--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had…" description: "\"“He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it and seized it and come to understand it, and was disappointed. One could sympathize.”\" — Joh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/john-gardner-3092_idealism_he-had-glimpsed-a-glorious-ideal-had-str_817297.png" --- # He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it… ![“He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it and seized it and come to understand it, and was disappointed. One could sympathize.” quote by John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/john-gardner-3092_idealism_he-had-glimpsed-a-glorious-ideal-had-str_817297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/john-gardner-3092_idealism_he-had-glimpsed-a-glorious-ideal-had-str_817297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5a/john-gardner-3092_idealism_he-had-glimpsed-a-glorious-ideal-had-str_817297.png) > ““He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it and seized it and come to understand it, and was disappointed. One could sympathize.”” [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing an ideal can lead to disillusionment when reality falls short. **In simple terms:** Chasing ideals may end in disappointment. Key Takeaway Align expectations with reality. Themes idealism disillusionment human experience growth Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal goal setting - creative projects - relationship expectations - spiritual quests Key Concepts existentialism philosophy of desire narrative arc Questions to Reflect On - What ideal have you pursued? - How do you cope with unmet expectations? A Different Perspective Idealism can inspire despite possible disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [“I waited for him to find an answer. Minutes passed. It came to me that he had quit. He had glimpsed a glorious ideal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/i-waited-for-him-to-find-an-answer-minutes-passed-it-came-to-me-that/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [Invention is not enough. 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(For some writers, this advice I'm giving may apply best to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/in-writing-short-stories-as-in-writing-novels-take-one-thing-at-a/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [All order, I've come to understand, is theoretical, unreal, a harmless, sensible, smiling mask men slide between the two great, dark realities, the self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-order-i-ve-come-to-understand-is-theoretical-unreal-a-harmless/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) [Explore all 138 John Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) ## More Idealism quotes > [“I'm an idealist who has outgrown my idealism I have nothing to do the rest of my life but do it and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-an-idealist-who-has-outgrown-my-idealism-i-have-nothing-to-do-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [What the nostalgic past and the imaginary future seem to share in common is a form of idealism, perhaps a dream of wholeness. 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