--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Long ago I yearned to be a hero without…" description: "\"Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth, what a hero was. Now, perhaps, I understand it a little better. A grower of turnips or a sha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/lloyd-alexander-1645_clay_long-ago-i-yearned-to-be-a-hero-without_2328148.jpg" --- # Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth… ![“Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth, what a hero was. Now, perhaps, I understand it a little better. A grower of turnips or a shaper of clay, a Commot farmer or a king--every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone. Once you told me that the seeking…” quote by Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/lloyd-alexander-1645_clay_long-ago-i-yearned-to-be-a-hero-without_2328148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/lloyd-alexander-1645_clay_long-ago-i-yearned-to-be-a-hero-without_2328148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea3/lloyd-alexander-1645_clay_long-ago-i-yearned-to-be-a-hero-without_2328148.jpg) > “Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth, what a hero was. Now, perhaps, I understand it a little better. A grower of turnips or a shaper of clay, a Commot farmer or a king--every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone. Once you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.” [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on evolving understanding of heroism, emphasizing selflessness and effort over fame. **In simple terms:** Heroism = selfless effort. Key Takeaway Strive for others, not self. Themes heroism selflessness growth Mood hopeful motivational Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - team projects - community service Key Concepts ethical leadership purpose Questions to Reflect On - What small acts make you a hero? - How can you inspire others? A Different Perspective Heroic acts can be overlooked or undervalued. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/every-man-is-a-hero-if-he-strives-more-for-others-than-for-himself/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“A grower of turnups Or shaper of clay, a commot Farmer or a king-Every man is a hero if he strives more for others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/a-grower-of-turnups-or-shaper-of-clay-a-commot-farmer-or-a-king-every/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Nobody, they say, is a hero to his valet. Of course; for a man must be a hero to understand a hero. The valet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nobody-they-say-is-a-hero-to-his-valet-of-course-for-a-man-must-be-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [As I see it, part of the art of being a hero is knowing when you don't need to be one anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/as-i-see-it-part-of-the-art-of-being-a-hero-is-knowing-when-you-don-t/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“Today the word "hero" has been diminished. confused with "celebrity." But in my father's generation the word meant something. celebrities seek fame. They take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bradley/today-the-word-hero-has-been-diminished-confused-with-celebrity-but/) [james bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bradley/) > [“The existential hero strives for authenticity even when it is costly, lives meaningfully in the midst of a banal, absurd world, and confronts rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-dias/the-existential-hero-strives-for-authenticity-even-when-it-is-costly/) Jason Dias > [No man is a hero to his own valet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-a-hero-to-his-own-valet/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every man is the hero of his own song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tad-williams/every-man-is-the-hero-of-his-own-song/) [Tad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tad-williams/) > [No man is a hero to his valet de chamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/no-man-is-a-hero-to-his-valet-de-chamber/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“No man is a hero to his valet. This is not because the hero is not a hero, but because the valet is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/no-man-is-a-hero-to-his-valet-this-is-not-because-the-hero-is-not-a/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [If Hero means sincere man, why may not every one of us be a Hero?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/if-hero-means-sincere-man-why-may-not-every-one-of-us-be-a-hero/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [A man can be a hero in any profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/a-man-can-be-a-hero-in-any-profession/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for 10 minutes longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-a-hero-not-because-he-is-braver-than-anyone-else-but-because/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Every man is a hero of his own story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/every-man-is-a-hero-of-his-own-story/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Dad," said Will, his voice very faint. "Are you a good person?" "To you and your mother, yes, I try. But no man's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/dad-said-will-his-voice-very-faint-are-you-a-good-person-to-you-and/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Lloyd Alexander > [“There are heroes and heroes. I don't deny he's acted bravely on occasion. He's fought beside Lord Gwydion and been proud of himself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/there-are-heroes-and-heroes-i-don-t-deny-he-s-acted-bravely-on/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“I shall not lie!" Eilonwy cried, "not for this traitor and deserter." "It is not for him," Taran said quietly, "but for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-shall-not-lie-eilonwy-cried-not-for-this-traitor-and-deserter-it-is/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“He learned that the lives of men are short and filled with pain, yet each one a priceless treasure, whether it be that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/he-learned-that-the-lives-of-men-are-short-and-filled-with-pain-yet/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [King Constantine IX of Regia had been killed three times and was bored with it. He wanted a bath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/king-constantine-ix-of-regia-had-been-killed-three-times-and-was/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“There is an exuberance in good fantasy quite unlike the most exalted moments of realistic fiction. 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Had I given it more thought, I would have called you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/forgive-me-i-called-you-an-idiot-i-spoke-too-hastily-you-are-not-had/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“On the level of high art, in their common efforts to express human truths, relationships, attitudes, and personal visions, children's literature and adult literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/on-the-level-of-high-art-in-their-common-efforts-to-express-human/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [What seems to be love beyond any question is usually a simple case of indigestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/what-seems-to-be-love-beyond-any-question-is-usually-a-simple-case-of/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [The art is more important than the artist. The work is more important than the person who does it. You must be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/the-art-is-more-important-than-the-artist-the-work-is-more-important/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“Once," he added, "you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/once-he-added-you-told-me-that-the-seeking-counts-more-than-the/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [I came to fantasy fairly late. For some ten years, I had been happily writing fiction and non-fiction for adults. But I always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/i-came-to-fantasy-fairly-late-for-some-ten-years-i-had-been-happily/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Talented people are finding that writing for young people is as demanding of high quality as writing for adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/talented-people-are-finding-that-writing-for-young-people-is-as/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [“In some cases we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/in-some-cases-we-learn-more-by-looking-for-the-answer-to-a-question/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [A crown is more discomfort than adornment. If you have learned that, you have already learned much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/a-crown-is-more-discomfort-than-adornment-if-you-have-learned-that/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) [Explore all 220 Lloyd Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) ## More Clay quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. 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