--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And he that strives to touch the stars…" description: "\"And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.\" — Edmund Spenser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/edmund-spenser-2090_astronomy_and-he-that-strives-to-touch-the-stars-o_3059066.png" --- # And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a… ![“And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.” quote by Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/edmund-spenser-2090_astronomy_and-he-that-strives-to-touch-the-stars-o_3059066.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/edmund-spenser-2090_astronomy_and-he-that-strives-to-touch-the-stars-o_3059066.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/edmund-spenser-2090_astronomy_and-he-that-strives-to-touch-the-stars-o_3059066.png) > “And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.” [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambitious pursuits can be thwarted by trivial obstacles. **In simple terms:** Great goals may stumble over small things. Key Takeaway Mind small setbacks. Themes ambition obstacles humility Mood cautionary inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal goals - project management - creative endeavors Key Concepts Literature mythology Questions to Reflect On - What minor detail could derail a big plan? - How to stay focused despite distractions? A Different Perspective Not all small things are insignificant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [He that strives to touch the starts, oft stumbles at a straw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/he-that-strives-to-touch-the-starts-oft-stumbles-at-a-straw/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Oft stumbles at a straw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/oft-stumbles-at-a-straw/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [I'm tired of being the girl who falls head over heels in love with the guy who barely even stumbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-tired-of-being-the-girl-who-falls-head-over-heels-in-love-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn't mean they're lost forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-xavier-x-men/just-because-someone-stumbles-and-loses-their-path-doesn-t-mean-they/) Charles Xavier (X-Men > [StArTiNg A rElAtIoNsHiP iS eAsY bUt ThE pArT wHeRe EvErYoNe StUmBlEs, Is SuStAiNiNg It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/starting-a-relationship-is-easy-but-the-part-where-everyone-stumbles/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [Who wanders in the darkness; stumbles more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/who-wanders-in-the-darkness-stumbles-more/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Where one industry stumbles, another rises up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/where-one-industry-stumbles-another-rises-up/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Everyone stumbles at one time or another. It's the human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amby-burfoot/everyone-stumbles-at-one-time-or-another-it-s-the-human-condition/) [Amby Burfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amby-burfoot/) > [A closed mind stumbles over the blessings of life without recognizing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-closed-mind-stumbles-over-the-blessings-of-life-without-recognizing/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [And only the sure of foot can give a hand to him who stumbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-only-the-sure-of-foot-can-give-a-hand-to-him-who-stumbles/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“Over the years, everyone stumbles. That's why I'll be here for you — and you'll be there for me. I don't expect perfection. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/over-the-years-everyone-stumbles-that-s-why-i-ll-be-here-for-you-and/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) > [ A horse stumbles that hath foure legges. \[A horse stumbles that has four legs.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-horse-stumbles-that-hath-foure-legges-a-horse-stumbles-that-has/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Occasionally a man stumbles over the truth. Most dust themselves off and continue walking as though nothing had happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-s-churchill/occasionally-a-man-stumbles-over-the-truth-most-dust-themselves-off/) [Winston S. Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-s-churchill/) > [“Everyone stumbles over the truth from time to time, but most people pick themselves up and hurry off as though nothing ever happened. —SIR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-s-bobroff/everyone-stumbles-over-the-truth-from-time-to-time-but-most-people/) Gary S Bobroff > [Baldwin often times stumbles over the truth, but he always picks himself up and hurries on as if nothing had happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/baldwin-often-times-stumbles-over-the-truth-but-he-always-picks/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Edmund Spenser > [“All this world's glory seemeth vain to me, And all their shows but shadows, saving she.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-this-world-s-glory-seemeth-vain-to-me-and-all-their-shows-but/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [The merry cuckow, messenger of Spring, His trumpet shrill hath thrice already sounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-merry-cuckow-messenger-of-spring-his-trumpet-shrill-hath-thrice/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [All flesh doth frailty breed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/all-flesh-doth-frailty-breed/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“The whiles some one did chaunt this louely lay; Ah see, who so faire thing doest faine to see, In springing flowre the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/the-whiles-some-one-did-chaunt-this-louely-lay-ah-see-who-so-faire/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Fretting grief the enemy of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/fretting-grief-the-enemy-of-life/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Make haste therefore, sweet love, whilst it is prime, For none can call again the passed time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/make-haste-therefore-sweet-love-whilst-it-is-prime-for-none-can-call/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [In one consort there sat cruel revenge and rancorous despite, disloyal treason and heart-burning hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/in-one-consort-there-sat-cruel-revenge-and-rancorous-despite-disloyal/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Good is no good, but if it be spend, God giveth good for none other end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/good-is-no-good-but-if-it-be-spend-god-giveth-good-for-none-other-end/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“There is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought. (No hay nada perdido, que no pueda encontrarse, si se lo busca)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/there-is-nothing-lost-but-may-be-found-if-sought-no-hay-nada-perdido/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“It is the mynd, that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happie, rich or poore: For some, that hath abundance at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/it-is-the-mynd-that-maketh-good-or-ill-that-maketh-wretch-or-happie/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play, A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay Hot Titan's beams, which then did glister fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sweet-breathing-zephyrus-did-softly-play-a-gentle-spirit-that-lightly/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [I was promised on a time To have reason for my rhyme; From that time unto this season, I received nor rhyme nor reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/i-was-promised-on-a-time-to-have-reason-for-my-rhyme-from-that-time/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“For love is a celestial harmony Of likely hearts compos'd of stars' concent, Which join together in sweet sympathy, To work each other's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/for-love-is-a-celestial-harmony-of-likely-hearts-compos-d-of-stars/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas, Ease after war, death after life does greatly please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/sleep-after-toil-port-after-stormy-seas-ease-after-war-death-after/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) [Explore all 186 Edmund Spenser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) ## More Astronomy quotes > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Wen daylight turns to a darkened hue, D lovely stars hinting at u, ur heart beat tells u something true, That some 1 badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/wen-daylight-turns-to-a-darkened-hue-d-lovely-stars-hinting-at-u-ur/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ... quote has been credited to Les Brown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylviek/shoot-for-the-moon-even-if-you-miss-it-you-will-land-among-the-stars/) Sylviek > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. 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