--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you stop having dreams and ideals…" description: "\"When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.\" — Marian Anderson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png" --- # When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might… ![“When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.” quote by Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png) > “When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.” [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without dreams or ideals, life loses purpose; aspirations give direction and meaning. **In simple terms:** Dreams give life purpose. Key Takeaway Hold onto your aspirations. Themes purpose aspiration motivation Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - Career planning - creative projects - educational pursuits - community volunteering Key Concepts Existentialism goal setting personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What dream fuels your daily actions? - How do you adapt ideals when faced with obstacles? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with harsh realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) ## Related quotes > [One of the powerful temptations is that of the cinema palace. The cinema has undoubtedly an enormous attraction for boys, and people are constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baden-powell/one-of-the-powerful-temptations-is-that-of-the-cinema-palace-the/) [Robert Baden-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baden-powell/) > [Please go for your dreams. Whatever your ideals, you can become whatever you want to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/please-go-for-your-dreams-whatever-your-ideals-you-can-become/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [At times, the most dangerous politicians have been those impelled by dreams and ideals, rather than basic realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/at-times-the-most-dangerous-politicians-have-been-those-impelled-by/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [There is my love... of the young artists of my country who can carry on the dreams and ideals into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-plaskett/there-is-my-love-of-the-young-artists-of-my-country-who-can-carry-on/) [Joseph Plaskett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-plaskett/) > [The American Dream and the American Way are terms which refer to the dreams and ideals of generations of Americans. There is much debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-american-dream-and-the-american-way-are-terms-which-refer-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just because you're sad or weak doesn't give you the right to hurt others. But no matter how hard you try, as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clamp/just-because-you-re-sad-or-weak-doesn-t-give-you-the-right-to-hurt/) [CLAMP](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clamp/) > [“We hold our dreams and ideals close to our hearts, where the promises are made to the future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rachel/we-hold-our-dreams-and-ideals-close-to-our-hearts-where-the-promises/) [John Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rachel/) > [Movies are to our civilization what dreams and ideals are to individual lives: They express the mystery and help define the nature of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pierson/movies-are-to-our-civilization-what-dreams-and-ideals-are-to/) [Frank Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pierson/) > [“Here was a thing he wanted: to stop having dreams of being laughed at by tiny birds with very long legs. Here was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/here-was-a-thing-he-wanted-to-stop-having-dreams-of-being-laughed-at/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [The great blessing of life is the existence of tomorrows - and having dreams to realize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-great-blessing-of-life-is-the-existence-of-tomorrows-and-having/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [They say the universe has a great sense of humor. That sometimes having your dreams come true can feel like a nightmare. Because getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/they-say-the-universe-has-a-great-sense-of-humor-that-sometimes/) [Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/) > [We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/we-should-be-dreaming-we-grew-up-as-kids-having-dreams-but-now-we-re/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [Having goals in life is far different than having dreams. Dreams is just a series of thoughts and images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/having-goals-in-life-is-far-different-than-having-dreams-dreams-is/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [It's a really scary thing, having your dreams come true and seeing everything you ever wanted happening, getting the attention for it and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samaire-armstrong/it-s-a-really-scary-thing-having-your-dreams-come-true-and-seeing/) [Samaire Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samaire-armstrong/) ## More by Marian Anderson > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-dares-to-take-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [“Sometimes racial prejudice is like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-racial-prejudice-is-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/leadership-should-be-born-out-of-the-understanding-of-the-needs-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/fear-is-a-disease-that-eats-away-at-logic-and-makes-man-inhuman/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I forgave the DAR many years ago. You lose a lot of time hating people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-forgave-the-dar-many-years-ago-you-lose-a-lot-of-time-hating-people/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prejudice: Sometimes it's like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prejudice-sometimes-it-s-like-a-hair-across-your-cheek-you-can-t-see/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [I have a great belief in the future of my people and my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/i-have-a-great-belief-in-the-future-of-my-people-and-my-country/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [None of us is responsible for the complexion of his skin. This fact of nature offers no clue to the character or quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/none-of-us-is-responsible-for-the-complexion-of-his-skin-this-fact-of/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Sometimes you're overwhelmed when a thing comes, and you do not realize the magnitude of the affair at that moment. When you get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/sometimes-you-re-overwhelmed-when-a-thing-comes-and-you-do-not/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/the-minute-a-person-whose-word-means-a-great-deal-to-others-dare-to/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/there-are-many-persons-ready-to-do-what-is-right-because-in-their/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Prayer begins where human capacity ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/prayer-begins-where-human-capacity-ends/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [Everyone has a gift for something, even if it is the gift of being a good friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/everyone-has-a-gift-for-something-even-if-it-is-the-gift-of-being-a/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) > [You can't build a chimney from the top, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/you-can-t-build-a-chimney-from-the-top-you-know/) [Marian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) [Explore all 30 Marian Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marian Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dream" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/marian-anderson-20831_dream_when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-w_1405166.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you stop having dreams and ideals - well, you might as well stop altogether.” — Marian Anderson", "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": "Marian Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you stop having dreams and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-anderson/when-you-stop-having-dreams-and-ideals-well-you-might-as-well-stop/#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 } } ] } ```