--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need more true mystery in our lives…" description: "\"We need more true mystery in our lives Hem- he said. The completely unambitious writer and the really good unpublished poem are the things we lack most..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/ernest-hemingway-83_hem_we-need-more-true-mystery-in-our-lives-h_2925980.jpg" --- # We need more true mystery in our lives Hem- he said. The… ![“We need more true mystery in our lives Hem- he said. The completely unambitious writer and the really good unpublished poem are the things we lack most. There is of course the problem of sustenance” quote by Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/ernest-hemingway-83_hem_we-need-more-true-mystery-in-our-lives-h_2925980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/ernest-hemingway-83_hem_we-need-more-true-mystery-in-our-lives-h_2925980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/ernest-hemingway-83_hem_we-need-more-true-mystery-in-our-lives-h_2925980.jpg) > “We need more true mystery in our lives Hem- he said. The completely unambitious writer and the really good unpublished poem are the things we lack most. There is of course the problem of sustenance” [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life needs mystery and unfulfilled ambition to stay engaging; unpursued ideas and unsung works add depth. **In simple terms:** Mystery and unfinished work keep life interesting. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and allow unfinished projects. Themes mystery ambition creativity Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing practice - reading diverse genres - personal journaling - seeking new experiences Key Concepts existentialism literary critique Questions to Reflect On - What mystery excites you? - Do you fear leaving things incomplete? A Different Perspective Too much mystery can cause anxiety; unfinished work may lead to regret. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Unambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unambitious/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The completely unambitious writer and the really good unpublished poem are the things we lack most at this time. There is, of course, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemingway-ernest/the-completely-unambitious-writer-and-the-really-good-unpublished/) [Hemingway Ernest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemingway-ernest/) > [To appear unambitious amongst the ambitious is to invite loathing or fear. To be in the game, but not playing with intent to win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-hart/to-appear-unambitious-amongst-the-ambitious-is-to-invite-loathing-or/) [Josephine Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-hart/) > [I've been accused of being unambitious, but what I do takes up every minute. I'm executive producer, I'm a writer and the host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-ve-been-accused-of-being-unambitious-but-what-i-do-takes-up-every/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I'm an unambitious politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/i-m-an-unambitious-politician/) [Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia/) > [I am the most chilled out, non-competitive and unambitious girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/i-am-the-most-chilled-out-non-competitive-and-unambitious-girl/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > [“This was my modest dream come true: unambitious flight. The kind that never even got high enough for a view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/this-was-my-modest-dream-come-true-unambitious-flight-the-kind-that/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-have-no-other-view-than-to-promote-the-public-good-and-am/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Don't hang out with people who are: Ungrateful Unhelpful Unruly Unkindly Unloving Unambitious Unmotivated or make you feel... Uncomfortable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-hang-out-with-people-who-are-ungrateful-unhelpful-unruly/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Some of the best of us are quite unambitious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/some-of-the-best-of-us-are-quite-unambitious/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Many Of Them Have Things -- What They Lack Is The Richness Of Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-varney/many-of-them-have-things-what-they-lack-is-the-richness-of-spirit/) Stuart Varney > [We suffer a lot the few things we lack and we enjoy too little the many things we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-suffer-a-lot-the-few-things-we-lack-and-we-enjoy-too-little-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We are defined by those things we lack: the things we strive for and the things we require to make us whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-bolton/we-are-defined-by-those-things-we-lack-the-things-we-strive-for-and/) [Raymond Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-bolton/) > [“It's a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/it-s-a-funny-thing-about-life-once-you-begin-to-take-note-of-the/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Women are wired to do more and different things because of their lack of ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolle-wallace/women-are-wired-to-do-more-and-different-things-because-of-their-lack/) Nicolle Wallace > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) T.I ## More by Ernest Hemingway > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“There was no wind, and, outside now of the warm air of the cave, heavy with smoke of both tobacco and charcoal, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-was-no-wind-and-outside-now-of-the-warm-air-of-the-cave-heavy/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was not brilliant bull-fighting. It was only perfect bull-fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-was-not-brilliant-bull-fighting-it-was-only-perfect-bull-fighting/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Viva my husband who was Mayor of this town”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/viva-my-husband-who-was-mayor-of-this-town/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The earth gets tired of being exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-earth-gets-tired-of-being-exploited/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“We drove out along the coast road. There was the green of the headlands, the white, red-roofed villas, patches of forest, and the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/we-drove-out-along-the-coast-road-there-was-the-green-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Oh, darling, I've been so miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/oh-darling-i-ve-been-so-miserable/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I read my own books sometimes to cheer me when it is hard to write, and then I remember that it was always difficult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-read-my-own-books-sometimes-to-cheer-me-when-it-is-hard-to-write/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“You find everything on earth at Harry's." "Yes, my Colonel. Except, possibly, happiness." "I'll damn well find happiness, too," the Colonel assured him. "Happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-find-everything-on-earth-at-harry-s-yes-my-colonel-except/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“No. It's bad for me. Cole Porter wrote the words and the music. This knowledge that you're going mad for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/no-it-s-bad-for-me-cole-porter-wrote-the-words-and-the-music-this/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“everything kills everything else in some way. Fishing kills me exactly as it keeps me alive. The boy keeps me alive, he thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/everything-kills-everything-else-in-some-way-fishing-kills-me-exactly/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Explore all 1,464 Ernest Hemingway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More Hem quotes > [It is ... through the world of the imagination which takes us beyond the restrictions of provable fact, that we touch the hem of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-is-through-the-world-of-the-imagination-which-takes-us-beyond-the/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [What change has made the pastures sweet And reached the daisies at my feet, And cloud that wears a golden hem? This lovely world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ingelow/what-change-has-made-the-pastures-sweet-and-reached-the-daisies-at-my/) [Jean Ingelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ingelow/) > [All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-knowledge-is-of-itself-of-some-value-there-is-nothing-so-minute/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The one thing I would like to get across about my whole feeling regarding high school is how I was when I was fifteen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-one-thing-i-would-like-to-get-across-about-my-whole-feeling/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/eastward-the-dawn-rose-ridge-behind-ridge-into-the-morning-and/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [She was a beautiful woman dragging a crippled foot and I was that foot. I was bricks sewn into the hem of her clothes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/she-was-a-beautiful-woman-dragging-a-crippled-foot-and-i-was-that/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [After seventy years of expository preaching, I have yet to touch the hem of His garment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-a-criswell/after-seventy-years-of-expository-preaching-i-have-yet-to-touch-the/) [W. A. Criswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-a-criswell/) > [I wondered about Mrs. Winterbottom and what she meant about living a tiny life. If she didn't like all that baking and cleaning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-creech/i-wondered-about-mrs-winterbottom-and-what-she-meant-about-living-a/) [Sharon Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-creech/) > [XXVIII "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a rock, a mighty fortress; "Often have I been to it, "Even to its highest tower, "From whence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/xxviii-truth-said-a-traveller-is-a-rock-a-mighty-fortress-often-have/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [The things that mount the rostrum with a skip, And then skip down again, pronounce a text, Cry hem; and reading what they never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-things-that-mount-the-rostrum-with-a-skip-and-then-skip-down/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [She thought of death like the seam of a hem: each time you lose someone close, it unraveled a little. You could still go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/she-thought-of-death-like-the-seam-of-a-hem-each-time-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Weigh down your curtains with a proper 5-inch hem. It makes them much more proportioned and professional-looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henderson/weigh-down-your-curtains-with-a-proper-5-inch-hem-it-makes-them-much/) [Emily Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henderson/) > [I cast my heart into my rhymes, That you, in the dim coming times, May know how my heart went with them After the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-cast-my-heart-into-my-rhymes-that-you-in-the-dim-coming-times-may/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Of all the old prejudices that cling to the hem of the woman's garments and persistently impede her progress, none holds faster than this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/of-all-the-old-prejudices-that-cling-to-the-hem-of-the-woman-s/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) Browse all 73 Hem quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need more true mystery in our lives Hem- he said. The completely unambitious writer and the really good unpublished poem are the things we lack most. 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