--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but…" description: "\"A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships are for.\" — Heavy D" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png" --- # A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships… ![“A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships are for.” quote by Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png) > “A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships are for.” [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ship must leave harbor to fulfill its purpose, despite safety of staying. **In simple terms:** Ships are meant to sail, not stay safe. Key Takeaway Embrace risk to achieve purpose. Themes risk purpose adventure Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career moves - starting a business - travel - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism courage Questions to Reflect On - What purpose are you avoiding? - How can risk serve your goals? A Different Perspective Staying safe may feel comfortable but limits growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Safe harbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-harbor/) ## Related quotes > [A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-ship-is-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not where ships belong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-ship-is-safe-in-the-harbor-but-that-s-not-where-ships-belong/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not why ships were built.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-revenge/a-ship-is-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-why-ships-were-built/) Charlotte Revenge > [A ship is safe in harbor, but thats not what ships are for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-ship-is-safe-in-harbor-but-thats-not-what-ships-are-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a chance in life because a ship is safe in the harbor...but that's not what it was built for!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-chance-in-life-because-a-ship-is-safe-in-the-harbor-but-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ships are safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. So set sail on the stormy sea of love. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/ships-are-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for-so-set/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [We rest here while we can, but we hear the ocean calling in our dreams, And we know by the morning, the wind will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kimmel/we-rest-here-while-we-can-but-we-hear-the-ocean-calling-in-our-dreams/) Tom Kimmel > [A sHiP iS saFe aT harbor bUt tHaTs nOt waT shIpS arE maDE foR…!!!! sO fAcE tHe dIffIcuLtIes…dNt jSt bE siTTed IN a SaFe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/a-ship-is-safe-at-harbor-but-thats-not-wat-ships-are-made-for-so-face/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [A ship at harbor is safe, but thats not ships are for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-ship-at-harbor-is-safe-but-thats-not-ships-are-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The United States is a safe harbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-united-states-is-a-safe-harbor/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [“Ships are safe at Harbor, but that's what they aren't meant for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ships-are-safe-at-harbor-but-that-s-what-they-aren-t-meant-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was the captain of a ship I never failed to bring my ship to port and I won't fail to bring Romania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traian-basescu/when-i-was-the-captain-of-a-ship-i-never-failed-to-bring-my-ship-to/) [Traian Basescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traian-basescu/) > [“Our quest for safe harbor begins when we acknowledge our need to give up the independence and self-reliance of the orphan heart and humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-frost/our-quest-for-safe-harbor-begins-when-we-acknowledge-our-need-to-give/) [Jack Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-frost/) > [Safe Harbor is a state of mind... its the place - in reality or metaphor - to which one goes in times of trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luanne-rice/safe-harbor-is-a-state-of-mind-its-the-place-in-reality-or-metaphor/) [Luanne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luanne-rice/) > [Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in the harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seek-opportunity-not-security-a-boat-in-the-harbor-is-safe-but-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Heavy D > [I got nuttin' but love for you, baby I got nuttin' but love for you, honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/i-got-nuttin-but-love-for-you-baby-i-got-nuttin-but-love-for-you-honey/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Some people have so much respect for their superiors they have none left for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/some-people-have-so-much-respect-for-their-superiors-they-have-none/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Nothin could compare to you, boo I swear to you. I feel for you, for real for you. All I wanna do is be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/nothin-could-compare-to-you-boo-i-swear-to-you-i-feel-for-you-for/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Leave it up to me I'll close the whole damn store on ya, I got nuttin' but love for ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/leave-it-up-to-me-i-ll-close-the-whole-damn-store-on-ya-i-got-nuttin/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [The world today is in a very difficult situation, and we all know it, because we're the ones who created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/the-world-today-is-in-a-very-difficult-situation-and-we-all-know-it/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [I put out a raggae album. I got a grammy nomination for a raggae album just cause I didn't fit into the landscape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/i-put-out-a-raggae-album-i-got-a-grammy-nomination-for-a-raggae-album/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Make a little room, here comes big daddy. Big like a truck, satisfyin like a Caddy. Many are called, but the chosen are few.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/make-a-little-room-here-comes-big-daddy-big-like-a-truck-satisfyin/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [There's something about being any kind of entertainer that is acting. You have to put on a show. Things you wouldn't do in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/there-s-something-about-being-any-kind-of-entertainer-that-is-acting/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Thanksgiving day will forever be hard, cause that's the day we gave my brother to God, I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/thanksgiving-day-will-forever-be-hard-cause-that-s-the-day-we-gave-my/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [I started young. My first record came out when I was - what? 18? So I was in the studio when I was 15, 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/i-started-young-my-first-record-came-out-when-i-was-what-18-so-i-was/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [I love the idea of love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/i-love-the-idea-of-love/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Black people are tired, especially amongst black people. Tired of us seeing us kill each other, us go through that situation of lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/black-people-are-tired-especially-amongst-black-people-tired-of-us/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Now 4th street park after dark is dangerous, might get clapped, if you look strange to us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/now-4th-street-park-after-dark-is-dangerous-might-get-clapped-if-you/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [The hardest thing for an artist to do is to let go. I don't wanna be the dude - if you come to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/the-hardest-thing-for-an-artist-to-do-is-to-let-go-i-don-t-wanna-be/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [I give you props and credit 'cause it's due, but I ain't that clown, and my crew ain't that crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/i-give-you-props-and-credit-cause-it-s-due-but-i-ain-t-that-clown-and/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) [Explore all 40 Heavy D quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) ## More Harbor quotes > [Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in the harbor is safe, but in time its bottom will rot out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seek-opportunity-not-security-a-boat-in-the-harbor-is-safe-but-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From the top of a high rock, I obtained a good few of the most extensive and dreary wilderness I ever beheld. It chilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/from-the-top-of-a-high-rock-i-obtained-a-good-few-of-the-most/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [A ship is safe in harbor, but thats not what ships are for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-ship-is-safe-in-harbor-but-thats-not-what-ships-are-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was in Shanghai when the Japanese invaded China. I was there in Shanghai when, the morning after Pearl Harbor, they seized Shanghai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/i-was-in-shanghai-when-the-japanese-invaded-china-i-was-there-in/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [We like to think the best of ourselves. We like to believe we always say and do the right things. We like to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/we-like-to-think-the-best-of-ourselves-we-like-to-believe-we-always/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Happy the man who from the sea escapes the storm and finds harbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/happy-the-man-who-from-the-sea-escapes-the-storm-and-finds-harbor/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Ships are safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. So set sail on the stormy sea of love. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/ships-are-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for-so-set/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. —John A. Shedd”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/a-ship-in-harbor-is-safe-but-that-is-not-what-ships-are-built-for/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [Where lies the final harbor, whence we unmoor no more?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/where-lies-the-final-harbor-whence-we-unmoor-no-more/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [A ship at harbor is safe, but thats not ships are for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-ship-at-harbor-is-safe-but-thats-not-ships-are-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When we start raising different inconsistent truths, life may tip into bewilderment and the brain may go haywire. The confrontation between what is, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-start-raising-different-inconsistent-truths-life-may-tip-into/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Today, war of necessity is used by critics of military action to describe unavoidable response to an attack like that on Pearl Harbor that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/today-war-of-necessity-is-used-by-critics-of-military-action-to/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [“He's asleep in the harbor, disguised as dog shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-haldeman/he-s-asleep-in-the-harbor-disguised-as-dog-shit/) [Joe Haldeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-haldeman/) > [“Better to move on than harbor hate. Once I’d realized that, life wasn’t so bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pippa-dacosta/better-to-move-on-than-harbor-hate-once-i-d-realized-that-life-wasn-t/) [Pippa DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pippa-dacosta/) > [“Steer well! The harbor just ahead Aglow with glory’s ray, Will on thee golden luster shed, From out the gates of day, And waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/steer-well-the-harbor-just-ahead-aglow-with-glory-s-ray-will-on-thee/) [Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/) Browse all 91 Harbor quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships are for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heavy D" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harbor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/heavy-d-16313_harbor_a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s_753197.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A ship is safe in it's harbor.. but that's not what ships are for.” — Heavy D", "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": "Heavy D", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A ship is safe in it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/a-ship-is-safe-in-it-s-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for/#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 } } ] } ```