--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no realism without an element of…" description: "\"There is no realism without an element of idealism.\" — Henry A. Kissinger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_element_there-is-no-realism-without-an-element-o_172208.jpg" --- # There is no realism without an element of idealism. ![“There is no realism without an element of idealism.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_element_there-is-no-realism-without-an-element-o_172208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_element_there-is-no-realism-without-an-element-o_172208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/henry-a-kissinger-1068_element_there-is-no-realism-without-an-element-o_172208.jpg) > “There is no realism without an element of idealism.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realism must be tempered with idealism; practical understanding requires a vision of what could be. **In simple terms:** Reality needs a hopeful vision. Key Takeaway Blend practical insight with aspirational goals. Themes realism idealism balance Mood optimistic analytical Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - policy making - artistic creation - scientific research Key Concepts political theory philosophy strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate idealism into your work? - What ideal inspires your realistic plans? A Different Perspective Pure realism may become cynical without hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) ## Related quotes > [Perhaps dirt is the necessary condition of beauty… Perhaps hygiene and art can never be bedfellows. No Verdi, after all, without spitting into trumpets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/perhaps-dirt-is-the-necessary-condition-of-beauty-perhaps-hygiene-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Realism arises from the maturity of the minds, while Idealism arises from their conformity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/realism-arises-from-the-maturity-of-the-minds-while-idealism-arises/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Realism is in the work when idealism is in the soul, and it is only through idealism that we resume contact with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/realism-is-in-the-work-when-idealism-is-in-the-soul-and-it-is-only/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-convinced-that-love-is-the-most-durable-power-in-the-world-it-is/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [All of Koons's best art - the encased vacuum cleaners, the stainless-steel Rabbit (the late-twentieth century's signature work of Simulationist sculpture), the amazing gleaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/all-of-koons-s-best-art-the-encased-vacuum-cleaners-the-stainless/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Idealism leads to realism if it is strictly thought out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/idealism-leads-to-realism-if-it-is-strictly-thought-out/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [By the artificial separation of soul and body men have invented a Realism that is vulgar and an Idealism that is void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/by-the-artificial-separation-of-soul-and-body-men-have-invented-a/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The Gospel worldview equips the artist with a unique combination of optimism and realism about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-gospel-worldview-equips-the-artist-with-a-unique-combination-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Idealism and realism meet in the actual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/idealism-and-realism-meet-in-the-actual/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“Anton Chekhov tells the truth neither out of love or respect for the truth, nor yet because, in the Kantian manner, a high duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/anton-chekhov-tells-the-truth-neither-out-of-love-or-respect-for-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [Art is beauty, and every exposition of art, whether it be music, painting, or the drama, should be subservient to that one great end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-marlowe/art-is-beauty-and-every-exposition-of-art-whether-it-be-music/) [Julia Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-marlowe/) > [Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/contentment-with-our-lot-is-an-element-of-happiness/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“Your potentials contain local elements that can react with your passion to produce global compounds for the solution of the world’s problems. Go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-potentials-contain-local-elements-that-can-react-with-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It's always fun messing around with costumes and stuff. You know there is an element of acting that you've got to dress-up; that's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/it-s-always-fun-messing-around-with-costumes-and-stuff-you-know-there/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [Love is an element which though physically unseen is as real as air or water. It is an acting, living, moving force... it moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/love-is-an-element-which-though-physically-unseen-is-as-real-as-air/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Explore all 298 Henry A. Kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More Element quotes > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I've always been interested in socially political, or overtly political, comedy. And I guess I've always liked to channel some kind of personal element…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-socially-political-or-overtly/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [Love is an element which though physically unseen is as real as air or water. It is an acting, living, moving force... it moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/love-is-an-element-which-though-physically-unseen-is-as-real-as-air/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) > [I always look at money not as a motivating factor but as an element in the composition. You can't ignore it, but you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/i-always-look-at-money-not-as-a-motivating-factor-but-as-an-element/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [It's always fun messing around with costumes and stuff. You know there is an element of acting that you've got to dress-up; that's part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/it-s-always-fun-messing-around-with-costumes-and-stuff-you-know-there/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [I've done a lot of different tours. For me, I try to go on tours that I think are gonna be fun. It's, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelis/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-different-tours-for-me-i-try-to-go-on-tours-that-i/) [Kelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelis/) > [I don't think there's any show comparable to 'Game of Thrones' in terms of the way it does the fantasy element to such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-show-comparable-to-game-of-thrones-in-terms/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [This 'Making Mirrors' album is far more personal, even if there's a character element to the sounds I'm working with. Every song on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotye/this-making-mirrors-album-is-far-more-personal-even-if-there-s-a/) [Gotye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotye/) > [Time is the most elastic element in the world. It increases minutes when we are waiting and decreases hours when we are enjoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-the-most-elastic-element-in-the-world-it-increases-minutes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think actors tend to be in their element when they are pushed out of their comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lewis/i-think-actors-tend-to-be-in-their-element-when-they-are-pushed-out/) [Matthew Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lewis/) > [“Your potentials contain local elements that can react with your passion to produce global compounds for the solution of the world’s problems. Go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/your-potentials-contain-local-elements-that-can-react-with-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [On the contrary, the characteristic element of the present situation is that economic questions have finally and irrevocably invaded the domain of public life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/on-the-contrary-the-characteristic-element-of-the-present-situation/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [No one doubts the enormity of the social challenges we face around the world but one critical element of our response must be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/no-one-doubts-the-enormity-of-the-social-challenges-we-face-around/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [I want to keep looking for roles that have an element of surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/i-want-to-keep-looking-for-roles-that-have-an-element-of-surprise/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-want-to-do-some-bigger-films-so-long-as-there-s-some-sort-of/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) Browse all 318 Element quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no realism without an element of idealism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. 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