--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why will we struggle to attain, and…" description: "\"Why will we struggle to attain, and strive, When all we gain is but an empty dream?-- Better, unto my thinking, doth it seem To end it all and let who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/madison-cawein-34575_attain_why-will-we-struggle-to-attain-and-striv_1636114.jpg" --- # Why will we struggle to attain, and strive, When all we… ![“Why will we struggle to attain, and strive, When all we gain is but an empty dream?-- Better, unto my thinking, doth it seem To end it all and let who will survive; To find at last all beauty is but dust; That love and sorrow are the very same; That joy is only suffering's sweeter name; And sense…” quote by Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/madison-cawein-34575_attain_why-will-we-struggle-to-attain-and-striv_1636114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/madison-cawein-34575_attain_why-will-we-struggle-to-attain-and-striv_1636114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bd/madison-cawein-34575_attain_why-will-we-struggle-to-attain-and-striv_1636114.jpg) > “Why will we struggle to attain, and strive, When all we gain is but an empty dream?-- Better, unto my thinking, doth it seem To end it all and let who will survive; To find at last all beauty is but dust; That love and sorrow are the very same; That joy is only suffering's sweeter name; And sense is but the synonym of lust. Far better, yea, to me it seems to die; To set glad lips against the lips of Death-- The only thing God gives that comforteth, The only thing we do not find a lie.” [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s pursuits feel empty; death offers release, love and sorrow intertwine, and sense is fleeting. **In simple terms:** Life seems empty; death feels like relief. Key Takeaway Reflect on meaning beyond material gain. Themes existential death illusion Mood somber contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief - creative writing - personal crisis - philosophical debate Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life purpose? - How do you balance joy and suffering? A Different Perspective Optimism may overlook practical joys. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Women are degraded by the propensity to enjoy the present moment, and, at last, despise the freedom which they have not sufficient virtue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/women-are-degraded-by-the-propensity-to-enjoy-the-present-moment-and/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [You have tens, hundreds of thousands of people in government, and just as many among contractors, who feel totally comfortable writing at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/you-have-tens-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-in-government-and-just/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) > [The closest synonym of happiness is excitement, and you can generate it by doing something that you can't completely comprehend. This understanding makes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/the-closest-synonym-of-happiness-is-excitement-and-you-can-generate/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [To call the world God is not to explain it; it is only to enrich our language with a superfluous synonym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/to-call-the-world-god-is-not-to-explain-it-it-is-only-to-enrich-our/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Maybe to try to understand not just that we are living in a certain building or in a certain location, but to become aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-gursky/maybe-to-try-to-understand-not-just-that-we-are-living-in-a-certain/) [Andreas Gursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-gursky/) > [Our political establishment refuses to use the word 'segregated.' They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/our-political-establishment-refuses-to-use-the-word-segregated-they/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [What I like most about change is that it's a synonym for 'hope'. If you're taking a risk, what you are really saying is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ellerbee/what-i-like-most-about-change-is-that-it-s-a-synonym-for-hope-if-you/) [Linda Ellerbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ellerbee/) > [Mother is a synonym for abandonment and death. Comparing this synonym to water, it is like poured-out water. I call it mother, the identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyesoon/mother-is-a-synonym-for-abandonment-and-death-comparing-this-synonym/) [Kim Hyesoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyesoon/) > [People do complain about the way I act on stage... They think on stage I act too arrogant, too self-obsessed, solecistic, self-contained, synonyms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-do-complain-about-the-way-i-act-on-stage-they-think-on-stage-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I'd rather fiddle with my phone for precious seconds than neglect an apostrophe; I'd rather insert a word laboriously keyed out than resort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/i-d-rather-fiddle-with-my-phone-for-precious-seconds-than-neglect-an/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-synonym-is-a-word-you-use-when-you-can-t-spell-the-other-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Providence and Manifest Destiny are synonyms often invoked to support arguments based on wishful thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/providence-and-manifest-destiny-are-synonyms-often-invoked-to-support/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Ideation is not a synonym for innovation, conformity is not its simple antonym, and innovation is not the automatic consequence of "creative thinking.".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-levitt/ideation-is-not-a-synonym-for-innovation-conformity-is-not-its-simple/) [Theodore Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-levitt/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) ## More by Madison Cawein > [When the hornet hangs in the hollyhock, And the brown bee drones in the rose, And the west is a red-streaked four-o'clock, And summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/when-the-hornet-hangs-in-the-hollyhock-and-the-brown-bee-drones-in/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [Into the sunset's turquoise marge The moon dips, like a pearly barge; Enchantment sails through magic seas, To fairland Hesperides, Over the hills and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/into-the-sunset-s-turquoise-marge-the-moon-dips-like-a-pearly-barge/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [Though sands be black and bitter black the sea, Night lie before me and behind me night, And God within far Heaven refuse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/though-sands-be-black-and-bitter-black-the-sea-night-lie-before-me/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [Some shall reap that never sow And some shall toil and not attain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/some-shall-reap-that-never-sow-and-some-shall-toil-and-not-attain/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [I am a part of all you see In Nature: part of all you feel: I am the impact of the bee Upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/i-am-a-part-of-all-you-see-in-nature-part-of-all-you-feel-i-am-the/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [This is the truth as I see it, my dear, Out in the wind and the rain: They who have nothing have little to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/this-is-the-truth-as-i-see-it-my-dear-out-in-the-wind-and-the-rain/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [When Death hath poured oblivion through my veins, And brought me home, as all are brought, to lie In that vast house, common to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/when-death-hath-poured-oblivion-through-my-veins-and-brought-me-home/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [Again let us dream where the land lies sunny And live, like the bees, on our hearts' old honey, Away from the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/again-let-us-dream-where-the-land-lies-sunny-and-live-like-the-bees/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [At daybreak Morn shall come to meIn raiment of the white winds spun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/at-daybreak-morn-shall-come-to-mein-raiment-of-the-white-winds-spun/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [Old homes! old hearts! Upon my soul forever Their peace and gladness lie like tears and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/old-homes-old-hearts-upon-my-soul-forever-their-peace-and-gladness/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [And some by hours; Some measure days by dreams And some by flowers; My heart alone records My days and hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/and-some-by-hours-some-measure-days-by-dreams-and-some-by-flowers-my/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [There are haunters of the silence, ghosts that hold the heart and brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/there-are-haunters-of-the-silence-ghosts-that-hold-the-heart-and-brain/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) > [What magic shall solve us the secretOf beauty that's born for an hour?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawein/what-magic-shall-solve-us-the-secretof-beauty-that-s-born-for-an-hour/) [Madison Cawein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) [Explore all 14 Madison Cawein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawein/) ## More Attain quotes > [Nothing was ever in any man that is not in you; no man ever had more spiritual or mental power than you can attain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/nothing-was-ever-in-any-man-that-is-not-in-you-no-man-ever-had-more/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/anything-you-really-want-you-can-attain-if-you-really-go-after-it/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“one could not attain greater personal excellence without also paving the way for everyone else in society to attain it as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-phillips/one-could-not-attain-greater-personal-excellence-without-also-paving/) [Christopher Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-phillips/) > [I'm friends with a lot of Brits, and they tell me when they're over here what a huge phenomenon 'The Wire' has become. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ransone/i-m-friends-with-a-lot-of-brits-and-they-tell-me-when-they-re-over/) [James Ransone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ransone/) > [Wanting is not enough, long and you attain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/wanting-is-not-enough-long-and-you-attain-it/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [Do not sit down in Satan's easy chair of do-little, but arise and aim at the elevated standard which it is your privilege to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/do-not-sit-down-in-satan-s-easy-chair-of-do-little-but-arise-and-aim/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Expect the best, not the worst, and you will attain your heart's desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/expect-the-best-not-the-worst-and-you-will-attain-your-heart-s-desire/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Endeavor to work as hard as possible to attain a new aim with each day that comes by. Don't go to bed until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aliko-dangote/endeavor-to-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-attain-a-new-aim-with-each/) [Aliko Dangote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aliko-dangote/) > [The required demeanor each individual has to attain is to fathom. Success is surrendering thinking about the situation your in, work hard, and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-melvin-jr/the-required-demeanor-each-individual-has-to-attain-is-to-fathom/) [Kenneth Melvin Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-melvin-jr/) > [Those who would attain to any marked degree of excellence in a chosen pursuit must work, and work hard for it, prince or peasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/those-who-would-attain-to-any-marked-degree-of-excellence-in-a-chosen/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Attain the unattainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/attain-the-unattainable/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [We are aware that in 2005 our efforts to preserve the stability and prestige of the Republic of Bulgaria in the area of foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-aware-that-in-2005-our-efforts-to-preserve-the-stability-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the undocumented have to work hard to attain citizenship, those of us who already are citizens should have to work hard to sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/if-the-undocumented-have-to-work-hard-to-attain-citizenship-those-of/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [We will not attain a state of perfection in this life, but we can and should press forward with faith in Christ along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/we-will-not-attain-a-state-of-perfection-in-this-life-but-we-can-and/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [“Most sane human beings who have managed to attain and retain fame each uses it to dramatically increase their name’s chances of being remembered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-sane-human-beings-who-have-managed-to-attain-and-retain-fame/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) Browse all 113 Attain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why will we struggle to attain, and strive, When all we gain is but an empty dream?-- Better, unto my thinking, doth it seem To end it all and let who will survive; To find at last all beauty is but dust; That love and sorrow are the very same; That joy is only suffering's sweeter name; And sense is but the synonym of lust. 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