--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for…" description: "\"“The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.”\" — Horatio Dresser" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/horatio-dresser-37441_ideal_the-ideal-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for_150089.jpg" --- # The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it… ![“The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.” quote by Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/horatio-dresser-37441_ideal_the-ideal-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for_150089.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/horatio-dresser-37441_ideal_the-ideal-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for_150089.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/horatio-dresser-37441_ideal_the-ideal-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for_150089.jpg) > ““The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.”” [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is unattainable; the present becomes ideal through one's actions. **In simple terms:** The ideal never arrives, but today can be ideal if you make it so. Key Takeaway Create your own ideal moment now. Themes perfection present action mindset self‑empowerment Mood optimistic determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily life - goal setting - personal development - mindfulness Key Concepts idealism agency temporal focus Questions to Reflect On - What does “ideal” mean to you? - How can you make today ideal? A Different Perspective Idealism can lead to chronic dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-today-1671762/) [Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal/) [Ideal Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-comes-1671760/) [Ideal Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-makes-1671761/) [Today Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-ideal-1671759/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [The ideal day never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/the-ideal-day-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for-him-who-makes-it-so/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [Yesterday is done. Tomorrow never comes. Today is here. If you don't know what to do, sit still and listen. You may hear something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/yesterday-is-done-tomorrow-never-comes-today-is-here-if-you-don-t/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“Tomorrow never comes, it is always today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/tomorrow-never-comes-it-is-always-today/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Until the morning comes. Today was crazy but, tonight the city is ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-time-rush/until-the-morning-comes-today-was-crazy-but-tonight-the-city-is-ours/) [Big Time Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-time-rush/) > [Beautiful Tomorrow Never Comes, When It Comes It's Already Today! In Hunt Of Beautiful Tomorrow, Lets Not Waste The Wonderful Today. Good Morning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beautiful-tomorrow-never-comes-when-it-comes-it-s-already-today-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Horatio Dresser > [The ideal day never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/the-ideal-day-never-comes-today-is-ideal-for-him-who-makes-it-so/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [“There is an element in experience that usually eludes description. Some experiences can never be told. They are intimately a part of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/there-is-an-element-in-experience-that-usually-eludes-description/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [“It is one thing to talk about "the power of silence" and another to be able to pause long enough to enjoy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/it-is-one-thing-to-talk-about-the-power-of-silence-and-another-to-be/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [What I am thinking and doing day by day is resistlessly shaping my future, — a future in which there is no expiation except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/what-i-am-thinking-and-doing-day-by-day-is-resistlessly-shaping-my/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [When we pause to think, we are compelled to admit the existence of consciousness as the primal and surest fact. What we know of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/when-we-pause-to-think-we-are-compelled-to-admit-the-existence-of/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [Do your best every day and your life will gradually expand into satisfying fullness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/do-your-best-every-day-and-your-life-will-gradually-expand-into/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [Be true to the best you know. This is your high ideal. If you do your best, you cannot do more. Do your best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/be-true-to-the-best-you-know-this-is-your-high-ideal-if-you-do-your/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [“In deepest truth there is no "alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/in-deepest-truth-there-is-no-alone/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [What I am thinking and doing day by day is resistlessly shaping my future - a future in which there is no expiation except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/what-i-am-thinking-and-doing-day-by-day-is-resistlessly-shaping-my-2/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [No one can live my life for me. If I am wise, I shall begin today to build my own truer and better world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/no-one-can-live-my-life-for-me-if-i-am-wise-i-shall-begin-today-to/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) > [No one can save me. No one can live my life for me. It is mine for better or for worse. If I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-dresser/no-one-can-save-me-no-one-can-live-my-life-for-me-it-is-mine-for/) [Horatio Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) [Explore all 12 Horatio Dresser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-dresser/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The ideal never comes. 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