--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the absence of a great dream pettiness…" description: "\"In the absence of a great dream pettiness prevails. Shred visions foster risk taking, courage and innovation. Keeping the end in mind creates the confi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/peter-senge-3906_absence_in-the-absence-of-a-great-dream-pettines_1873837.png" --- # In the absence of a great dream pettiness prevails. Shred… ![“In the absence of a great dream pettiness prevails. Shred visions foster risk taking, courage and innovation. Keeping the end in mind creates the confidence to make decisions even in moments of crisis.” quote by Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/peter-senge-3906_absence_in-the-absence-of-a-great-dream-pettines_1873837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/peter-senge-3906_absence_in-the-absence-of-a-great-dream-pettines_1873837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/peter-senge-3906_absence_in-the-absence-of-a-great-dream-pettines_1873837.png) > “In the absence of a great dream pettiness prevails. Shred visions foster risk taking, courage and innovation. Keeping the end in mind creates the confidence to make decisions even in moments of crisis.” [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without a compelling vision, people focus on trivial matters; a bold dream drives risk‑taking, courage, and innovation, especially in crises. **In simple terms:** Lack of vision leads to pettiness; big dreams inspire bold action. Key Takeaway Cultivate a clear, inspiring vision. Themes vision leadership innovation risk-taking motivation Mood determined inspired Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - business strategy - personal goal setting - team leadership - crisis management Key Concepts strategic foresight psychological safety creative confidence Questions to Reflect On - What dream could you define to guide your decisions? - How can you keep that vision alive during setbacks? A Different Perspective Vision alone isn’t enough without execution plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pettiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pettiness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-taking/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Visions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visions/) ## Related quotes > [In the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/in-the-absence-of-a-great-dream-pettiness-prevails/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“In the presence of greatness, pettiness disappears. In the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-m-senge/in-the-presence-of-greatness-pettiness-disappears-in-the-absence-of-a/) [Peter M. Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-m-senge/) > [We have a great dream. It started way back in 1776, and God grant that America will be true to her dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-have-a-great-dream-it-started-way-back-in-1776-and-god-grant-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [To make a great dream come true, you must first have a great dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/to-make-a-great-dream-come-true-you-must-first-have-a-great-dream/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Not much happens without a dream. And for something great to happen, there must be a great dream. Behind every great achievement is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/not-much-happens-without-a-dream-and-for-something-great-to-happen/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [Results transform the world, and a great dream creates results. That's what this thing we call 'business' is really all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/results-transform-the-world-and-a-great-dream-creates-results-that-s/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [“Some have a great dream in life that they never accomplish. Others have no dream, and likewise never accomplish it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/some-have-a-great-dream-in-life-that-they-never-accomplish-others/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Work alone isn't enough for me and mine; we know how to break our backs, but the great dream Of my fathers was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/work-alone-isn-t-enough-for-me-and-mine-we-know-how-to-break-our/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Living reality, it used to be a great dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/living-reality-it-used-to-be-a-great-dream/) [Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/) > [ Every man's task \[his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal\] is his life preserver. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-impassioned-life-goal-is-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The great dream merchant Disney was a success because make-believe was what everyone seemed to need in a spiritually empty land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/the-great-dream-merchant-disney-was-a-success-because-make-believe/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) > [America is to great to dream small dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/america-is-to-great-to-dream-small-dreams/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It wouldn't take us long to discover the substance of that dream. It is found in those majestic words of the Declaration of Independence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wouldn-t-take-us-long-to-discover-the-substance-of-that-dream-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world is like a great empty dream. Why should one toil away one's life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-bai/the-world-is-like-a-great-empty-dream-why-should-one-toil-away-one-s/) [Li Bai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-bai/) > [To be in contact with scientists, to become in a small way a scientist myself if possible, perhaps to cast new light on physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-solvay/to-be-in-contact-with-scientists-to-become-in-a-small-way-a-scientist/) Ernest Solvay ## More by Peter Senge > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [In the Machine Age, the company itself became a machine - a machine for making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-the-machine-age-the-company-itself-became-a-machine-a-machine-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Trusting people to be creative and constructive when given more freedom does not imply an overly optimistic belief in the perfectibility of human nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/trusting-people-to-be-creative-and-constructive-when-given-more/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [It takes courage and skill to be unambiguous and clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/it-takes-courage-and-skill-to-be-unambiguous-and-clear/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [One possibility for difficulties innovating is that most people really donÕt care about innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/one-possibility-for-difficulties-innovating-is-that-most-people/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [One industrial age belief is that GDP or GNP is a measure of progress. I don't care if you're the President of China or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/one-industrial-age-belief-is-that-gdp-or-gnp-is-a-measure-of-progress/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [“The only sustainable competitive advantage is an organization's ability to learn faster than the competition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/the-only-sustainable-competitive-advantage-is-an-organization-s/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Businesses and other human endeavors are also systems. They, too, are bound by invisible fabrics of interrelated actions, which often take years to fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/businesses-and-other-human-endeavors-are-also-systems-they-too-are/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only to the 'music,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/to-listen-fully-means-to-pay-close-attention-to-what-is-being-said/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The faster we go, the slower we need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/the-faster-we-go-the-slower-we-need-to-be/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Leadership is about creating new realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/leadership-is-about-creating-new-realities/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Don't push growth; remove the factors limiting growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/don-t-push-growth-remove-the-factors-limiting-growth/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [All great things have small beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/all-great-things-have-small-beginnings/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [It's common to say that trees come from seeds. But how can a tiny seed create a huge tree? Seeds do not contain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/it-s-common-to-say-that-trees-come-from-seeds-but-how-can-a-tiny-seed/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Innovation requires resources to invest, and you can see many companies pulling back and going into an intense protective mode in a major extended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/innovation-requires-resources-to-invest-and-you-can-see-many/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) [Explore all 119 Peter Senge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. 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Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the absence of a great dream pettiness prevails. Shred visions foster risk taking, courage and innovation. 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