--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man can be that which he wishes to be…" description: "\"Man can be that which he wishes to be; form and substance, they are but shadows. The mind, the ego, the essence of the god-dream -- that is real, that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/robert-e-howard-3742_dream_man-can-be-that-which-he-wishes-to-be-fo_3053342.jpg" --- # Man can be that which he wishes to be; form and substance… ![“Man can be that which he wishes to be; form and substance, they are but shadows. The mind, the ego, the essence of the god-dream -- that is real, that is immortal.” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/robert-e-howard-3742_dream_man-can-be-that-which-he-wishes-to-be-fo_3053342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/robert-e-howard-3742_dream_man-can-be-that-which-he-wishes-to-be-fo_3053342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c87/robert-e-howard-3742_dream_man-can-be-that-which-he-wishes-to-be-fo_3053342.jpg) > “Man can be that which he wishes to be; form and substance, they are but shadows. The mind, the ego, the essence of the god-dream -- that is real, that is immortal.” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One can become what they desire; material forms are fleeting, but the mind and spirit are eternal. **In simple terms:** Mind over matter; inner self is eternal. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner growth over external appearances. Themes self-actualization spirituality identity impermanence mind ego Mood inspirational philosophical hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative expression - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophy personal development spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What inner qualities do you value most? - How do you balance inner growth with external responsibilities? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on inner self may neglect practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [The shadows of the mind are like those of the body. In the morning of life they all lie behind us; at noon we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-shadows-of-the-mind-are-like-those-of-the-body-in-the-morning-of/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [What is essential to understand at this point is that until now there was no such thing as mind and matter, subject and object,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-is-essential-to-understand-at-this-point-is-that-until-now-there/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [What a horror it would have been if the world was real, because if the world was real, it would be immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/what-a-horror-it-would-have-been-if-the-world-was-real-because-if-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Don't you feel a change a coming From another side of time, Breaking down the walls of silence, Lifting shadows from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/don-t-you-feel-a-change-a-coming-from-another-side-of-time-breaking/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Form and substance are one and the same. Form is the life expression and substance the living painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/form-and-substance-are-one-and-the-same-form-is-the-life-expression/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Form and Substance are opposite ends of the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/form-and-substance-are-opposite-ends-of-the-same-coin/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If we might reverently imagine ourselves scheming beforehand what kind of book the Book of God ought to be, how different would it be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-parry-liddon/if-we-might-reverently-imagine-ourselves-scheming-beforehand-what/) [Henry Parry Liddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-parry-liddon/) > [“Under the caverned pyramids great Set coils asleep; Among the shadows of the tombs his dusky people creep. I speak the Word from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/under-the-caverned-pyramids-great-set-coils-asleep-among-the-shadows/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [How could God give me a dream, a dream of going to Notre Dame, a dream of becoming somebody, and I'm a dummy, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/how-could-god-give-me-a-dream-a-dream-of-going-to-notre-dame-a-dream/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [You are God's dream with skin on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/you-are-god-s-dream-with-skin-on/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [Oneness with God is not a dream, it is the only reality. Everything else is an illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-yen-a-gardner/oneness-with-god-is-not-a-dream-it-is-the-only-reality-everything/) [E'yen A. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-yen-a-gardner/) > [IT'S TIME TO DREAM AGAIN - Are you hurting? Are you in a crisis? Did the doctors say that you have no more hope?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/it-s-time-to-dream-again-are-you-hurting-are-you-in-a-crisis-did-the/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [That in itself is an act of peacemaking, because we're seeking to align our wills with God's will, our dreams with God's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/that-in-itself-is-an-act-of-peacemaking-because-we-re-seeking-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [Faith is choosing and believing God's dream for your life. Nothing starts happening in your life until you start dreaming. God gave you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/faith-is-choosing-and-believing-god-s-dream-for-your-life-nothing/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [God's dream still remains unfulfilled. It was not fulfilled 2,000 years ago, or in the home of any religious leader or any American home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-myung-moon/god-s-dream-still-remains-unfulfilled-it-was-not-fulfilled-2-000/) [Sun Myung Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-myung-moon/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, & am content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-live-i-burn-with-life-i-love-i-slay-am-content/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Coming, as I do, from mountain folk on one side and sea followers on the other, there are few old songs of the hills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/coming-as-i-do-from-mountain-folk-on-one-side-and-sea-followers-on/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man can be that which he wishes to be; form and substance, they are but shadows. The mind, the ego, the essence of the god-dream -- that is real, that is immortal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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