---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lifetime may not be long enough to…"
description: "\"A lifetime may not be long enough to attune ourselves fully to the harmony of the universe. But just to become aware that we can resonate with it -- th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/david-steindl-rast-9835_dream_a-lifetime-may-not-be-long-enough-to-att_1616159.png"
---

#  A lifetime may not be long enough to attune ourselves…

![“A lifetime may not be long enough to attune ourselves fully to the harmony of the universe. But just to become aware that we can resonate with it -- that alone can be like waking up from a dream.” quote by David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/david-steindl-rast-9835_dream_a-lifetime-may-not-be-long-enough-to-att_1616159.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/david-steindl-rast-9835_dream_a-lifetime-may-not-be-long-enough-to-att_1616159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/david-steindl-rast-9835_dream_a-lifetime-may-not-be-long-enough-to-att_1616159.png)

> “A lifetime may not be long enough to attune ourselves fully to the harmony of the universe. But just to become aware that we can resonate with it -- that alone can be like waking up from a dream.”

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

## About This Quote

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

Human life may be too brief to fully sync with universal harmony, yet awareness of resonance feels awakening.

**In simple terms:** Life is short to fully grasp universal harmony, but awareness awakens.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate awareness of universal connection.

Themes

spirituality existence awareness

Mood

peaceful reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- meditation
- nature walks
- art appreciation

Key Concepts

interconnectedness mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What moments make you feel connected?
- How can you deepen that feeling?

A Different Perspective

Full attunement may be unattainable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/)

## Related quotes

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[Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/)

> [Reality, as you currently experience it, is something like a waking dream. It is disguising deeper and more intensified levels of being and knowing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/reality-as-you-currently-experience-it-is-something-like-a-waking/)

[Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/)

> [“Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe. —SAINT TERESA OF LISIEUX”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-coloroso/each-small-task-of-everyday-life-is-part-of-the-total-harmony-of-the/)

[Barbara Coloroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-coloroso/)

> [“The possibility of waking up from (or even in) the dream offers a glimmer of hope, a sense that there’s more to existence than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/the-possibility-of-waking-up-from-or-even-in-the-dream-offers-a/)

[Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/)

> [“... as we travel again between life and death, Waking and dream, blinking, while layers within layers, None better, none worse, unravel and knit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/as-we-travel-again-between-life-and-death-waking-and-dream-blinking/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [was it a vision or a waking dream? Fled is that music--do I wake or sleep?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/was-it-a-vision-or-a-waking-dream-fled-is-that-music-do-i-wake-or/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [Life is a dream.. Death is also a dream..for that matter, waking is a dream and sleeping is a dream. Every situation is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-dream-death-is-also-a-dream-for-that-matter-waking-is-a/)

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

> [We are near waking when we dream we are dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/we-are-near-waking-when-we-dream-we-are-dreaming/)

[Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/)

> [Waking up from a dream of violence is much the same as waking up from a dream of love. You must go on living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/waking-up-from-a-dream-of-violence-is-much-the-same-as-waking-up-from/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [At 50, I began to know who I was. It was like waking up to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/at-50-i-began-to-know-who-i-was-it-was-like-waking-up-to-myself/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [A mother, after all, is your entry into the world. She is the shell in which you divide and become a life. Waking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-o-rourke/a-mother-after-all-is-your-entry-into-the-world-she-is-the-shell-in/)

[Meghan O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-o-rourke/)

> [Love Is a curious thing. Sometimes it barrels into you, leaves you breathless. Other times, it comes in- to your life, a tentative beam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/love-is-a-curious-thing-sometimes-it-barrels-into-you-leaves-you/)

[Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/)

> [“The empty place inside of me was gone. I was whole. If I hadn't been in love with him before, I was now. Each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-castle/the-empty-place-inside-of-me-was-gone-i-was-whole-if-i-hadn-t-been-in/)

[Nicole Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-castle/)

> [that's what it was like waking up in the crypts. no-longer-dead. but without her. like burning alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/that-s-what-it-was-like-waking-up-in-the-crypts-no-longer-dead-but/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [After I left LA... it was like waking up. And so I moved back east and stopped auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/after-i-left-la-it-was-like-waking-up-and-so-i-moved-back-east-and/)

[Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/)

## More by David Steindl-Rast

> [Home and journey together constitute the creative polarity of the heart, the two dimensions we must cultivate if we want to 'develop the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/home-and-journey-together-constitute-the-creative-polarity-of-the/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-i-express-my-gratitude-i-become-more-deeply-aware-of-it-and-the/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Gratefulness makes us aware of the gift and makes us happy. As long as we take things for granted they don't make us happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/gratefulness-makes-us-aware-of-the-gift-and-makes-us-happy-as-long-as/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Any change in attitude changes the way one sees the world, and this in turn changes the way one acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/any-change-in-attitude-changes-the-way-one-sees-the-world-and-this-in/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [If you learn to respond as if it’s the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/if-you-learn-to-respond-as-if-it-s-the-first-day-in-your-life-and-the/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [We have thousands of opportunities every day to be grateful: for having good weather, to have slept well last night, to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/we-have-thousands-of-opportunities-every-day-to-be-grateful-for/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [The universe is gratis. It cannot be earned, nor need it be earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/the-universe-is-gratis-it-cannot-be-earned-nor-need-it-be-earned/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [...our happiness hinges not on good luck; it hinges on peace of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/our-happiness-hinges-not-on-good-luck-it-hinges-on-peace-of-heart/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [From experience we know that whenever we are truly awake and alive, we are also truly grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/from-experience-we-know-that-whenever-we-are-truly-awake-and-alive-we/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Blessing is the lifeblood throbbing through the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/blessing-is-the-lifeblood-throbbing-through-the-universe/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Beauty seen makes the one who sees it more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/beauty-seen-makes-the-one-who-sees-it-more-beautiful/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Each one of us is called to become that great song that comes out of the silence, and the more we let ourselves down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/each-one-of-us-is-called-to-become-that-great-song-that-comes-out-of/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy to which gratefulness opens the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/in-moments-of-surprise-we-catch-at-least-a-glimpse-of-the-joy-to/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [...One can learn to focus on 'opportunity' as the gift within every given moment. This attitude towards life always improves the situation. Even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/one-can-learn-to-focus-on-opportunity-as-the-gift-within-every-given/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

[Explore all 70 David Steindl-Rast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

## More Dream quotes

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

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[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

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

> [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

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