--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest achievement was, at first…" description: "\"The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time, but a dream.\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg" --- # The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time… ![“The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time, but a dream.” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg) > “The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time, but a dream.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements often start as distant dreams before becoming reality. **In simple terms:** Dreams precede success. Key Takeaway Nurture your vision into action. Themes ambition success dreams Mood inspired hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - creative endeavors Key Concepts goal setting perseverance motivation Questions to Reflect On - What dream are you ready to pursue? - How will you turn vision into steps? A Different Perspective Dreams alone are insufficient without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Angelic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angelic/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Greatest achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-achievement/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Cherish the music that stirs in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/cherish-the-music-that-stirs-in-your-heart/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every time I have a dream, somehow I accomplish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/every-time-i-have-a-dream-somehow-i-accomplish-it/) [Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/) > [I never had time to dream about being anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-never-had-time-to-dream-about-being-anyone-else/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [“The world is the unfolding in time of all that we dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elio-d-anna/the-world-is-the-unfolding-in-time-of-all-that-we-dream/) Elio D'Anna > [“Take the time to dream and take the risk to realize your dreams!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/take-the-time-to-dream-and-take-the-risk-to-realize-your-dreams/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [“Dreams that last hold secrets from the past. Out of reach. Impossible to breach. Fragile to clutch. Fleeting to touch. Like stars and snowflakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodee-neathery/dreams-that-last-hold-secrets-from-the-past-out-of-reach-impossible/) [JoDee Neathery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodee-neathery/) > [I think mystery... allows us time to dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-think-mystery-allows-us-time-to-dream/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [Dreams are practical reflections of feelings and concerns that were present in your mind at the time you had the dream. You are smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-practical-reflections-of-feelings-and-concerns-that-were/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [If you ever ask me what my all-time dream character is, my answer will be Mia Tansen, the great composer-musician in Hindustani classical music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-shroff/if-you-ever-ask-me-what-my-all-time-dream-character-is-my-answer-will/) [Jackie Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-shroff/) > [Every time I do dream, it's always some kind of action film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-wang/every-time-i-do-dream-it-s-always-some-kind-of-action-film/) [Jackson Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-wang/) > [It has been a long-time dream of mine to be part of the Indian team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/it-has-been-a-long-time-dream-of-mine-to-be-part-of-the-indian-team/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [Making music all the time was my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kygo/making-music-all-the-time-was-my-dream/) [Kygo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kygo/) > [Take time to dream.. It is the breath to happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-time-to-dream-it-is-the-breath-to-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Time is a dream - or a nightmare - from which there is never any waking. We who travel in Time are dreamers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/time-is-a-dream-or-a-nightmare-from-which-there-is-never-any-waking/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [Always time to dream, so keep on dreaming!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-salaam-el-razzac/always-time-to-dream-so-keep-on-dreaming/) Abdul Salaam El Razzac ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More A man thinketh quotes > [He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/he-who-cherishes-a-beautiful-vision-a-lofty-ideal-in-his-heart-will/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [The Bible says, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dyan-cannon/the-bible-says-as-a-man-thinketh-in-his-heart-so-is-he/) [Dyan Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dyan-cannon/) > [Cherish the music that stirs in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/cherish-the-music-that-stirs-in-your-heart/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/man-is-buffeted-by-circumstances-so-long-as-he-believes-himself-to-be/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [By consequence, or train of thoughts, I understand that succession of one thought to another which is called, to distinguish it from discourse in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/by-consequence-or-train-of-thoughts-i-understand-that-succession-of/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [The art of thinking is the greatest art of all, for 'as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.' The thinker knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/the-art-of-thinking-is-the-greatest-art-of-all-for-as-a-man-thinketh/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [The dreamers are the saviors of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/the-dreamers-are-the-saviors-of-the-world/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/your-circumstances-may-be-uncongenial-but-they-shall-not-long-remain/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [As a man thinketh, so is he, and as a man chooseth, so is he.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/as-a-man-thinketh-so-is-he-and-as-a-man-chooseth-so-is-he/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/as-a-man-thinketh-in-his-heart-so-shall-he-be/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [The Bible places supreme value in the thought life. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," Solomon wrote. Jesus asserted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/the-bible-places-supreme-value-in-the-thought-life-as-a-man-thinketh/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Thought is the fountain of action, life and manifestation; make the fountain pure, and all will be pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/thought-is-the-fountain-of-action-life-and-manifestation-make-the/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Good thoughts bear good fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lane-allen/good-thoughts-bear-good-fruit/) [James Lane Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lane-allen/) > [As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/as-the-plant-springs-from-and-could-not-be-without-the-seed-so-every/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/men-are-anxious-to-improve-their-circumstances-but-are-unwilling-to-2/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) Browse all 21 A man thinketh quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time, but a dream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-and-for-a-time-but-a-dream/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "A man thinketh" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-and-for-a-time-but-a-dream/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8c/napoleon-hill-201_a-man-thinketh_the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-an_1457342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest achievement was, at first, and for a time, but a dream.” — Napoleon Hill", "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": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest achievement was, at first,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-and-for-a-time-but-a-dream/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-greatest-achievement-was-at-first-and-for-a-time-but-a-dream/#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 } } ] } ```