--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our most emotionally active life is lived…" description: "\"Our most emotionally active life is lived in our dreams, and our cells renew themselves most industriously in sleep. We reach highest in meditation, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/leonard-bernstein-10475_active_our-most-emotionally-active-life-is-live_264692.jpg" --- # Our most emotionally active life is lived in our dreams… ![“Our most emotionally active life is lived in our dreams, and our cells renew themselves most industriously in sleep. We reach highest in meditation, and farthest in prayer. In stillness every human being is great; he is free from the experience of hostility; he is a poet, and most like an angel.” quote by Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/leonard-bernstein-10475_active_our-most-emotionally-active-life-is-live_264692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/leonard-bernstein-10475_active_our-most-emotionally-active-life-is-live_264692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/leonard-bernstein-10475_active_our-most-emotionally-active-life-is-live_264692.jpg) > “Our most emotionally active life is lived in our dreams, and our cells renew themselves most industriously in sleep. We reach highest in meditation, and farthest in prayer. In stillness every human being is great; he is free from the experience of hostility; he is a poet, and most like an angel.” [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dreams and sleep foster emotional vitality and cellular renewal; meditation and prayer expand consciousness, granting inner freedom and poetic insight. **In simple terms:** Dreams and sleep boost emotion; meditation expands mind. Key Takeaway Cultivate stillness for growth. Themes creativity spirituality wellness Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - creative work - health routines - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology neuroscience mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does stillness change your self‑perception? - What practices help you access this inner greatness? A Different Perspective Sleep alone cannot replace active practice and disciplined effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-life/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Our dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-dreams/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serenity/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness/) ## Related quotes > [Stillness is our most intense mode of action. 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If you can remain one moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/meditation-is-a-sort-of-prayer-and-prayer-is-meditation-the-highest/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [You know, Monsieur, that, although the contemplative life is more perfect than the active life, it is not, however, more so than one which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/you-know-monsieur-that-although-the-contemplative-life-is-more/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [The anorexic is the fuse nakedly exposed to the direct power of modern media, a psyche whose wiring has no insulation. The anorexic is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-anorexic-is-the-fuse-nakedly-exposed-to-the-direct-power-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [“An active life serves the purpose of giving man the opportunity to realize values in creative work, while a passive life of enjoyment affords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/an-active-life-serves-the-purpose-of-giving-man-the-opportunity-to/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Judaism is not a passive religion, but an active life factor which has coalesced with the national consciousness into one organic whole. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-hess/judaism-is-not-a-passive-religion-but-an-active-life-factor-which-has/) [Moses Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-hess/) > [“Donald Watson, who founded The Vegan Society in 1944 and who lived a healthy, active life until passing on in 2005, maintained that dairy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garylfrancione/donald-watson-who-founded-the-vegan-society-in-1944-and-who-lived-a/) [GaryLFrancione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garylfrancione/) > [Clearly older women and especially older women who have led an active life or elder women who successfully maneuver through their own family life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/clearly-older-women-and-especially-older-women-who-have-led-an-active/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [In the active life all the vices are first of all to be removed by the practice of good works, so that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidore-of-seville/in-the-active-life-all-the-vices-are-first-of-all-to-be-removed-by/) [Isidore of Seville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidore-of-seville/) > [I'm lucky enough to lead a very active life, so I'm always on the go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-m-lucky-enough-to-lead-a-very-active-life-so-i-m-always-on-the-go/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [Society is the true sphere of human virtue. In social, active life, difficulties will perpetually be met with; restraints of many kinds will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-carter/society-is-the-true-sphere-of-human-virtue-in-social-active-life/) Elizabeth Carter > [We're encouraged by the engagement on ClassPass and the tremendous growth we've had that shows we are fulfilling our mission of helping people live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-kadakia/we-re-encouraged-by-the-engagement-on-classpass-and-the-tremendous/) [Payal Kadakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-kadakia/) > [An impression which simply flows in at the pupil's eyes or ears and in no way modifies his active life, is an impression gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/an-impression-which-simply-flows-in-at-the-pupil-s-eyes-or-ears-and/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“In his own way each man must struggle, lest the moral law become a far-off abstraction utterly separated from his active life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/in-his-own-way-each-man-must-struggle-lest-the-moral-law-become-a-far/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) ## More by Leonard Bernstein > [A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/a-liberal-is-a-man-or-a-woman-or-a-child-who-looks-forward-to-a/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [I think it is time we learned the lesson of our century: that the progress of the human spirit must keep pace with technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/i-think-it-is-time-we-learned-the-lesson-of-our-century-that-the/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Conducting is like making love to a hundred people at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/conducting-is-like-making-love-to-a-hundred-people-at-the-same-time/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [I'm no longer quite sure what the question is, but I do know that the answer is Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/i-m-no-longer-quite-sure-what-the-question-is-but-i-do-know-that-the/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/music-can-name-the-unnameable-and-communicate-the-unknowable/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Any asshole can write a tone-row. It takes a composer to write a tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/any-asshole-can-write-a-tone-row-it-takes-a-composer-to-write-a-tune/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/from-new-year-s-on-the-outlook-brightens-good-humor-lost-in-a-mood-of/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Music, because of its specific and far-reaching metaphorical powers, can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/music-because-of-its-specific-and-far-reaching-metaphorical-powers/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Einstein said that the most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. So why do so many of us try to explain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/einstein-said-that-the-most-beautiful-experience-we-can-have-is-the/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [When the thunder rumbles, Now the age of gold is dead. When the dreams we've clung to Trying to stay young, Have left us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/when-the-thunder-rumbles-now-the-age-of-gold-is-dead-when-the-dreams/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... 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