--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dreams require down payments. Dreams are…" description: "\"Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. First, you must pay the price of dealing with criticism ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg" --- # Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the… ![“Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. First, you must pay the price of dealing with criticism from people who matter. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.'…” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg) > “Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. First, you must pay the price of dealing with criticism from people who matter. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.' Second, you must pay the price of overcoming your fears. Failure, rejection, and looking foolish are common fears - but they are just feelings that can be conquered and removed from your thoughts. Finally, you must be willing to pay the price of hard work in order to realize your dream.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving goals requires investing effort, confronting criticism, overcoming fear, and enduring hard work. **In simple terms:** Dreams need effort and resilience. Key Takeaway Commit to the work despite obstacles. Themes growth resilience effort Mood determined reflective Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - entrepreneurial ventures - personal development projects Key Concepts goal setting criticism fear management hard work Questions to Reflect On - What criticism have you faced? - How will you confront fear? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not guarantee success without strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Decide upon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-upon/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-free-318498/) [Dreams Require](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-require-491289/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Overcoming Your Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming-your-fears-216737/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-price/) [Pay the price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) [Payment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payment/) [Payments Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payments-dreams-2615994/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Who Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-matter/) [Ralph waldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ralph-waldo/) [Realize Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-dream/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Waldo emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waldo-emerson/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-dreams/) ## Related quotes > [Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. When you find your why you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are-free-but-the-journey-isn-t/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“If you have big dreams that require your attention, do not make sleep your obsession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/if-you-have-big-dreams-that-require-your-attention-do-not-make-sleep/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“Courage is not being fearless - it is created by overcoming your fears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-cole/courage-is-not-being-fearless-it-is-created-by-overcoming-your-fears/) [Courtney Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-cole/) > [For anyone aspiring to be anything, I would like them to realise dreams require work. So work big time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/for-anyone-aspiring-to-be-anything-i-would-like-them-to-realise/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [Half of acting is you're very intimidated, overcoming your fears, letting yourself be vulnerable in front of people and that sort of stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/half-of-acting-is-you-re-very-intimidated-overcoming-your-fears/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Great dreams require great courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/great-dreams-require-great-courage/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Every time you look at a blank piece of paper, you're doing something new. You have to step onto that blank territory and remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/every-time-you-look-at-a-blank-piece-of-paper-you-re-doing-something/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [I've been thinking a lot lately about taking chances, and how it's really just about overcoming your fears. Because the truth is, everytime you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john/i-ve-been-thinking-a-lot-lately-about-taking-chances-and-how-it-s/) [Dr. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john/) > [“When you take the step towards your dreams you will be met with fears because you have never traveled this way before. As you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-yen-a-gardner/when-you-take-the-step-towards-your-dreams-you-will-be-met-with-fears/) [E'yen A. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-yen-a-gardner/) > [Often times in order to capture your dreams, it will require you to chase your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patel/often-times-in-order-to-capture-your-dreams-it-will-require-you-to/) [Neil Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patel/) > [Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/only-in-our-dreams-are-we-free-the-rest-of-the-time-we-need-wages/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Like a prisoner who dreams that he is free, starts to suspect that it is merely a dream, and wants to go on dreaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/like-a-prisoner-who-dreams-that-he-is-free-starts-to-suspect-that-it/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [The stuff you bring back from dreams is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-stuff-you-bring-back-from-dreams-is-free/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Perhaps it’s because she spends all her time sleeping—she comes and goes just as she pleases in the world of her dreams, she’s free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/perhaps-it-s-because-she-spends-all-her-time-sleeping-she-comes-and/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Dreams are free until they become a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/dreams-are-free-until-they-become-a-reality/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. First, you must pay the price of dealing with criticism from people who matter. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, 'Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.' Second, you must pay the price of overcoming your fears. Failure, rejection, and looking foolish are common fears - but they are just feelings that can be conquered and removed from your thoughts. Finally, you must be willing to pay the price of hard work in order to realize your dream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are-free-but-the-journey-isn-t-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are-free-but-the-journey-isn-t-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/john-c-maxwell-113_common_dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are_1954498.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dreams require down payments. Dreams are free, but the journey isn't. There is a price to pay. First, you…” — John C. Maxwell", "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": "John C. Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Dreams require down payments. Dreams are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are-free-but-the-journey-isn-t-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/dreams-require-down-payments-dreams-are-free-but-the-journey-isn-t-2/#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 } } ] } ```