--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're not goal-striving, not…" description: "\"When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.\" — Maxwell Maltz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png" --- # When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're… ![“When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.” quote by Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png) > “When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.” [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living fully requires forward momentum; without goals, life feels stagnant. **In simple terms:** Goals give life direction. Key Takeaway Set clear goals to stay alive. Themes motivation goal-setting purpose Mood inspirational pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily planning - career advancement - fitness training - creative pursuits Key Concepts self-improvement psychology Questions to Reflect On - What small goal can you start today? - How do you balance goal pursuit with presence? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on goals may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving/) ## Related quotes > [“I will never abandon one opportunity and wait for another. We have not reached the goal we are striving for. What you see now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-never-abandon-one-opportunity-and-wait-for-another-we-have-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One thing you must never lose is courage. If you believe in the goal you are striving for, you will be courageous. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigesato-itoi/one-thing-you-must-never-lose-is-courage-if-you-believe-in-the-goal/) Shigesato Itoi > [“The end goal of all of this striving is to live joyfully, and that there are often more direct ways of achieving this than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-end-goal-of-all-of-this-striving-is-to-live-joyfully-and-that/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [To the family is entrusted the task of striving, first and foremost, to unleash the forces of good...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/to-the-family-is-entrusted-the-task-of-striving-first-and-foremost-to/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [I do write about people who are complex and are striving with something and can't quite get past their own stuff, which would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bogosian/i-do-write-about-people-who-are-complex-and-are-striving-with/) [Eric Bogosian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bogosian/) > [Be in this moment, and free yourself of striving for something more or someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-this-moment-and-free-yourself-of-striving-for-something-more-or/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Those with certain temperaments find no way to endure themselves except by striving towards going under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/those-with-certain-temperaments-find-no-way-to-endure-themselves/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Striving for excellence is a positive quality. Striving for perfection is self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/striving-for-excellence-is-a-positive-quality-striving-for-perfection/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Then what difference does human striving make: mortal struggle, valor, pain? If you live, then live for the test of spirit, for the celebration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/then-what-difference-does-human-striving-make-mortal-struggle-valor/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [I'm constantly striving to break through to something new. You try to maintain a neutral approach to your work, and not be too hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/i-m-constantly-striving-to-break-through-to-something-new-you-try-to/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [In striving for the best, in losing onself in others, one is lifted above the common material furniture of life, above the gaudy trappings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-brown/in-striving-for-the-best-in-losing-onself-in-others-one-is-lifted/) [Olympia Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-brown/) > [Our salvation is in striving to achieve what we know we'll never achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/our-salvation-is-in-striving-to-achieve-what-we-know-we-ll-never/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-important-human-endeavor-is-the-striving-for-morality-in-our/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It's not about perfection; it's about the joy of striving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/it-s-not-about-perfection-it-s-about-the-joy-of-striving/) [Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/) > [Faith, courage, optimism, looking forward, bring us new life and more life. Futility, frustration, living in the past are not only characteristic of 'old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/faith-courage-optimism-looking-forward-bring-us-new-life-and-more/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More by Maxwell Maltz > [This Creative Mechanism within you is impersonal. It will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness, or unhappiness and failure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/this-creative-mechanism-within-you-is-impersonal-it-will-work/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you're stalled, “standing still”.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-automatic-guidance-system-cannot-guide-you-when-you-re-stalled/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You can do only one thing at a time. I simply tackle one problem and concentrate all efforts on what I am doing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-simply-tackle-one-problem-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Within you, whoever you may be, regardless of how big a failure you may think yourself to be, is the ability and the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/within-you-whoever-you-may-be-regardless-of-how-big-a-failure-you-may/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle. A bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it's moving forward towards something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/functionally-a-man-is-somewhat-like-a-bicycle-a-bicycle-maintains-its/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Faith, courage, optimism, looking forward, bring us new life and more life. Futility, frustration, living in the past are not only characteristic of 'old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/faith-courage-optimism-looking-forward-bring-us-new-life-and-more/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-make-friends-with-yourself-you-will-never-be-alone/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [People who say that life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile. Prescription: Get yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/people-who-say-that-life-is-not-worthwhile-are-really-saying-that/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person's feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/take-the-trouble-to-stop-and-think-of-the-other-person-s-feelings-his/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your present negative beliefs were formed by thought PLUS feelings. Generate enough emotion, or deep feeling and your new thoughts and ideas will cancel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-present-negative-beliefs-were-formed-by-thought-plus-feelings/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The greatest miracle you can hope for is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-greatest-miracle-you-can-hope-for-is-self-acceptance/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/get-yourself-a-goal-worth-working-for-better-still-get-yourself-a/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [For imagination sets the goal picture which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of will, as is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/for-imagination-sets-the-goal-picture-which-our-automatic-mechanism/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you wait until circumstances justify your thinking pleasant thoughts, you are likely to wait forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-wait-until-circumstances-justify-your-thinking-pleasant/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) [Explore all 130 Maxwell Maltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## More Goal 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“my role my goal my dream my life not yours -all mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-sisk/my-role-my-goal-my-dream-my-life-not-yours-all-mine/) Emi Sisk > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Everybody tries to score a great goal, and I am lucky I have netted a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everybody-tries-to-score-a-great-goal-and-i-am-lucky-i-have-netted-a/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [When you look around the room during meetings and practice, you see that everyone has the same goal. It's obvious by the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kendricks/when-you-look-around-the-room-during-meetings-and-practice-you-see/) Eric Kendricks > [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) [Browse all 9,890 Goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxwell Maltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-looking-forward-you-re-not-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-looking-forward-you-re-not-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/maxwell-maltz-3463_goal_when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-lookin_3199146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.” — Maxwell Maltz", "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": "Maxwell Maltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you're not goal-striving, not looking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-looking-forward-you-re-not-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/when-you-re-not-goal-striving-not-looking-forward-you-re-not-really/#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 } } ] } ```