--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have studied many times The marble…" description: "\"“I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled for me— A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. In truth it pictures not my destination..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/edgar-lee-masters-14862_inspirational_i-have-studied-many-times-the-marble-whi_1151538.png" --- # I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled… ![“I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled for me— A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. In truth it pictures not my destination But my life. For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment; Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid; Ambition called to me, but…” quote by Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/edgar-lee-masters-14862_inspirational_i-have-studied-many-times-the-marble-whi_1151538.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/edgar-lee-masters-14862_inspirational_i-have-studied-many-times-the-marble-whi_1151538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/337/edgar-lee-masters-14862_inspirational_i-have-studied-many-times-the-marble-whi_1151538.png) > ““I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled for me— A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. In truth it pictures not my destination But my life. For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment; Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid; Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances. Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life. And now I know that we must lift the sail And catch the winds of destiny Wherever they drive the boat. To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire— It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.”” [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels trapped by fear of love, sorrow, and ambition, yet longs for purpose and must embrace destiny despite risks. **In simple terms:** Fear blocks purpose; embracing destiny brings meaning. Key Takeaway Confront fear, pursue purpose. Themes fear purpose destiny ambition love Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - creative projects - spiritual quests Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization risk meaning Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back? - How can you balance meaning with well‑being? A Different Perspective Meaning may lead to obsession or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life For Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-for-love/) [Life meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-meaning/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Sailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/to-put-meaning-in-one-s-life-may-end-in-madness-but-life-without/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [“Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances. 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Life is a desire, not a meaning. Desire is the theme of life. The meaning of anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/what-do-you-want-a-meaning-for-life-is-a-desire-not-a-meaning-desire/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [The foundation of life and purpose is to find the why in you. The why in you is purpose, knowing who you are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/the-foundation-of-life-and-purpose-is-to-find-the-why-in-you-the-why/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. We are the only answer of meaning of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/life-has-no-meaning-each-of-us-has-meaning-and-we-bring-it-to-life-we/) [Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/) > [ “\[T\]here is nothing to say about life. It has no meaning. You make meaning. If you want a meaning in your life, find a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/t-here-is-nothing-to-say-about-life-it-has-no-meaning-you-make/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Life is short,Make it happy,don't keep bitterness and pain to our heart and give meaning our life.Life is awesome with God and don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/life-is-short-make-it-happy-don-t-keep-bitterness-and-pain-to-our/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) ## More by Edgar Lee Masters > [The earth keeps some vibration going There in your heart, and that is you. And if the people find you can fiddle, why fiddle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-earth-keeps-some-vibration-going-there-in-your-heart-and-that-is/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [O maternal earth which rocks the fallen leaf to sleep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/o-maternal-earth-which-rocks-the-fallen-leaf-to-sleep/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [And I never started to plow in my life That some one did not stop in the road And take me away to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/and-i-never-started-to-plow-in-my-life-that-some-one-did-not-stop-in/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Did I follow Truth wherever she led, And stand against the whole world for a cause, And uphold the weak against the strong? 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He is sent to school Little or much, where he imbibes the rule Of safety first and comfort; in his youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-typical-american-he-is-sent-to-school-little-or-much-where-he/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [Many books have been written to show that Christianity has emasculated the world, that it shoved aside the enlightenment and wisdom of Hellas for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/many-books-have-been-written-to-show-that-christianity-has/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The dust's for crawling, heaven's for flying, Wherefore, O Soul, whose wings are grown, Soar upward to the sun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-dust-s-for-crawling-heaven-s-for-flying-wherefore-o-soul-whose/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/to-put-meaning-in-one-s-life-may-end-in-madness-but-life-without/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [To love is to find your own soul Through the soul of the beloved one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/to-love-is-to-find-your-own-soul-through-the-soul-of-the-beloved-one/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [There is no marriage in Heaven, but there is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/there-is-no-marriage-in-heaven-but-there-is-love/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) > [The mind sees the world as a thing apart, And the soul makes the world at one with itself. A mirror scratched reflects no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-lee-masters/the-mind-sees-the-world-as-a-thing-apart-and-the-soul-makes-the-world/) [Edgar Lee Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) [Explore all 44 Edgar Lee Masters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-lee-masters/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have studied many times The marble which was chiseled for me— A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor. 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