--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we need most, is not so much to…" description: "\"What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as to idealize the real.\" — Francis Herbert Hedge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg" --- # What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as… ![“What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as to idealize the real.” quote by Francis Herbert Hedge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg) > “What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as to idealize the real.” Francis Herbert Hedge ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges focusing on improving reality rather than chasing perfect ideals. **In simple terms:** Improve what exists instead of chasing perfection. Key Takeaway Work on real problems now. Themes pragmatism improvement realism Mood thoughtful determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal development - policy making - social reform - education Key Concepts idealization reality action Questions to Reflect On - How can you make current conditions better? - What ideal goals are realistic? A Different Perspective Idealizing the real may overlook visionary breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idealize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealize/) ## Related quotes > [I digested this value system that told me there was no one for me unless I reached a certain type of perfection. And as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/i-digested-this-value-system-that-told-me-there-was-no-one-for-me/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [When we idealize the real, we sacrifice to artistic fancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fuseli/when-we-idealize-the-real-we-sacrifice-to-artistic-fancy/) [Henry Fuseli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fuseli/) > [“To subdue matter is the first step; to realize the ideal is the second.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-subdue-matter-is-the-first-step-to-realize-the-ideal-is-the-second/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“It is sometimes said that the tragedy of an artist's life is that he cannot realize his ideal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-sometimes-said-that-the-tragedy-of-an-artist-s-life-is-that-he/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-was-established-not-to-create-wealth-but-to-realize-a-vision/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/never-idealize-others-they-will-never-live-up-to-your-expectations-3/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [We cannot idealize technology. Technology is only and always the reflection of our own imagination, and its uses must be conditioned by our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-cannot-idealize-technology-technology-is-only-and-always-the/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Every time you reject yourself, you idealize others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/every-time-you-reject-yourself-you-idealize-others/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [It's easy to idealize someone that you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bruce/it-s-easy-to-idealize-someone-that-you-don-t-know/) [Craig Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bruce/) > [What is protecting me is that it is not a finality being an actress. I really think we tend to idealize this job a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-le-bon/what-is-protecting-me-is-that-it-is-not-a-finality-being-an-actress-i/) [Charlotte Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-le-bon/) > [It’s so dangerous to idealize anything, or anyone, or any place, because it gives that thing or person or place a kind of permission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-coady/it-s-so-dangerous-to-idealize-anything-or-anyone-or-any-place-because/) [Lynn Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-coady/) > [It was easy to idealize someone you barely knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/it-was-easy-to-idealize-someone-you-barely-knew/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Maybe we adults idealize our own red-rover days, the hot afternoons spent playing games that required no coaches, eating foods that involved no nutrition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/maybe-we-adults-idealize-our-own-red-rover-days-the-hot-afternoons/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We see what we want to see. We idealize each other with our own fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/we-see-what-we-want-to-see-we-idealize-each-other-with-our-own/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [“The Idealize phase is when manipulators and their new targets first meet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-idealize-phase-is-when-manipulators-and-their-new-targets-first/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) ## More by Francis Herbert Hedge > [Every man is his own ancestor, and every man his own heir. He devises his own fortune, and he inherits his own past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/every-man-is-his-own-ancestor-and-every-man-his-own-heir-he-devises/) Francis Herbert Hedge > [Talent is a faculty that is highly developed, but genius commands all the faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/talent-is-a-faculty-that-is-highly-developed-but-genius-commands-all/) Francis Herbert Hedge > [Sympathy with nature is part of a good person's religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/sympathy-with-nature-is-part-of-a-good-person-s-religion/) Francis Herbert Hedge Explore all 4 Francis Herbert Hedge quotes ## More Ideal quotes > [An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/an-ideal-wife-is-any-woman-who-has-an-ideal-husband/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [The end result of how I obviously departed from the Cubs wasn't ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/the-end-result-of-how-i-obviously-departed-from-the-cubs-wasn-t-ideal/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [Ideally when you set up for the first game of the season... to have put the team to bed would be the ideal situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-villas-boas/ideally-when-you-set-up-for-the-first-game-of-the-season-to-have-put/) [Andre Villas-Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-villas-boas/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-ve-always-worked-closely-with-the-designers-and-whoever-s-making/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I think in an ideal world, one would be able to do everything, however, we don't live in an ideal world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graziadei/i-think-in-an-ideal-world-one-would-be-able-to-do-everything-however/) [Michael Graziadei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graziadei/) > [“Let's get real about the ideal. It sucks. It doesn't represent us, and it doesn't even try to. It refuses to acknowledge that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-jayne-crabbe/let-s-get-real-about-the-ideal-it-sucks-it-doesn-t-represent-us-and/) [Megan Jayne Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-jayne-crabbe/) > [But seriously, I believe I'm a sort of Ideal Woman, if you know what I mean. I'm the sort of woman who can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/but-seriously-i-believe-i-m-a-sort-of-ideal-woman-if-you-know-what-i/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [“Idea lady is the ideal lady!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/idea-lady-is-the-ideal-lady/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You can, I think, have a quiet and steady protagonist and not run the risk of terminal dullness as long as exciting things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/you-can-i-think-have-a-quiet-and-steady-protagonist-and-not-run-the/) [Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/) > [Steven Gerrard is the best player I have played with throughout my career; therefore, my ideal player would be very like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/steven-gerrard-is-the-best-player-i-have-played-with-throughout-my/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Success isn't ideal for every child. If we think a child would do better in a different school, whether it's a specialized program or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/success-isn-t-ideal-for-every-child-if-we-think-a-child-would-do/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) Browse all 523 Ideal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as to idealize the real.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Herbert Hedge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-realize-the-ideal-as-to-idealize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-realize-the-ideal-as-to-idealize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/francis-herbert-hedge-66718_ideal_what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-real_449626.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we need most, is not so much to realize the ideal as to idealize the real.” — Francis Herbert Hedge", "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": "Francis Herbert Hedge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-herbert-hedge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we need most, is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-realize-the-ideal-as-to-idealize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-herbert-hedge/what-we-need-most-is-not-so-much-to-realize-the-ideal-as-to-idealize/#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 } } ] } ```