--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man should have any number of little…" description: "\"A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have names, but he should have neither name for,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg" --- # A man should have any number of little aims about which he… ![“A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have names, but he should have neither name for, nor consciousness concerning the main aim of his life.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg) > “A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have names, but he should have neither name for, nor consciousness concerning the main aim of his life.” [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages focusing on life's primary purpose rather than many minor goals. **In simple terms:** Prioritize your main life aim over many small goals. Key Takeaway Identify and pursue your core purpose. Themes purpose focus goal setting consciousness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - education - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What is your main life aim? - How do minor goals support or hinder it? A Different Perspective Minor goals can distract from core purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aims Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aims-conscious-4334833/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-names-4334835/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Consciousness Concerning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness-concerning-4334834/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational goal setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-goal-setting/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Names Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names-consciousness-4334832/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [What we need is a new consciousness concerning the idea of human liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/what-we-need-is-a-new-consciousness-concerning-the-idea-of-human/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [The youth would be able to live peacefully and prosperously only if they study the existing problems and their reasons well. If they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-joseph-benziger/the-youth-would-be-able-to-live-peacefully-and-prosperously-only-if/) [T Joseph Benziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-joseph-benziger/) > [It is not enough to take steps which may someday lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-not-enough-to-take-steps-which-may-someday-lead-to-a-goal-each/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It's hard to get lost if you don't know where you're going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/it-s-hard-to-get-lost-if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [The secret to productive goal setting is in establishing clearly defined goals, writing them down and then focusing on them several times a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-secret-to-productive-goal-setting-is-in-establishing-clearly-2/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/in-absence-of-clearly-defined-goals-we-become-strangely-loyal-to-2/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/you-control-your-future-your-destiny-what-you-think-about-comes-about-2/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [If you don't know where you're going any road will do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-any-road-will-do/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [An average person with average talents and ambition and average education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/an-average-person-with-average-talents-and-ambition-and-average/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/all-successful-people-have-a-goal-no-one-can-get-anywhere-unless-he/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/obstacles-are-what-you-see-when-you-take-your-eyes-off-your-goals/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-brennan/our-goals-can-only-be-reached-through-a-vehicle-of-a-plan-in-which-we-2/) [Stephen Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-brennan/) > [The world makes way for the man with an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-world-makes-way-for-the-man-with-an-idea/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Aim for the top. There is plenty of room there. There are so few at the top it is almost lonely there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-insull/aim-for-the-top-there-is-plenty-of-room-there-there-are-so-few-at-the/) [Samuel Insull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-insull/) > [Always begin with the end in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-muth/always-begin-with-the-end-in-mind/) [Ellen Muth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-muth/) ## More by Samuel Butler > [Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/is-life-worth-living-this-is-a-question-for-an-embryo-not-for-a-man/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-you-follow-reason-far-enough-it-always-leads-to-conclusions-that/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/all-animals-except-man-know-that-the-principal-business-of-life-is-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-advantage-of-doing-one-s-praising-for-oneself-is-that-one-can-lay/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Spare the rod and spoil the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Opinions have vested interests just as men have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/opinions-have-vested-interests-just-as-men-have/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“we must judge men not so much by what they, as by what they make us feel that they have it in them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/we-must-judge-men-not-so-much-by-what-they-as-by-what-they-make-us/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to-death-at-my/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Whether it is or is not more efficacious I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/vaccination-is-the-medical-sacrament-corresponding-to-baptism-whether/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“Having, then, once introduced an element of inconsistency into his system, he was far too consistent not to be inconsistent consistently, and he lapsed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/having-then-once-introduced-an-element-of-inconsistency-into-his/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/brigands-demand-your-money-or-your-life-women-require-both/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-who-lets-himself-be-bored-is-even-more-contemptible-than-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [It is not sufficiently considered in the hour of exultation, that all human excellence is comparative; that no man performs much but in proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/it-is-not-sufficiently-considered-in-the-hour-of-exultation-that-all/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-oldest-books-are-still-only-just-out-to-those-who-have-not-read/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) [Explore all 355 Samuel Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have names, but he should have neither name for, nor consciousness concerning the main aim of his life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Butler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-aims-about-which-he-should-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-aims-about-which-he-should-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f11/samuel-butler-823_aim_a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-a_2933098.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man should have any number of little aims about which he should be conscious and for which he should have…” — Samuel Butler", "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": "Samuel Butler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man should have any number...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-aims-about-which-he-should-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-man-should-have-any-number-of-little-aims-about-which-he-should-be/#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 } } ] } ```