--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every life has its actual blanks, which…" description: "\"Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless forever.\" — Julia Ward Howe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg" --- # Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must… ![“Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless forever.” quote by Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg) > “Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless forever.” [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideal aspirations must fill the empty spaces of life, otherwise those gaps remain unproductive and meaningless. **In simple terms:** Ideal goals give purpose to empty parts of life. Key Takeaway Set meaningful goals to fill life’s gaps. Themes purpose idealism fulfillment growth Mood determined thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - creative pursuits Key Concepts meaning potential emptiness Questions to Reflect On - What empty space in your life needs purpose? - How do you balance ideal goals with reality? A Different Perspective Idealism may ignore practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actual Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actual-blanks-6065966/) [Bare Profitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bare-profitless-6065964/) [Blanks Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanks-ideal-6065965/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Profitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profitless-236994/) [Profitless Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profitless-forever-6065963/) ## Related quotes > [“The pity of it was that this discovery, if such it was, now seemed so stale, so profitless to me. What good was it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-rubenfeld/the-pity-of-it-was-that-this-discovery-if-such-it-was-now-seemed-so/) [Jed Rubenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-rubenfeld/) > [When the mind forgets the purpose of Christian life, then even the clear fulfillment of virtue becomes profitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/when-the-mind-forgets-the-purpose-of-christian-life-then-even-the/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [But this is a true saying among men: the gifts of enemies are no gifts and profitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-this-is-a-true-saying-among-men-the-gifts-of-enemies-are-no-gifts/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [I pray thee cease thy counsel, Which falls into mine ears as profitless as water in a sieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-pray-thee-cease-thy-counsel-which-falls-into-mine-ears-as/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I know what I want and what I might gain, and yet, how profitless to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/i-know-what-i-want-and-what-i-might-gain-and-yet-how-profitless-to/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [The most profitless things to manufacture are excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-most-profitless-things-to-manufacture-are-excuses/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The unpleasant events you are passing from will not have been profitless to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-unpleasant-events-you-are-passing-from-will-not-have-been/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Knowledge without labor is profitless. Knowledge with labor is genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/knowledge-without-labor-is-profitless-knowledge-with-labor-is-genius/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [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/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [“What you seem so unwilling to accept, even now, is this: that the ideals which supported the old Republic had no correspondence to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/what-you-seem-so-unwilling-to-accept-even-now-is-this-that-the-ideals/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/i-am-fairly-tired-bored-beyond-endurance-by-the-world-we-live-in-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) ## More by Julia Ward Howe > [We, women of one country, Will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/we-women-of-one-country-will-be-too-tender-of-those-of-another/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/mine-eyes-have-seen-the-glory-of-the-coming-of-the-lord/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [It is not good for beauty that it should be a profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/it-is-not-good-for-beauty-that-it-should-be-a-profession/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [All the sugar was in the bottom of the cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/all-the-sugar-was-in-the-bottom-of-the-cup/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [How utterly are one's best thoughts invaded by this going out in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/how-utterly-are-one-s-best-thoughts-invaded-by-this-going-out-in/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: / He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/mine-eyes-have-seen-the-glory-of-the-coming-of-the-lord-he-is/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Every newly discovered truth judges the world, separates the good from the evil, and calls on faithful souls to make sure of their election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-newly-discovered-truth-judges-the-world-separates-the-good-from/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Every fallen woman represents a man as guilty as herself, who escapes human detection, but whose soul lies open before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-fallen-woman-represents-a-man-as-guilty-as-herself-who-escapes/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [While your life is the true expression of your faith, whom can you fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/while-your-life-is-the-true-expression-of-your-faith-whom-can-you-fear/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [The blind must not only be fed and housed and cared for; they must learn to make thir lives useful to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-blind-must-not-only-be-fed-and-housed-and-cared-for-they-must/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [I have never known my husband to approve any act of mine which I myself valued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/i-have-never-known-my-husband-to-approve-any-act-of-mine-which-i/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [ “\[The ideal aim of life is\] to learn, to teach, to serve, to enjoy!” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-ideal-aim-of-life-is-to-learn-to-teach-to-serve-to-enjoy/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [I take refuge in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/i-take-refuge-in-my-books/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [The language of the face is not taught by the schools; it is intuitive, and to the observant is always legible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-language-of-the-face-is-not-taught-by-the-schools-it-is-intuitive/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [In the nature of things, I must soon lose sight of this sense of constant metamorphosis whose limits bound our human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/in-the-nature-of-things-i-must-soon-lose-sight-of-this-sense-of/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) [Explore all 68 Julia Ward Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) ## More Forever quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [When you find someone you want to spend forever with you, you don't let them go, whether forever turns out to be a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/when-you-find-someone-you-want-to-spend-forever-with-you-you-don-t/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [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/) > [Forever is a really long time, you know? What do you do with forever?" "The same thing you do when you don't have forever."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/forever-is-a-really-long-time-you-know-what-do-you-do-with-forever/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [Whole scenes of your life slip away forever if you don't put them down in ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-house/whole-scenes-of-your-life-slip-away-forever-if-you-don-t-put-them/) [Silas House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-house/) > [Tonight I feel like a prisoner on fire, waiting desperately... denied, sentenced forever more. Only your love can set me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bolton/tonight-i-feel-like-a-prisoner-on-fire-waiting-desperately-denied/) [Michael Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bolton/) > [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [I want to do - I want to be putting out classic stuff that's gonna stick and last forever, you feel me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yg/i-want-to-do-i-want-to-be-putting-out-classic-stuff-that-s-gonna/) [YG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yg/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) [Browse all 10,689 Forever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless forever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julia Ward Howe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-the-ideal-must-fill-up-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forever" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-the-ideal-must-fill-up-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4be/julia-ward-howe-10103_forever_every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-t_789366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every life has its actual blanks, which the ideal must fill up, or which else remain bare & profitless…” — Julia Ward Howe", "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": "Julia Ward Howe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every life has its actual blanks,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-the-ideal-must-fill-up-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/every-life-has-its-actual-blanks-which-the-ideal-must-fill-up-or/#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 } } ] } ```