--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He wasted his wishes on wishing." description: "\"He wasted his wishes on wishing.\" — Shel Silverstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg" --- # He wasted his wishes on wishing. ![“He wasted his wishes on wishing.” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg) > “He wasted his wishes on wishing.” [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wasting time on endless wishes prevents actual achievement. **In simple terms:** Wishes without action achieve nothing. Key Takeaway Turn wishes into concrete steps. Themes goal-setting action effort Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal goals - career planning - habit formation Key Concepts wishful thinking procrastination focus Questions to Reflect On - What wish will you act on now? - How can you measure progress? A Different Perspective Dreams can become excuses if not acted upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasted/) [Wasted Wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasted-wishes-1753763/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes/) [Wishes Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes-wishing-690194/) [Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/) ## Related quotes > [“...In a world of apples and kisses and shoes He wasted his wishes on wishing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/in-a-world-of-apples-and-kisses-and-shoes-he-wasted-his-wishes-on/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“She has sold them some of her time for the money she needs to live, but hoarded these moments for herself, and each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/she-has-sold-them-some-of-her-time-for-the-money-she-needs-to-live/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [“World peace, true love, and happily-ever-afters amount to wasted wishes, failed endeavors, and most precious dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/world-peace-true-love-and-happily-ever-afters-amount-to-wasted-wishes/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Sixteen finds me Blowing out candles and making wishes And all around me Is everyone but the one I'm wishing for And he sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklovesmeeka/sixteen-finds-me-blowing-out-candles-and-making-wishes-and-all-around/) [NIKLOVESMEEKA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklovesmeeka/) > [“Be careful that you do not wait too long. Unspent wishes can be dangerous things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-m-aldridge/be-careful-that-you-do-not-wait-too-long-unspent-wishes-can-be/) [Ethan M. Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-m-aldridge/) > [“Every night I used to pray that I’d find my people, and finally I did on the open road. We had nothing to lose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/every-night-i-used-to-pray-that-i-d-find-my-people-and-finally-i-did/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [Here's to the kid's... Whose 11:11 wish was wasted on one person who will never be there for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-s-to-the-kid-s-whose-11-11-wish-was-wasted-on-one-person-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought of something in mind; a feeling that I couldn't define, the past that I left behind, the problems that are falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-huerbana/i-thought-of-something-in-mind-a-feeling-that-i-couldn-t-define-the/) [Romeo Huerbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-huerbana/) > [We all wish we had a little geni in a bottle we could ask wishs from,but to honest we all know that will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nateman/we-all-wish-we-had-a-little-geni-in-a-bottle-we-could-ask-wishs-from/) [Nateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nateman/) > [“Did you not hear me? The money is meaningless. The well's true treasure is in the desires, dreams, and wishes poured into those coins.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-wyatt/did-you-not-hear-me-the-money-is-meaningless-the-well-s-true-treasure/) [Jake Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-wyatt/) > [Thats how you know you love someone, I guess, when you cant experience anything without wishing the other person were there to see it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/thats-how-you-know-you-love-someone-i-guess-when-you-cant-experience/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [“Well, say you only have two choices. You can like red or you can like blue. It’s easy to look at those two colors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/well-say-you-only-have-two-choices-you-can-like-red-or-you-can-like/) [Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/) > [“When you keep a strong image of what you want in your mind, and possess the conviction that it is yours by right, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-keep-a-strong-image-of-what-you-want-in-your-mind-and/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [And just like every other night, I looked up at the stars and wasted another wish on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/and-just-like-every-other-night-i-looked-up-at-the-stars-and-wasted/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) > [“For that thought to be strong, however, it must be free of doubt, for doubt weakens the will, weakens the response of the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/for-that-thought-to-be-strong-however-it-must-be-free-of-doubt-for/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) ## More by Shel Silverstein > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) [Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More Wasted quotes > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/i-spent-90-of-my-money-on-women-and-drink-the-rest-i-wasted/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-no-longer-want-reminders-of-what-was-what-got-broken-what-got-lost/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I wasted so many years just traveling and sitting in hotels, searching for things, not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wasted-so-many-years-just-traveling-and-sitting-in-hotels-searching/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [“Head full of beer, fists jammed into his empty pockets, halos of blur around the parking lot lights, yup, one more wasted evening, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-thompson/head-full-of-beer-fists-jammed-into-his-empty-pockets-halos-of-blur/) [Jean Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-thompson/) > [And if the reader has no taste for what he reads, all the time is wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/and-if-the-reader-has-no-taste-for-what-he-reads-all-the-time-is/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [“sometimes I think homosexuality is wasted on gay people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halerin/sometimes-i-think-homosexuality-is-wasted-on-gay-people/) [David Halerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halerin/) > [“If you don't use your experience, your past is wasted, and you are betraying yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shepard/if-you-don-t-use-your-experience-your-past-is-wasted-and-you-are/) [Alan Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shepard/) > [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I wasted the 1980s. I wasted every minute at Cambridge talking to people who knew more about music than I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-wasted-the-1980s-i-wasted-every-minute-at-cambridge-talking-to/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I stagnated in prison a long time, and I have wasted most of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gilmore/i-stagnated-in-prison-a-long-time-and-i-have-wasted-most-of-my-life/) [Gary Gilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gilmore/) > [My friends have always told me that rock stardom was wasted on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/my-friends-have-always-told-me-that-rock-stardom-was-wasted-on-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) [Browse all 637 Wasted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He wasted his wishes on wishing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shel Silverstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Wasted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/shel-silverstein-1914_wish_he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing-2252487_2252487.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He wasted his wishes on wishing.” — Shel Silverstein", "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": "Shel Silverstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He wasted his wishes on wishing.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-wasted-his-wishes-on-wishing/#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 } } ] } ```