--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that strives to touch the starts, oft…" description: "\"He that strives to touch the starts, oft stumbles at a straw.\" — Edmund Spenser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/edmund-spenser-2090_he_he-that-strives-to-touch-the-starts-oft_3095393.png" --- # He that strives to touch the starts, oft stumbles at a… ![“He that strives to touch the starts, oft stumbles at a straw.” quote by Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/edmund-spenser-2090_he_he-that-strives-to-touch-the-starts-oft_3095393.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/edmund-spenser-2090_he_he-that-strives-to-touch-the-starts-oft_3095393.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/edmund-spenser-2090_he_he-that-strives-to-touch-the-starts-oft_3095393.png) > “He that strives to touch the starts, 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. Aiming for lofty goals often leads to stumbling over trivial obstacles. **In simple terms:** Great ambitions can be derailed by small details. Key Takeaway Focus on fundamentals before grand pursuits. Themes ambition humility focus Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - personal growth - risk assessment Key Concepts pride overreach attention to detail Questions to Reflect On - What small detail could undermine your big goal? - How can you balance ambition with practicality? A Different Perspective Neglecting basics can cause failure despite high aspirations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Oft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oft-135117/) [Oft Stumbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oft-stumbles-4920562/) [Starts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starts/) [Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straw/) [Strives Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strives-touch-5122580/) [Stumbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbles-842121/) [Stumbles Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbles-straw-4920561/) [Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch/) ## Related quotes > [And he that strives to touch the stars Oft stumbles at a straw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/and-he-that-strives-to-touch-the-stars-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/) > [Wisdom oft times consists of knowing what to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/wisdom-oft-times-consists-of-knowing-what-to-do-next/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 He quotes > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > [An actor doesn't have a regular job. He is dependent upon the roles which are given him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/an-actor-doesn-t-have-a-regular-job-he-is-dependent-upon-the-roles/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Nick Saban's legacy is already cemented. He's won six national championships and seven if you include the one in LSU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/nick-saban-s-legacy-is-already-cemented-he-s-won-six-national/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [You've got a lot of Tupac clones, but I don't think I'm one of them. 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