Alas Quote by Thomas Carlyle
“Alas! we know that ideals can never be completely embodied in practice. Ideals must ever lie a great way off--and we will thankfully content ourselves with any not intolerable approximation thereto! Let no man, as Schiller says, too querulously "measure by a scale of perfection the meager product of reality" in this poor world of ours.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Sartor Resartus, 1833
Ideal standards are unattainable; we must accept imperfect but tolerable versions of them.
In simple terms: Perfect ideals are impossible; settle for good enough.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits and appreciate reasonable approximations.
Themes
philosophy
idealism
realism
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- personal goals
- artistic creation
- education
Key Concepts
human nature
ethical standards
Questions to Reflect On
- What ideals are essential for you?
- How do you balance aspiration with practicality?
A Different Perspective
Rejecting perfection may lower ambition.
