---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life's a journey that is homeward bound."
description: "\"“Life's a journey that is homeward bound.”\" — Herman Melville"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg"
---

#  Life's a journey that is homeward bound.

![“Life's a journey that is homeward bound.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg)

> ““Life's a journey that is homeward bound.””

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A poetic metaphor that life is a journey returning home

**In simple terms:** Life is a journey toward home

Key Takeaway

Embrace the path, seek belonging

Themes

journey home purpose

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- spiritual quest
- life planning
- reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “home” mean to you?
- How does this view shape your goals?

A Different Perspective

Life’s meaning can be ambiguous for some

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Homeward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeward-1223872/) [Homeward Bound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeward-bound-224363/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Journey Homeward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey-homeward-2846879/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-journey/) [Life's A Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifes-a-journey/)

## Related quotes

> [Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-voyage-that-s-homeward-bound/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> ['Homeward Bound.' I find myself listening to that tune a lot when I'm traveling. Sitting in a railway station, wanting to go home, carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hall/homeward-bound-i-find-myself-listening-to-that-tune-a-lot-when-i-m/)

[Steven Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hall/)

> [“You can tell them you're a Homeward Bounder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/you-can-tell-them-you-re-a-homeward-bounder/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [Life's a journey; you know where you'll end up but you don't know what path you'll take to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-s-a-journey-you-know-where-you-ll-end-up-but-you-don-t-know-what/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Long is the journey homeward, Weary and worn are we. Oh, if I fall behind, my love, Will you look back for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-samatar/long-is-the-journey-homeward-weary-and-worn-are-we-oh-if-i-fall/)

[Sofia Samatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-samatar/)

> [Mortal life is like unto the traveler on a homeward journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-b-mcmullin/mortal-life-is-like-unto-the-traveler-on-a-homeward-journey/)

[Keith B. McMullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-b-mcmullin/)

> [My dad used to say that life's a journey, but somebody screwed up and lost the map.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/my-dad-used-to-say-that-life-s-a-journey-but-somebody-screwed-up-and/)

[Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/)

> [“Life's a Journey Where Every Station has Something to Reveal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garima-pradhan/life-s-a-journey-where-every-station-has-something-to-reveal/)

[Garima Pradhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garima-pradhan/)

> [Life's a journey. It's a journey about discovering limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/life-s-a-journey-it-s-a-journey-about-discovering-limits/)

[Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/)

> [“Homeward bound I suddenly noticed before me my own shadow as I had seen the shadow of the other war behind the actual one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/homeward-bound-i-suddenly-noticed-before-me-my-own-shadow-as-i-had/)

[Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/)

> [“Above everything, remember that we should dress to live and not live to dress. If you go riding on a wet day, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-storey/above-everything-remember-that-we-should-dress-to-live-and-not-live/)

[Nicholas Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-storey/)

> [To be homeward bound, no matter what tragic memories you have harbored, is unlike any voyage a man can ever make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/to-be-homeward-bound-no-matter-what-tragic-memories-you-have-harbored/)

[Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/)

> [“The caw of a rook on its homeward way, Oh! These shall be the music for me, For I love I love the path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/the-caw-of-a-rook-on-its-homeward-way-oh-these-shall-be-the-music-for/)

[Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/)

> [All exiles carry a map within them that points the way homeward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/all-exiles-carry-a-map-within-them-that-points-the-way-homeward/)

[Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/)

> [Aging is God's idea. It's one of the ways he keeps us headed homeward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/aging-is-god-s-idea-it-s-one-of-the-ways-he-keeps-us-headed-homeward/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## More by Herman Melville

> [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

[Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

## More Journey quotes

> [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/)

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

> [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/)

[Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/)

> [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/)

[Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [Loving yourself is a journey, not a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/loving-yourself-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/)

[Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/)

> [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/)

[Dzuco Huỳnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzuco-hu-nh/)

> [Life is a journey, not a destination. Fall into the deep - rise to new heights. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-basumatary/life-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-fall-into-the-deep-rise-to-new/)

[Ashish Basumatary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-basumatary/)

> [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [“May the seas bend to your journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/may-the-seas-bend-to-your-journey/)

[Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/)

[Browse all 11,861 Journey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Life's a journey that is homeward bound.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Herman Melville"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Journey"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/herman-melville-162_journey_life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound_1094525.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life's a journey that is homeward bound.” — Herman Melville",
                "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": "Herman Melville",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Life's a journey that is homeward...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/life-s-a-journey-that-is-homeward-bound/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```