--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Live for an ideal, and that one ideal…" description: "\"Live for an ideal, and that one ideal alone. Let it be so great, so strong, that there may be nothing else left in the mind; no place for anything else..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/swami-vivekananda-53_ideal_live-for-an-ideal-and-that-one-ideal-alo_171651.jpg" --- # Live for an ideal, and that one ideal alone. Let it be so… ![“Live for an ideal, and that one ideal alone. Let it be so great, so strong, that there may be nothing else left in the mind; no place for anything else, no time for anything else.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/swami-vivekananda-53_ideal_live-for-an-ideal-and-that-one-ideal-alo_171651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/swami-vivekananda-53_ideal_live-for-an-ideal-and-that-one-ideal-alo_171651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/swami-vivekananda-53_ideal_live-for-an-ideal-and-that-one-ideal-alo_171651.jpg) > “Live for an ideal, and that one ideal alone. Let it be so great, so strong, that there may be nothing else left in the mind; no place for anything else, no time for anything else.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dedicate oneself wholly to a single, powerful ideal, leaving no room for other thoughts. **In simple terms:** Live for one great ideal only. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your highest purpose. Themes purpose focus ideal determination mindset Mood determined inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career mission - creative projects - spiritual practice - activism Key Concepts spiritual philosophical single‑mindedness Questions to Reflect On - What ideal drives you? - How do you maintain balance while focused? A Different Perspective Risk of neglecting other life aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Live for an ideal and leave no place in the mind for anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/live-for-an-ideal-and-leave-no-place-in-the-mind-for-anything-else/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I think in an ideal world, one would be able to do everything, however, we don't live in an ideal world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graziadei/i-think-in-an-ideal-world-one-would-be-able-to-do-everything-however/) [Michael Graziadei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graziadei/) > [Find the ideal in something not ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-denning/find-the-ideal-in-something-not-ideal/) [Robert Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-denning/) > [“Oh the joy of an idée fixe! The contentment of a life taken up some ideal, any ideal! A gentle trap to catch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-rodenbach/oh-the-joy-of-an-id-e-fixe-the-contentment-of-a-life-taken-up-some/) [Georges Rodenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-rodenbach/) > [In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-war-then-let-your-great-object-be-victory-not-lengthy-campaigns/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Let’s not only take great photos, but let’s make great photos with our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-knisely/let-s-not-only-take-great-photos-but-let-s-make-great-photos-with-our/) [Matthew Knisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-knisely/) > [“Let him! He is great but in his greatness he is no happier than we in our conflict! Goodness would not make evil; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/let-him-he-is-great-but-in-his-greatness-he-is-no-happier-than-we-in/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/let-me-not-then-die-ingloriously-and-without-a-struggle-but-let-me/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Let the great world spin for ever down the ringing grooves of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/let-the-great-world-spin-for-ever-down-the-ringing-grooves-of-change/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“The tightrope walk was an act of creation that seemed to stand in direct defiance to the act of destruction twenty-seven years later. About…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-tightrope-walk-was-an-act-of-creation-that-seemed-to-stand-in/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [Let him be great, and love shall follow him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/let-him-be-great-and-love-shall-follow-him/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [And where the offense is, let the great axe fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-where-the-offense-is-let-the-great-axe-fall/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [None of us have yet seen an ideally perfect man, and yet without that ideal we cannot progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/none-of-us-have-yet-seen-an-ideally-perfect-man-and-yet-without-that/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [In one word, this ideal is that you are divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/in-one-word-this-ideal-is-that-you-are-divine/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Ideal quotes > [An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booth-tarkington/an-ideal-wife-is-any-woman-who-has-an-ideal-husband/) [Booth Tarkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booth-tarkington/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [The end result of how I obviously departed from the Cubs wasn't ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/the-end-result-of-how-i-obviously-departed-from-the-cubs-wasn-t-ideal/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [Ideally when you set up for the first game of the season... to have put the team to bed would be the ideal situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-villas-boas/ideally-when-you-set-up-for-the-first-game-of-the-season-to-have-put/) [Andre Villas-Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-villas-boas/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I've always worked closely with the designers and whoever's making the costumes. Comfort is the last thing you want on your mind when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/i-ve-always-worked-closely-with-the-designers-and-whoever-s-making/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I think in an ideal world, one would be able to do everything, however, we don't live in an ideal world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graziadei/i-think-in-an-ideal-world-one-would-be-able-to-do-everything-however/) [Michael Graziadei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graziadei/) > [“Let's get real about the ideal. It sucks. It doesn't represent us, and it doesn't even try to. It refuses to acknowledge that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-jayne-crabbe/let-s-get-real-about-the-ideal-it-sucks-it-doesn-t-represent-us-and/) [Megan Jayne Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-jayne-crabbe/) > [But seriously, I believe I'm a sort of Ideal Woman, if you know what I mean. I'm the sort of woman who can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/but-seriously-i-believe-i-m-a-sort-of-ideal-woman-if-you-know-what-i/) [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) > [“Idea lady is the ideal lady!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/idea-lady-is-the-ideal-lady/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [You can, I think, have a quiet and steady protagonist and not run the risk of terminal dullness as long as exciting things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/you-can-i-think-have-a-quiet-and-steady-protagonist-and-not-run-the/) [Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/) > [Steven Gerrard is the best player I have played with throughout my career; therefore, my ideal player would be very like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/steven-gerrard-is-the-best-player-i-have-played-with-throughout-my/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [Success isn't ideal for every child. If we think a child would do better in a different school, whether it's a specialized program or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/success-isn-t-ideal-for-every-child-if-we-think-a-child-would-do/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) Browse all 523 Ideal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Live for an ideal, and that one ideal alone. 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