--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only he who attempts the absurd is…" description: "\"Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.\" — Miguel de Unamuno" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png" --- # Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving… ![“Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.” quote by Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png) > “Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.” [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting the absurd expands possibilities, making the impossible achievable through bold, unconventional actions. **In simple terms:** Embracing absurdity unlocks the impossible. Key Takeaway Dare to act beyond conventional limits. Themes philosophy motivation creativity risk Mood encouraging thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - artistic experimentation - scientific breakthroughs - personal challenges Key Concepts existentialism innovation determination Questions to Reflect On - What absurd ideas could you pursue safely? - How do you measure success in unconventional ventures? A Different Perspective Risk of reckless pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Absurd Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd-capable-5223658/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieving Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieving-impossible-370313/) [Attempts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempts/) [Attempts Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempts-absurd-923599/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) ## Related quotes > [“Only she who attempts the absurd can ever achieve the impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-means-wright/only-she-who-attempts-the-absurd-can-ever-achieve-the-impossible/) [Nancy Means Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-means-wright/) > [Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/only-she-who-attempts-the-absurd-can-achieve-the-impossible/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [“Do not mistakenly define ‘impossible’ as that which is merely difficult. For that creates the sickening illusion that such an incredible and far-reaching feat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/do-not-mistakenly-define-impossible-as-that-which-is-merely-difficult/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“And...how much are we getting paid for achieving the impossible?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-how-much-are-we-getting-paid-for-achieving-the-impossible/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My definition of success is not based on achieving the impossible, but rather surviving the probable. And with a threshold that horribly low, simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/my-definition-of-success-is-not-based-on-achieving-the-impossible-but/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Don't be afraid to dream of achieving the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalane-flanagan/don-t-be-afraid-to-dream-of-achieving-the-impossible/) [Shalane Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalane-flanagan/) > [I am not the best, but I am capable of achieving the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-silva/i-am-not-the-best-but-i-am-capable-of-achieving-the-impossible/) [Anderson Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-silva/) > [Anybody who thinks I'm taking this fight for a paycheck doesn't know me. My whole life I've been achieving the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/anybody-who-thinks-i-m-taking-this-fight-for-a-paycheck-doesn-t-know/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [Don't waste even a minute magnifying your perceived inadequacies. You can't do it all. Why berate yourself for not achieving the impossible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-finerman/don-t-waste-even-a-minute-magnifying-your-perceived-inadequacies-you/) [Karen Finerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-finerman/) > [How dare you ignore me after I've made 0 attempts at talking to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/how-dare-you-ignore-me-after-i-ve-made-0-attempts-at-talking-to-you/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [“Some attempts are still making, but they are inconsiderable in comparison of what might be done if the whole body of Christians entered heartily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/some-attempts-are-still-making-but-they-are-inconsiderable-in/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [Philosophy attempts, not to discover new truths about the world, but to gain a clear view of what we already know and believe about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dummett/philosophy-attempts-not-to-discover-new-truths-about-the-world-but-to/) [Michael Dummett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dummett/) > [Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they 'educate' people about animals should not be taken seriously. Such enterprises are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/attempts-to-defend-amusement-parks-and-circuses-on-the-grounds-that/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [From these inconsiderable attempts, some idea may be formed with what success, should Fortune afford an opportunity, I am likely to treat matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giraldus-cambrensis/from-these-inconsiderable-attempts-some-idea-may-be-formed-with-what/) [Giraldus Cambrensis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giraldus-cambrensis/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Miguel de Unamuno > [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-should-try-to-be-the-parents-of-our-future-rather-than-the/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [We never know, believe me, when we have succeeded best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-never-know-believe-me-when-we-have-succeeded-best/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/a-lot-of-good-arguments-are-spoiled-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Philosophy fulfills the need to create for ourselves a single and complete concept of the world and of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/philosophy-fulfills-the-need-to-create-for-ourselves-a-single-and/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [None are so likely to believe too little as those who have begun by believing too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/none-are-so-likely-to-believe-too-little-as-those-who-have-begun-by/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [The devil is an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-devil-is-an-angel-too/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [My work...is to shatter the faith of men here, there, and everywhere, faith in affirmation, faith in negation, and faith in abstention from faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/my-work-is-to-shatter-the-faith-of-men-here-there-and-everywhere/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“I must not throw away my village to win my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/i-must-not-throw-away-my-village-to-win-my-soul/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Everything that exalts and expands consciousness is good, while that which depresses and diminishes it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/everything-that-exalts-and-expands-consciousness-is-good-while-that/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Was man made for science, or was science made for man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/was-man-made-for-science-or-was-science-made-for-man/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [We need God, not in order to understand the why, but in order to feel and sustain the ultimate wherefore, to give a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-need-god-not-in-order-to-understand-the-why-but-in-order-to-feel/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [To love with the spirit is to pity, and he who pities most loves most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-love-with-the-spirit-is-to-pity-and-he-who-pities-most-loves-most/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [These terrible sociologists, who are the astrologers and alchemists of our twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/these-terrible-sociologists-who-are-the-astrologers-and-alchemists-of/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) [Explore all 153 Miguel de Unamuno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miguel de Unamuno" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capable-of-achieving-the-impossible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absurd" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capable-of-achieving-the-impossible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_absurd_only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capab_2264693.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.” — Miguel de Unamuno", "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": "Miguel de Unamuno", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only he who attempts the absurd...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capable-of-achieving-the-impossible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/only-he-who-attempts-the-absurd-is-capable-of-achieving-the-impossible/#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 } } ] } ```