--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often and often must he have thought…" description: "\"Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not to be forever, was a question, which must be settled; as it is the foundation, and the only fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg" --- # Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not… ![“Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not to be forever, was a question, which must be settled; as it is the foundation, and the only foundation upon which we feel that there can rest one thought, one feeling, or one purpose worthy of a human soul.” quote by Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg) > “Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not to be forever, was a question, which must be settled; as it is the foundation, and the only foundation upon which we feel that there can rest one thought, one feeling, or one purpose worthy of a human soul.” [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It reflects on existential doubt, suggesting that the certainty of existence underpins all human thought and purpose. **In simple terms:** Existential certainty grounds meaning. Key Takeaway Recognize the need for foundational belief. Themes existentialism philosophy human nature Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal crisis - philosophical debate - creative writing Key Concepts foundational belief identity purpose Questions to Reflect On - What foundations shape your sense of purpose? - Can doubt be productive? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Forever Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever-question-1754164/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/often/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Rest Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-thought-2375200/) [Settled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settled/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-feeling-1324188/) [Thought Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-forever-241664/) [To be or not to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/to-be-or-not-to-be/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) ## Related quotes > [Friends seem to last forever A question to whoever Are you a friend or just an unsolved rivalry? 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Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-n-beard/) > [To be, or not to be: what a question!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-or-not-to-be-what-a-question/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To be or not to be? Is that really the question? Or should it be: To dance or not to dance? Dancing is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/to-be-or-not-to-be-is-that-really-the-question-or-should-it-be-to/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [“Do I have the courage of being a ruthless man to myself with the complete knowledge on my manner or I just can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fereidoon-yazdi/do-i-have-the-courage-of-being-a-ruthless-man-to-myself-with-the/) [Fereidoon Yazdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fereidoon-yazdi/) > [“I know that David Tennant's Hamlet isn't till July. And lots of people are going to be doing Dr Who in Hamlet jokes, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-know-that-david-tennant-s-hamlet-isn-t-till-july-and-lots-of-people/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Five billion people have played Hamlet. 'To be or not to be.' And how do you do that and find your way into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/five-billion-people-have-played-hamlet-to-be-or-not-to-be-and-how-do/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [“I give away examples!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/i-give-away-examples/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [“Just before we have sex, the question often is: To pee, or not to pee?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/just-before-we-have-sex-the-question-often-is-to-pee-or-not-to-pee/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Life does not consist mainly, or even largely, of facts and happenings. It consists mainly ofthe storm of thought that is forever flowing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/life-does-not-consist-mainly-or-even-largely-of-facts-and-happenings/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [What does forever mean to you? When you couldnt even keep it true You said were youd forever be there But were those just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/what-does-forever-mean-to-you-when-you-couldnt-even-keep-it-true-you/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) ## More by Jones Very > [The later rain,--it falls in anxious haste Upon the sun-dried fields and branches bare, Loosening with searching drops the rigid waste, As if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/the-later-rain-it-falls-in-anxious-haste-upon-the-sun-dried-fields/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) > [As long as man labors for a physical existence, though an act of necessity almost, he is yet natural; it is life, though that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/as-long-as-man-labors-for-a-physical-existence-though-an-act-of/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) > [These are matters of external history. They are indeed prominent objects, often changing and giving a new direction to the current; but they tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/these-are-matters-of-external-history-they-are-indeed-prominent/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) > [Macbeth is contending with the realities of this world, Hamlet with those of the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/macbeth-is-contending-with-the-realities-of-this-world-hamlet-with/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) > [We feel unsatisfied until we know ourselves akin even with that greatness which made the spots on which it rested hallowed; and until, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/we-feel-unsatisfied-until-we-know-ourselves-akin-even-with-that/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) > [From the wrestling of his own soul with the great enemy, comes that depth and mystery which startles us in Hamlet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/from-the-wrestling-of-his-own-soul-with-the-great-enemy-comes-that/) [Jones Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) [Explore all 7 Jones Very quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not to be forever, was a question, which must be settled; as it is the foundation, and the only foundation upon which we feel that there can rest one thought, one feeling, or one purpose worthy of a human soul.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jones Very" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-that-to-be-or-not-to-be-forever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-that-to-be-or-not-to-be-forever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/125/jones-very-49363_feel_often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-tha_3074167.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Often and often must he have thought, that, to be or not to be forever, was a question, which must be…” — Jones Very", "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": "Jones Very", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jones-very/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Often and often must he have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-that-to-be-or-not-to-be-forever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jones-very/often-and-often-must-he-have-thought-that-to-be-or-not-to-be-forever/#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 } } ] } ```