---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some men storm imaginary Alps all their…"
description: "\"Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.\" — E. W. Howe"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png"
---

#  Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in…

![“Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.” quote by E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png)

> “Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.”

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

## About This Quote

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

People often waste their lives fighting imagined problems, never reaching real challenges and ending in frustration.

**In simple terms:** Chasing imagined problems leads to wasted effort and regret.

Key Takeaway

Focus on real obstacles, not imagined ones.

Themes

ambition self‑deception frustration

Mood

reflective somber

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal growth
- relationship conflicts
- health goals
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- What “foothills” are you avoiding?
- How can you distinguish real from imagined challenges?

A Different Perspective

Imagined threats may mask deeper issues that need honest self‑examination.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alps Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alps-lives-3225471/) [Cursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cursing/) [Foothills Cursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foothills-cursing-3225473/) [Imaginary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary/) [Imaginary Alps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginary-alps-3225472/) [Lives Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-die-2021529/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-storm-3225474/) [Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storm/)

## Related quotes

> [I've had more students die than I ever thought possible. My husband urges me to quit Fairfield and teach at some school without gang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-ve-had-more-students-die-than-i-ever-thought-possible-my-husband/)

[Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/)

> [“Too often, a man lives as if he will never die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/too-often-a-man-lives-as-if-he-will-never-die/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“A reader lives a thousand lives before they die. The ones who never read live only once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-leclair/a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives-before-they-die-the-ones-who-never/)

[Emily LeClair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-leclair/)

> [Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-know-st-tis-common-all-that-lives-must-die-passing-through/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The things in our lives that die and can't be laid to rest hurt the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-webb/the-things-in-our-lives-that-die-and-can-t-be-laid-to-rest-hurt-the/)

[Haley Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-webb/)

> [The man that runs away lives to die another day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aehousman/the-man-that-runs-away-lives-to-die-another-day/)

[AEHousman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aehousman/)

> [Whatever lives, lives to die in sorrow. We engage our hearts, and grasp after the things of this world, only to undergo the pang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/whatever-lives-lives-to-die-in-sorrow-we-engage-our-hearts-and-grasp/)

[Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/)

> [“We’re all dying from the moment we’re born. That’s all we do our entire lives, is die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/we-re-all-dying-from-the-moment-we-re-born-that-s-all-we-do-our/)

[Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/)

> [We are both going to pray that we may live together all our lives and die the same day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-both-going-to-pray-that-we-may-live-together-all-our-lives-and/)

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

> [Men will risk their lives, even die for ribbons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-will-risk-their-lives-even-die-for-ribbons/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Let me go to hell, that's all i ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/let-me-go-to-hell-that-s-all-i-ask/)

[Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/)

> [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [Cursing like a sailor don't make you cool -Stephanie Mayfield.(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie/cursing-like-a-sailor-don-t-make-you-cool-stephanie-mayfield/)

[Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie/)

> [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/)

[Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/)

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

## More by E. W. Howe

> [There is always a type of man who says he loves his fellow men, and expects to make a living at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-always-a-type-of-man-who-says-he-loves-his-fellow-men-and/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [I believe in grumbling; it is the politest form of fighting known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/i-believe-in-grumbling-it-is-the-politest-form-of-fighting-known/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [A theory is no more like a fact than a photograph is like a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/a-theory-is-no-more-like-a-fact-than-a-photograph-is-like-a-person/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [Few men progress, except as they are pushed along by events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/few-men-progress-except-as-they-are-pushed-along-by-events/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [The modest person is usually admired, if people ever hear of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-modest-person-is-usually-admired-if-people-ever-hear-of-them/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-for-a-man-to-be-able-to-do/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know it was his turn next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-would-listen-to-you-talk-if-he-didn-t-know-it-was-his-turn-next/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [People never have confidence in a Big Talker. They know his statements must be cut down, but they can never tell how much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/people-never-have-confidence-in-a-big-talker-they-know-his-statements/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [The only gambling tip which amounts to anything is to keep out of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-only-gambling-tip-which-amounts-to-anything-is-to-keep-out-of-the/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [One has fear in front of a goat, in back of a mule, and on every side of a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/one-has-fear-in-front-of-a-goat-in-back-of-a-mule-and-on-every-side/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [No man's credit is ever as good as his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-s-credit-is-ever-as-good-as-his-money/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [There is something in the red of a raspberry pie that looks as good to a man as the red in a sheep looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-something-in-the-red-of-a-raspberry-pie-that-looks-as-good/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [Love affairs have always greatly interested me, but I do not greatly care for them in books or moving pictures. In a love affair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/love-affairs-have-always-greatly-interested-me-but-i-do-not-greatly/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

> [Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/many-people-would-be-more-truthful-were-it-not-for-their/)

[E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

[Explore all 149 E. W. Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/)

## More Cursing quotes

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/)

[Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/)

> [Cursing like a sailor don't make you cool -Stephanie Mayfield.(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie/cursing-like-a-sailor-don-t-make-you-cool-stephanie-mayfield/)

[Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie/)

> [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [Let me go to hell, that's all i ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/let-me-go-to-hell-that-s-all-i-ask/)

[Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/)

> [Stealing swords,” Royce muttered mostly to himself. “Okay, let’s take a look at this tower. The sooner I see it, the sooner I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/stealing-swords-royce-muttered-mostly-to-himself-okay-let-s-take-a/)

[Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/)

> [“I don't understand women that call themselves a "bitch". It doesn't empower a woman. Rather, it reveals to everyone that you were deeply hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-women-that-call-themselves-a-bitch-it-doesn-t/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [If the Soul sees, after death , what passes on this earth , and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/if-the-soul-sees-after-death-what-passes-on-this-earth-and-watches/)

[Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/)

> [Behind her, Jace moved out into the water with a contained grace that barely rippled the surface. Simon behind him, was splashing and cursing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/behind-her-jace-moved-out-into-the-water-with-a-contained-grace-that/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [We've got to stop crying and start sweating, stop talking and start walking, stop cursing and start praying. The strength we need will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-ve-got-to-stop-crying-and-start-sweating-stop-talking-and-start/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Hope works in these ways: it looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst; it discovers what can be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/hope-works-in-these-ways-it-looks-for-the-good-in-people-instead-of/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [The human qualities of the raw materials show through. Naivety, error, contradiction, even (as in the cursing Psalms) wickedness are not removed. The total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-human-qualities-of-the-raw-materials-show-through-naivety-error/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [All parents should be aware that when they mock or curse gay people, they may be mocking or cursing their own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/all-parents-should-be-aware-that-when-they-mock-or-curse-gay-people/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [Purity is essential for just your own peace of mind; otherwise, you'll go through this world like a mad person, howling and screaming and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/purity-is-essential-for-just-your-own-peace-of-mind-otherwise-you-ll/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“When shit brings you down, just say 'fuck it', and eat yourself some motherfucking candy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/when-shit-brings-you-down-just-say-fuck-it-and-eat-yourself-some/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

[Browse all 217 Cursing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cursing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "E. W. Howe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cursing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/e-w-howe-2815_cursing_some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their_348789.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not…” — E. W. Howe",
                "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": "E. W. Howe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Some men storm imaginary Alps all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
