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It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Dreaming is valuable if it doesn't make you lose touch with reality.

This quote by Thoreau emphasizes the importance of balancing dreams and aspirations with an awareness of one's actual circumstances. It suggests that having lofty ideals and ambitions is beneficial, but one must remain grounded in reality to truly appreciate and navigate life effectively.

Themes

DreamsRealityAwarenessAspirationBalance

In practice

Example use cases

A motivational speaker might use this quote to inspire individuals to dream big while staying rooted in reality.

More from Henry David Thoreau

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
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Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
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Quote by Henry David Thoreau | QuoteProject