--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The goal that you hope you will one day…" description: "\"“The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to possess right now, if only you do not deny it to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg" --- # The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a… ![“The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to possess right now, if only you do not deny it to yourself. That is, if you can let go of the past, entrust the future to Providence and redirect the present according to justice and the sacred. To…” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg) > ““The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to possess right now, if only you do not deny it to yourself. That is, if you can let go of the past, entrust the future to Providence and redirect the present according to justice and the sacred. To the sacred, so that you welcome what has been given to you, for Nature has brought this to you, and you to it; and to justice, in order that you may speak the truth freely and without distortion, and that you may act in accordance with what is lawful and right. Do not allow yourself to be hindered by the harmful actions, judgments, or the words of another, or by the sensations of the flesh which has formed itself around you. Let the body take care of those. But if, when you have come to the end, having let go of all other things, you honor only your guiding part and the divinity that is within you, and you do not fear ceasing to live so much as you fear never having begun to live in accordance with Nature--then you will be a man who is worth of the Cosmos that created you; and you will cease to live like a stranger in your own land, that is, surprised at unexpected everyday occurrences and wholly distracted by this and that.”” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges embracing the present as the true goal, releasing past burdens, trusting fate, and acting justly, so one can live authentically with nature and the cosmos. **In simple terms:** Live now, let go of past, act justly, trust nature. Key Takeaway Accept the present, act with justice. Themes self‑realization philosophy inner peace justice nature spirituality Mood reflective calm inspirational Type philosophical motivational spiritual When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - overcoming criticism - mindful living - ethical actions - spiritual practice Key Concepts Stoicism self‑mastery determinism Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice justice when others oppose you? - What does “letting go of the past” look like daily? A Different Perspective It may ignore practical constraints of external obligations and societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Death is an illusion. It is the way to rebirth or ascension. It is the point when you realise that you are the spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/death-is-an-illusion-it-is-the-way-to-rebirth-or-ascension-it-is-the/) [Ana Rangel & Gerry O'malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-rangel-gerry-o-malley/) > [To live in accordance with how one thinks. Be yourself and don't try to impose your criteria on the rest. I don't expect others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/to-live-in-accordance-with-how-one-thinks-be-yourself-and-don-t-try/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-brazelton/those-who-live-according-to-the-sinful-nature-have-their-minds-set-on-2/) Katherine Brazelton > [Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/above-all-things-one-should-maintain-his-self-respect-and-there-is/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [To live like we are supposed to, we need to listen to our blood, so to speak. Our paganism is in our blood, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/to-live-like-we-are-supposed-to-we-need-to-listen-to-our-blood-so-to/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [ “\[Jesus said\] If you abide in My word \[hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them\], you are truly My disciples.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/jesus-said-if-you-abide-in-my-word-hold-fast-to-my-teachings-and-live/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [When people live in accordance with Nature, the song of life becomes sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/when-people-live-in-accordance-with-nature-the-song-of-life-becomes/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Whatever befalls in accordance with nature should be accounted good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/whatever-befalls-in-accordance-with-nature-should-be-accounted-good/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Tao asks you to clearly see the parallels between you and this naturally flowing substance that allows life to sustain itself. Live as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/the-tao-asks-you-to-clearly-see-the-parallels-between-you-and-this/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-life-is-one-which-is-in-accordance-with-its-own-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All art is concerned with coming into being; for it is concerned neither with things that are, or come into being by necessity, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-art-is-concerned-with-coming-into-being-for-it-is-concerned/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Unless man have a natural bent in accordance with nature's, he has no chance of understanding nature at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/unless-man-have-a-natural-bent-in-accordance-with-nature-s-he-has-no/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [The end may be defined as life in accordance with nature or, in other words, in accordance with our own human nature as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeno-of-citium/the-end-may-be-defined-as-life-in-accordance-with-nature-or-in-other/) [Zeno of Citium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeno-of-citium/) > [One who lives in accordance with nature does not go against the way of things but moves in harmony with the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/one-who-lives-in-accordance-with-nature-does-not-go-against-the-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Nature does nothing in vain. Therefore, it is imperative for persons to act in accordance with their nature and develop their latent talents, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/nature-does-nothing-in-vain-therefore-it-is-imperative-for-persons-to/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-befalls-any-man-which-he-is-not-fitted-to-endure/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to possess right now, if only you do not deny it to yourself. That is, if you can let go of the past, entrust the future to Providence and redirect the present according to justice and the sacred. To the sacred, so that you welcome what has been given to you, for Nature has brought this to you, and you to it; and to justice, in order that you may speak the truth freely and without distortion, and that you may act in accordance with what is lawful and right. Do not allow yourself to be hindered by the harmful actions, judgments, or the words of another, or by the sensations of the flesh which has formed itself around you. Let the body take care of those. But if, when you have come to the end, having let go of all other things, you honor only your guiding part and the divinity that is within you, and you do not fear ceasing to live so much as you fear never having begun to live in accordance with Nature--then you will be a man who is worth of the Cosmos that created you; and you will cease to live like a stranger in your own land, that is, surprised at unexpected everyday occurrences and wholly distracted by this and that.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Aurelius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day-arrive-at-after-a-long-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day-arrive-at-after-a-long-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82b/marcus-aurelius-139_goals_the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day_2063766.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The goal that you hope you will one day arrive at after a long and roundabout journey you are able to…” — Marcus Aurelius", "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": "Marcus Aurelius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The goal that you hope you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day-arrive-at-after-a-long-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-goal-that-you-hope-you-will-one-day-arrive-at-after-a-long-and/#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 } } ] } ```