-horizontal-i-was/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“We all have our little solipsistic delusions, ghastly intuitions of utter singularity: that we are the only one in the house who ever fills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/we-all-have-our-little-solipsistic-delusions-ghastly-intuitions-of/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“It's no accident that in a bureaucracy getting fired is called 'termination,' as in ontological erasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-s-no-accident-that-in-a-bureaucracy-getting-fired-is-called/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Footnote: 79) The anchor is gigantic and must weigh a hundred tons, and -- delightfully -- it really is anchor-shaped, i.e. the same shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/footnote-79-the-anchor-is-gigantic-and-must-weigh-a-hundred-tons-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“The paradoxical intercourse of audience and celebrity. 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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. 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