--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who would attain to summits still and…" description: "\"Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve himself through valleys of despair.\" — Ella Wheeler Wilcox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png" --- # Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve… ![“Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve himself through valleys of despair.” quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png) > “Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve himself through valleys of despair.” [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving lofty goals requires courage to endure deep hardships. **In simple terms:** Great goals need courage through hardship. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to reach high aspirations. Themes courage ambition hardship growth Mood inspirational determined Type motivational encouraging When to use this quote - mountain climbing - career milestones - personal recovery - creative projects Key Concepts resilience goal‑setting Questions to Reflect On - What personal valleys have you faced? - How can you balance perseverance with self‑care? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on struggle may discourage those needing support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attain Summits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attain-summits-4569578/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Nerve Valleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerve-valleys-4569579/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Summit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit/) [Summits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summits/) [Valleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valleys/) [Valleys Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valleys-despair-4569577/) ## Related quotes > [Nations touch at their summits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/nations-touch-at-their-summits/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Those who found nothing on the plains will find nothing on the summits of mountains!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-who-found-nothing-on-the-plains-will-find-nothing-on-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The use of EU summits to frame political victories or defeats is an annoying habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-use-of-eu-summits-to-frame-political-victories-or-defeats-is-an/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [I don't think more mega-summits is the way to secure effective implementation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-don-t-think-more-mega-summits-is-the-way-to-secure-effective/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [Summits are best at dealing with problems, where the need for action is urgent and the range of possible actions limited. They are less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-souter/summits-are-best-at-dealing-with-problems-where-the-need-for-action/) [David Souter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-souter/) > [Happiness is the struggle towards a summit and, when it is attained, it is happiness to glimpse new summits on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fridtjof-nansen/happiness-is-the-struggle-towards-a-summit-and-when-it-is-attained-it/) [Fridtjof Nansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fridtjof-nansen/) > [ Summits \[World Summit on the Information Society\] are meant to help governments reach a global consensus on major issues which has proved elusive in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-souter/summits-world-summit-on-the-information-society-are-meant-to-help/) [David Souter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-souter/) > [The world can no more have two summits than a circumference can have two centres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/the-world-can-no-more-have-two-summits-than-a-circumference-can-have/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [“To reach the top you don’t have to climb up to the top; just define a height as the top, that’s’ it, very simple!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-reach-the-top-you-don-t-have-to-climb-up-to-the-top-just-define-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Yes, I first visited Korphe village, Braldu valley, Baltistan, Pakistan, after failing to summit K2 in 1993, and met Haji Ali, a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/yes-i-first-visited-korphe-village-braldu-valley-baltistan-pakistan/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [For those of you who tried, but didn't make it, Settle down it's never what you think. The summit doesn't differ from the deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/for-those-of-you-who-tried-but-didn-t-make-it-settle-down-it-s-never/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [Before climbing the summits, you must first walk in the down valleys!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/before-climbing-the-summits-you-must-first-walk-in-the-down-valleys/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“And now that we have returned to the desultory life of the plain, let us endeavor to import a little of that mountain grandeur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/and-now-that-we-have-returned-to-the-desultory-life-of-the-plain-let/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Everybody wants to reach the top of the mountain, but there is no growth at the peak. It is in the valley that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/everybody-wants-to-reach-the-top-of-the-mountain-but-there-is-no/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [Happiness is the summit of a high mountain; we can visit it, but we can't stay there! We are forced to go down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/happiness-is-the-summit-of-a-high-mountain-we-can-visit-it-but-we-can/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Ella Wheeler Wilcox > [A day which passed without a poem from my pen I considered lost and misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/a-day-which-passed-without-a-poem-from-my-pen-i-considered-lost-and/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Why dost thou shrink from my approach, O Man? Why dost thou ever flee in fear, and cling To my false rival, Life? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/why-dost-thou-shrink-from-my-approach-o-man-why-dost-thou-ever-flee/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [With every rising of the sun Think of your life as just begun. The past has shrived and buried deep All yesterdays— there let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/with-every-rising-of-the-sun-think-of-your-life-as-just-begun-the/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“Why, even Death stands still and waits an hour for such a will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/why-even-death-stands-still-and-waits-an-hour-for-such-a-will/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Better to wait and yearn, and still to wait, And die at last with unappeased desire, Than live to be the jest of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/better-to-wait-and-yearn-and-still-to-wait-and-die-at-last-with/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes, and men grow better as the world grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/love-lights-more-fires-than-hate-extinguishes-and-men-grow-better-as/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Back on its golden hinges The gate of Memory swings, And my heart goes into the garden And walks with the olden things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/back-on-its-golden-hinges-the-gate-of-memory-swings-and-my-heart-goes/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I hold it true that thoughts are things Endowed with bodies, breath, and wings, And that we send them forth to fill The world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/i-hold-it-true-that-thoughts-are-things-endowed-with-bodies-breath/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [All perfect things are saddening in effect. The autumn wood robed in its scarlet clothes, The matchless tinting on the royal rose Whose velvet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/all-perfect-things-are-saddening-in-effect-the-autumn-wood-robed-in/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Content is not the pathway to great deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/content-is-not-the-pathway-to-great-deeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Don't anticipate the happiness of tomorrow. Discover it today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/don-t-anticipate-the-happiness-of-tomorrow-discover-it-today/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“And yet I would not be a child again. For surely as the night succeeds the day, So surely will their mirth turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/and-yet-i-would-not-be-a-child-again-for-surely-as-the-night-succeeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Day's sweetest moments are at dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/day-s-sweetest-moments-are-at-dawn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Oh! not for the great departed, Who formed our country's laws, And not for the bravest-hearted, Who died in freedom's cause, And not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/oh-not-for-the-great-departed-who-formed-our-country-s-laws-and-not/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) [Explore all 240 Ella Wheeler Wilcox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve himself through valleys of despair.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ella Wheeler Wilcox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fair-must-nerve-himself-through/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fair-must-nerve-himself-through/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_despair_who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fa_2970344.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who would attain to summits still and fair,Must nerve himself through valleys of despair.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox", "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": "Ella Wheeler Wilcox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who would attain to summits still...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fair-must-nerve-himself-through/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/who-would-attain-to-summits-still-and-fair-must-nerve-himself-through/#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 } } ] } ```