--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How far your eyes may pierce I cannot…" description: "\"“How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/william-shakespeare-4_striving_how-far-your-eyes-may-pierce-i-cannot-te_2810382.jpg" --- # How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving to… ![“How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/william-shakespeare-4_striving_how-far-your-eyes-may-pierce-i-cannot-te_2810382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/william-shakespeare-4_striving_how-far-your-eyes-may-pierce-i-cannot-te_2810382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/william-shakespeare-4_striving_how-far-your-eyes-may-pierce-i-cannot-te_2810382.jpg) > ““How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.”” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot predict how deeply one can understand; striving for improvement may damage what is already good. **In simple terms:** Improvement can harm what’s fine. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with appreciation. Themes humility self‑awareness growth Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - creative work - relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What are you risking by trying to improve? - How can you honor what’s already good? A Different Perspective Blind ambition can erode existing strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eyes Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-pierce-3515784/) [Pierce Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pierce-tell-3515786/) [Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving/) [Striving Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving-better-394684/) [Tell Striving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-striving-3515785/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/striving-to-better-oft-we-mar-what-s-well/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Striving to be better, oft we mar what's well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/striving-to-be-better-oft-we-mar-what-s-well/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Eyes can pierce a skull.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/eyes-can-pierce-a-skull/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [You're always striving to get better, and I would get in my own way sometimes or stop myself if I felt it wasn't as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-perry/you-re-always-striving-to-get-better-and-i-would-get-in-my-own-way/) [Zoe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-perry/) > [There's nothing better than striving to be a better man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drew/there-s-nothing-better-than-striving-to-be-a-better-man/) [Kevin Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drew/) > [I like that about human nature, that people are always striving to do better, and find something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-like-that-about-human-nature-that-people-are-always-striving-to-do/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [It doth make a man better,' quoth Robin Hood, 'to bear of those noble men so long ago. When one doth list to such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-pyle/it-doth-make-a-man-better-quoth-robin-hood-to-bear-of-those-noble-men/) [Howard Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-pyle/) > [...in some ways I relied on that- someone to keep me thinking, keep me striving to do better, keep me from burying my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/in-some-ways-i-relied-on-that-someone-to-keep-me-thinking-keep-me/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [One of the reasons writers are never satisfied with their work is because they're always striving to do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-ross/one-of-the-reasons-writers-are-never-satisfied-with-their-work-is/) [JoAnn Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joann-ross/) > [Why settle for mediocre if there is even the slightest chance for something amazing? Because you can never settle if you keep striving for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-settle-for-mediocre-if-there-is-even-the-slightest-chance-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always the guy that just keeps striving to get better each and every week, and you can't get caught up in any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-m-always-the-guy-that-just-keeps-striving-to-get-better-each-and/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [Anytime you stop striving to get better, you're bound to get worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/anytime-you-stop-striving-to-get-better-you-re-bound-to-get-worse/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [You're never really happy. I'm certainly not. That's a good thing. It means you're always striving to do better. You hope the next piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/you-re-never-really-happy-i-m-certainly-not-that-s-a-good-thing-it/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [By the nature of fashion, you're only as good as your last collection, so I'm constantly striving to be better, so I don't look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/by-the-nature-of-fashion-you-re-only-as-good-as-your-last-collection/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [Until I am playing every game all season for a couple of seasons, I am always going to be striving for better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-alexander-arnold/until-i-am-playing-every-game-all-season-for-a-couple-of-seasons-i-am/) [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-alexander-arnold/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Striving quotes > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [America is not static. America is striving. And sometimes, America requires critique. Jingoism is an avoidance of realism. You can simultaneously love and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-blow/america-is-not-static-america-is-striving-and-sometimes-america/) [Charles M. Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-blow/) > [“Always remember that striving and struggling precede success, even in the dictionary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/always-remember-that-striving-and-struggling-precede-success-even-in/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Cathy, don't look so defeated. She was only trying to put us down again. Maybe nothing did work out right for her, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/cathy-don-t-look-so-defeated-she-was-only-trying-to-put-us-down-again/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [It's not about perfection; it's about the joy of striving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/it-s-not-about-perfection-it-s-about-the-joy-of-striving/) [Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/) > [“Perfection may not be possible, but striving for excellence is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/perfection-may-not-be-possible-but-striving-for-excellence-is/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [I find that music makes people just sit and listen, firstly. Then, they seem to interpret their own emotions with the music and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enya/i-find-that-music-makes-people-just-sit-and-listen-firstly-then-they/) [Enya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enya/) > [Holiness through Christ's Spirit is the accountability every Christian should be striving towards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/holiness-through-christ-s-spirit-is-the-accountability-every/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [“That's the thing about the horizon. Every step leads you toward it, but you can never quite reach it. But maybe that's a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/that-s-the-thing-about-the-horizon-every-step-leads-you-toward-it-but/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [If you don't want to be number one, then I don't know what you are striving for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cage/if-you-don-t-want-to-be-number-one-then-i-don-t-know-what-you-are/) [Brian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cage/) > [Hoping, dreaming, and wishing don't play the same game as planning, executing, and striving. Only one of the two paths results in success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-timbre/hoping-dreaming-and-wishing-don-t-play-the-same-game-as-planning/) [Jamie Timbre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-timbre/) > [The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-important-human-endeavor-is-the-striving-for-morality-in-our/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Our salvation is in striving to achieve what we know we'll never achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/our-salvation-is-in-striving-to-achieve-what-we-know-we-ll-never/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [I've been striving for attention my whole life. Now I have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-ve-been-striving-for-attention-my-whole-life-now-i-have-it/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [“Once," he added, "you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/once-he-added-you-told-me-that-the-seeking-counts-more-than-the/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) [Browse all 235 Striving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/striving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. 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