--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every man's task [his 'great dream' and…" description: "\"Every man's task [his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal] is his life preserver.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png" --- # Every man's task \[his 'great dream' and impassioned… ![“Every man's task [his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal] is his life preserver.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png) > “Every man's task \[his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal\] is his life preserver.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person's greatest purpose and passionate ambition act as a lifeline, guiding and sustaining them. **In simple terms:** Your dream is your lifeline. Key Takeaway Pursue your great dream. Themes purpose passion self‑reliance Mood inspirational philosophical Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - personal crises - goal setting Key Concepts existentialism individualism Questions to Reflect On - What is your life preserver? - How do you nurture your passion? A Different Perspective Dreams may be unrealistic or unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Impassioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-impassioned-4639756/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Great Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-dream-616887/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Impassioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impassioned/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-goal/) [Life Preserver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-preserver-1263579/) [Man Task](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-task-1138157/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) ## Related quotes > [Man's task is to become conscious of the contents that press upward from the unconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/man-s-task-is-to-become-conscious-of-the-contents-that-press-upward/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I tend to work best as a one-man Task Force, including even the roles of messenger, coffee maker and office cleaner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/i-tend-to-work-best-as-a-one-man-task-force-including-even-the-roles/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [A man's task is to find himself, and if he fails in this, it doesn't much matter what else he finds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-manchester/a-man-s-task-is-to-find-himself-and-if-he-fails-in-this-it-doesn-t/) [William Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-manchester/) > [Man's task is simple. He should cease letting his existence be a thoughtless accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-s-task-is-simple-he-should-cease-letting-his-existence-be-a/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Life is a task to be done. It is a fine thing to say defunctus est; it means that the man has done his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/life-is-a-task-to-be-done-it-is-a-fine-thing-to-say-defunctus-est-it/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Because you will never, ever have the life God’s planned for you as long as you’re holding on to that fear. You can’t swim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-b-jones/because-you-will-never-ever-have-the-life-god-s-planned-for-you-as/) [Jenny B. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-b-jones/) > [“Knowledge was a personal life preserver you could always count on when you were swimming in the deep end”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/knowledge-was-a-personal-life-preserver-you-could-always-count-on/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [God's presence is a life preserver that keeps the soul from sinking in a sea of trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-presence-is-a-life-preserver-that-keeps-the-soul-from-sinking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God just doesn't throw a life preserver to a drowning person. He goes to the bottom of the sea, and pulls a corpse from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-just-doesn-t-throw-a-life-preserver-to-a-drowning-person-he-goes/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Love yourself, love the people around you, and never give up. If you need help, reach out. If you’re drowning, make some noise. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roanna-sylver/love-yourself-love-the-people-around-you-and-never-give-up-if-you/) [RoAnna Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roanna-sylver/) > [“Don't let yourself drown. Don't run or swim away from the safety of the boat. The boat, that's your home, your family, your life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/don-t-let-yourself-drown-don-t-run-or-swim-away-from-the-safety-of/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“She clicked on Mae’s life preserver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/she-clicked-on-mae-s-life-preserver/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Sickness is BIG Business,and we are left in the Middle of the Sea with NO Life Preserver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joeybaggs/sickness-is-big-business-and-we-are-left-in-the-middle-of-the-sea/) [Joeybaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joeybaggs/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-solvay/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Anticipation quotes > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/long-intros-are-cool-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-anticipation-you/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“O I'm so afraid that it's true about to travel hopefully being better than to arrive. It might be all in the quest, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brophy/o-i-m-so-afraid-that-it-s-true-about-to-travel-hopefully-being-better/) [Brigid Brophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brophy/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [The so called unconscious inferences can be traced back to the all-preserving memory, which presents us with parallel experiences and hence already knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-unconscious-inferences-can-be-traced-back-to-the-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) [Paul Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-boateng/) > [“I can handle Evil, but I cannot handle Anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabbo-de-la-parra/i-can-handle-evil-but-i-cannot-handle-anticipation/) [Gabbo De La Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabbo-de-la-parra/) > [Hope is itself a species of happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-is-itself-a-species-of-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 758 Anticipation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every man's task [his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal] is his life preserver.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-impassioned-life-goal-is-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anticipation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-impassioned-life-goal-is-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_anticipation_every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-imp_559234.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every man's task [his 'great dream' and impassioned life-goal] is his life preserver.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every man's task [his 'great dream'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-impassioned-life-goal-is-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-man-s-task-his-great-dream-and-impassioned-life-goal-is-his/#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 } } ] } ```