--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But you built me dreams instead." description: "\"But you built me dreams instead.\" — Erin Morgenstern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/erin-morgenstern-806_built_but-you-built-me-dreams-instead-472591_472591.png" --- # But you built me dreams instead. ![“But you built me dreams instead.” quote by Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/erin-morgenstern-806_built_but-you-built-me-dreams-instead-472591_472591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/erin-morgenstern-806_built_but-you-built-me-dreams-instead-472591_472591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/erin-morgenstern-806_built_but-you-built-me-dreams-instead-472591_472591.png) > “But you built me dreams instead.” [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dreams imposed by others can feel burdensome, highlighting the need for personal agency. **In simple terms:** Own your dreams, don’t let others dictate them. Key Takeaway Assert control over your aspirations. Themes dreams autonomy self‑determination Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationship dynamics - creative projects - goal setting - family expectations Key Concepts external expectations personal agency Questions to Reflect On - Whose dreams are you living? - How to negotiate shared visions? A Different Perspective Dreams may clash with reality or responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Built Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built-dreams-2589560/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-instead-445932/) [Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/) ## Related quotes > [It's an enormous wall that's built between you and your dreams. And if every day, you just chip away... It may take ten years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burns/it-s-an-enormous-wall-that-s-built-between-you-and-your-dreams-and-if/) [Edward Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burns/) > [“RVM Thoughts for Today : "Just because you have problems , it doesn't mean you should not have Dreams. Instead, let your dream become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/rvm-thoughts-for-today-just-because-you-have-problems-it-doesn-t-mean/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [Some people grow into their dreams, instead of out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/some-people-grow-into-their-dreams-instead-of-out-of-them/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Follow your Dreams, Instead of following others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashank-rayal/follow-your-dreams-instead-of-following-others/) [Shashank Rayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashank-rayal/) > [“What good is treasure if I'm alone? After sharing so much of our dreams instead of sacrificing them and leaving with you. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nami/what-good-is-treasure-if-i-m-alone-after-sharing-so-much-of-our/) [Nami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nami/) > [Don't let people crush your dreams. Instead show them up in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-people-crush-your-dreams-instead-show-them-up-in-the-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always chase your dreams instead of running from your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-chase-your-dreams-instead-of-running-from-your-fears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are dreams that are not mere dreams. Instead, they are remembrances of extraphysical meetings between or among souls who either love or hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/there-are-dreams-that-are-not-mere-dreams-instead-they-are/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [Live your dreams instead of just dreaming them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/live-your-dreams-instead-of-just-dreaming-them/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [Always do what's best for yourself and follow your dreams instead of what others want for you. Stand your ground. 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Others will drive on the road he built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/bill-hicks-blowtorch-excavator-truthsayer-and-brain-specialist-he/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“Refuse to put others either above you or below you, but instead see them as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holyoak/refuse-to-put-others-either-above-you-or-below-you-but-instead-see/) [Pauline Holyoak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holyoak/) > [Do not presume to choose your own way of serving instead of the one I have made for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/do-not-presume-to-choose-your-own-way-of-serving-instead-of-the-one-i/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) ## More by Erin Morgenstern > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. 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Agreed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/when-all-of-this-is-over-no-matter-which-one-of-us-wins-i-will-not/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Even the ground beneath his feet feels unsatisfying to his boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/even-the-ground-beneath-his-feet-feels-unsatisfying-to-his-boots/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Why haven’t you asked me how I do my tricks?” Celia asks, once they have reached the point where she is certain he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/why-haven-t-you-asked-me-how-i-do-my-tricks-celia-asks-once-they-have/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And there are really never endings, happy or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-there-are-really-never-endings-happy-or-otherwise/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I binge write. 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Marco leans forward and whispers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-made-a-wish-on-this-tree-years-ago-marco-says-what-did-you-wish-for/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“He reads histories and mythologies and fairy tales, wondering why it seems that only girls are ever swept away from their mundane lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/he-reads-histories-and-mythologies-and-fairy-tales-wondering-why-it/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Marco moves to close the distance between them, kissing away her tears before catching her lip with his own. As he kisses her, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/marco-moves-to-close-the-distance-between-them-kissing-away-her-tears/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“«Importa más ser que parecer.»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/importa-m-s-ser-que-parecer/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And before he can tell her to tell Widget goodbye for him if need be, she leans forward and kisses him, not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-before-he-can-tell-her-to-tell-widget-goodbye-for-him-if-need-be/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) [Explore all 339 Erin Morgenstern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## More Built quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [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/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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