--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are we lost, or are we found at last? On…" description: "\"Are we lost, or are we found at last? On earth we strive for our various needs, because so goes the fundamental law of man. Aloft, at least for a littl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/ernest-k-gann-22818_ancient_are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-e_2697766.jpg" --- # Are we lost, or are we found at last? On earth we strive… ![“Are we lost, or are we found at last? On earth we strive for our various needs, because so goes the fundamental law of man. Aloft, at least for a little while, the needs disappear. Likewise the striving. In the thoughts of man aloft, food and evil become mixed and sometimes reversed. This is the…” quote by Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/ernest-k-gann-22818_ancient_are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-e_2697766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/ernest-k-gann-22818_ancient_are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-e_2697766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6f/ernest-k-gann-22818_ancient_are-we-lost-or-are-we-found-at-last-on-e_2697766.jpg) > “Are we lost, or are we found at last? On earth we strive for our various needs, because so goes the fundamental law of man. Aloft, at least for a little while, the needs disappear. Likewise the striving. In the thoughts of man aloft, food and evil become mixed and sometimes reversed. This is the open door to wisdom. Aloft, the earth is ancient and man is young, regardless of his numbers, for there, aloft he may reaffirm his suspicions that he may not be so very much. This is the gateway to humility.” [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we rise above daily concerns, our perspective shifts, revealing humility and wisdom beyond material needs. **In simple terms:** Rising above daily needs reveals humility and wisdom. Key Takeaway Seek higher perspective to gain humility. Themes humility wisdom perspective transcendence Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - meditation - travel - creative writing - leadership decisions Key Concepts philosophy existential spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - What daily habit can lift you above routine? - How does humility affect decision making? A Different Perspective May be abstract for practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Open Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-door/) [Suspicion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicion/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The principal thing in this world is to keep one's soul aloft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-principal-thing-in-this-world-is-to-keep-one-s-soul-aloft/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The principal thing in the world is to keep the soul aloft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-principal-thing-in-the-world-is-to-keep-the-soul-aloft/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [We are too feeble and sluggish to make our way out to the upper limit of the air. If someone could reach the summit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-are-too-feeble-and-sluggish-to-make-our-way-out-to-the-upper-limit/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Never soar aloft on an enemy's pinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/never-soar-aloft-on-an-enemy-s-pinions/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [Sometimes a fog will settle over a vessel's deck and yet leave the topmast clear. Then a sailor goes up aloft and gets a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/sometimes-a-fog-will-settle-over-a-vessel-s-deck-and-yet-leave-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Aloft," intoned the damaged man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/aloft-intoned-the-damaged-man/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“To summon things into being by the mysterious alchemy of language. Atlantic. Atlas. Aloft. He was holding the image of his own people up:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/to-summon-things-into-being-by-the-mysterious-alchemy-of-language/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [Community colleges are one of Americas great social inventions a gateway to the future for first time students looking for an affordable college education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/community-colleges-are-one-of-americas-great-social-inventions-a/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Everything if given to God can become your gateway to joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/everything-if-given-to-god-can-become-your-gateway-to-joy/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [While Asia is commonly referred to as the Gateway to Europe, it is no less true that Europe is the Gateway to Asia, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/while-asia-is-commonly-referred-to-as-the-gateway-to-europe-it-is-no/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The piano bar is the gateway to the halls of masturbation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/the-piano-bar-is-the-gateway-to-the-halls-of-masturbation/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [It would take a civilization far more advanced than ours, unbelievably advanced, to begin to manipulate negative energy to create gateways to the past.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-would-take-a-civilization-far-more-advanced-than-ours-unbelievably/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [A black star appears, a point of darkness in the night sky's clarity. Point of darkness and gateway to repose. Reach out, pierce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/a-black-star-appears-a-point-of-darkness-in-the-night-sky-s-clarity/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [Text is the gateway drug to real time marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baer/text-is-the-gateway-drug-to-real-time-marketing/) [Jay Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baer/) > [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) ## More by Ernest K. Gann > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are willing victims to the spell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-willing-victims-to-the-spell/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Fear breeds upon itself because it is a hermaphrodite capable of endless reproduction. Fear is a contagious disease, spreading from its first victim to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/fear-breeds-upon-itself-because-it-is-a-hermaphrodite-capable-of/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [MaCleod, since you've flown the SeaBee a lot you'll understand when I say it was the only airplane I ever owned that you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/macleod-since-you-ve-flown-the-seabee-a-lot-you-ll-understand-when-i/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [There is no more alluring airspace in the world than the slit up a China girl's dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/there-is-no-more-alluring-airspace-in-the-world-than-the-slit-up-a/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [As the years go by, he returns to this invisible world rather than to earth for peace and solace. There also he finds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-invisible-world-rather-than-to/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [“Those ever more frequent nights when his loneliness became unbearable and he took solace in wine he would sometimes stand outside his tent holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/those-ever-more-frequent-nights-when-his-loneliness-became-unbearable/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Flying is hypnotic and all pilots are victims to the spell. Their world is like a magic island in which the factors of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/flying-is-hypnotic-and-all-pilots-are-victims-to-the-spell-their/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/anyone-can-do-the-job-when-things-are-going-right-in-this-business-we/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The emergencies you train for almost never happen. It's the one you can't train for that kills you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-emergencies-you-train-for-almost-never-happen-it-s-the-one-you/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The men in this book are fictitious characters but their counterparts can be found in cockpits all over the world. Now they are flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-men-in-this-book-are-fictitious-characters-but-their-counterparts/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/rule-books-are-paper-they-will-not-cushion-a-sudden-meeting-of-stone/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It doesn't look nearly as big as it did the first time I saw one. Mickey McGuire and I used to sit hour after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-doesn-t-look-nearly-as-big-as-it-did-the-first-time-i-saw-one/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [During this period Steen and Fox were killed trying a single-engine instrument approach at Moline. Then Campbell and Leatherman hit a ridge near Elko,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/during-this-period-steen-and-fox-were-killed-trying-a-single-engine/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [The air is annoyingly potted with a multitude of minor vertical disturbances which sicken the passengers and keep us captives of our seat belts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/the-air-is-annoyingly-potted-with-a-multitude-of-minor-vertical/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) > [It's when things are going just right that you'd better be suspicious. There you are, fat as can be. The whole world is yours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/it-s-when-things-are-going-just-right-that-you-d-better-be-suspicious/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Explore all 27 Ernest K. Gann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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