---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea of having dreams that don't come…"
description: "\"The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.\" — Domhnall Gleeson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg"
---

#  The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really…

![“The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.” quote by Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg)

> “The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.”

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

## About This Quote

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

Unrealized dreams cause fear because they highlight unmet potential and uncertainty about the future

**In simple terms:** Unfulfilled dreams are scary because they expose uncertainty

Key Takeaway

Confront fears by setting realistic goals and taking action

Themes

dreams fear uncertainty potential motivation

Mood

anxious hopeful determined

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- personal aspirations
- relationship goals
- health objectives

Key Concepts

psychology goal setting existential anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- What dream have you postponed and why?
- How can you turn fear into motivation?

A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on fear can paralyze progress

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-don/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [Having Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-dreams-472850/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-terrifying-1164353/) [Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/)

## Related quotes

> [The demons were scary, but girls - Well, girls are really terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/the-demons-were-scary-but-girls-well-girls-are-really-terrifying/)

[Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/)

> [I feel really - actually - quite terrified about the world as it now exists. The kind of sucking the world dry for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hollibaugh/i-feel-really-actually-quite-terrified-about-the-world-as-it-now/)

[Amber Hollibaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hollibaugh/)

> [I've always been quite careful about what I wanted to do. I've just never wanted to revisit old ground or do something that's easy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/i-ve-always-been-quite-careful-about-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-ve-just/)

[Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/)

> [Marriage is actually really terrifying. It doesn't work for many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-heigl/marriage-is-actually-really-terrifying-it-doesn-t-work-for-many-people/)

[Katherine Heigl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-heigl/)

> [After my father died, we began to live. He was psychotic. He really was terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-davies/after-my-father-died-we-began-to-live-he-was-psychotic-he-really-was/)

[Terence Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-davies/)

> [My parents had this relationship that was really terrifying. I mean, the level of hatred that they had, and the level of physical abuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/my-parents-had-this-relationship-that-was-really-terrifying-i-mean/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [Motherhood is this sort of "curtain lifting" of tremendous power that we have individually as women. It's tremendously freaky to have a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/motherhood-is-this-sort-of-curtain-lifting-of-tremendous-power-that/)

[Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/)

> [I think it's really terrifying that a country based on the foundations and ideals of God, is now systematically removing God from everything. Everything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baldwin/i-think-it-s-really-terrifying-that-a-country-based-on-the/)

[Stephen Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baldwin/)

> [We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/we-should-be-dreaming-we-grew-up-as-kids-having-dreams-but-now-we-re/)

[Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/)

> [It's a really scary thing, having your dreams come true and seeing everything you ever wanted happening, getting the attention for it and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samaire-armstrong/it-s-a-really-scary-thing-having-your-dreams-come-true-and-seeing/)

[Samaire Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samaire-armstrong/)

> [I kept having dreams all night. I thought they were touching me with their fingers. But dreams don't have fingers, they have fists, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/i-kept-having-dreams-all-night-i-thought-they-were-touching-me-with/)

[Roberto Bolano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/)

> [“Here was a thing he wanted: to stop having dreams of being laughed at by tiny birds with very long legs. Here was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/here-was-a-thing-he-wanted-to-stop-having-dreams-of-being-laughed-at/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [The great blessing of life is the existence of tomorrows - and having dreams to realize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-great-blessing-of-life-is-the-existence-of-tomorrows-and-having/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Having goals in life is far different than having dreams. Dreams is just a series of thoughts and images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/having-goals-in-life-is-far-different-than-having-dreams-dreams-is/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [They say the universe has a great sense of humor. That sometimes having your dreams come true can feel like a nightmare. Because getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/they-say-the-universe-has-a-great-sense-of-humor-that-sometimes/)

[Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/)

## More by Domhnall Gleeson

> [I don't go to premieres I'm not involved in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-don-t-go-to-premieres-i-m-not-involved-in/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [It's nice to sit down when you're not working. I try to do it as often as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/it-s-nice-to-sit-down-when-you-re-not-working-i-try-to-do-it-as-often/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/when-i-was-younger-my-father-told-me-not-to-pigeonhole-the-way-that-i/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/if-there-s-one-person-in-the-world-with-whom-a-chemistry-read-is/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [Normally, in a film with lots of twists and turns, half of them don't make sense; they're just there for their own sakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/normally-in-a-film-with-lots-of-twists-and-turns-half-of-them-don-t/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I'm certainly a young actor. I'm certainly those two things. Actually, I'm not even young anymore; I'm 29. So, I'm an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-certainly-a-young-actor-i-m-certainly-those-two-things-actually-i/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [All the time travelling in the world can’t make someone love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/all-the-time-travelling-in-the-world-can-t-make-someone-love-you/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/look-at-cillian-murphy-batman-tron-those-are-some-heavy-hitting/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [The only music I've ever written was for a film called Frank, and the idea was that it was the worst music in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-only-music-i-ve-ever-written-was-for-a-film-called-frank-and-the/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [As an actor, there's very little you can do if people don't want to see you. Just getting yourself into the room to audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/as-an-actor-there-s-very-little-you-can-do-if-people-don-t-want-to/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I did 'Never Let Me Go,' and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast. That was quite special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-did-never-let-me-go-and-there-were-amazing-people-on-that-brilliant/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/it-was-when-i-was-on-stage-that-i-realized-that-acting-could-be-such/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [Conventionally handsome is not really where I'm at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/conventionally-handsome-is-not-really-where-i-m-at/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I've gotten work based on how I look, and I've not gotten work based on how I look. It's all good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-ve-gotten-work-based-on-how-i-look-and-i-ve-not-gotten-work-based/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I like Philip Larkin an awful lot; I really like his view on life, and I really connect to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-like-philip-larkin-an-awful-lot-i-really-like-his-view-on-life-and/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

[Explore all 92 Domhnall Gleeson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

## More Come quotes

> [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/)

[Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/)

[Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [Mihir is one of the most secure men that I have ever come across in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/mihir-is-one-of-the-most-secure-men-that-i-have-ever-come-across-in/)

[Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/)

[Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/)

[Souvik Khamrui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/souvik-khamrui/)

> [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/)

[Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [My preference is for people who come to rehearsal and get into the ring. I like a muscular actor who's playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/my-preference-is-for-people-who-come-to-rehearsal-and-get-into-the/)

[Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

[Browse all 13,032 Come quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Domhnall Gleeson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Come"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d2/domhnall-gleeson-7289_come_the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-com_152310.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.” — Domhnall Gleeson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Domhnall Gleeson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The idea of having dreams that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
