Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher; and philosophy begins in wonder.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
There are many ways of breaking a heart. Stories were full of hearts being broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away its dream—whatever that dream might be.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed:—we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Hope is a waking dream.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
I don’t dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living.
—Steven Spielberg (b.1946) American Film Director, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Businessperson
We are not only less reasonable and less decent in our dreams… we are also more inteligent, wiser and capable of better judgment when we are asleep than when we are awake.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
The whole life is a succession of dreams. My ambition is to be a conscious dreamer, that is all.
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right…. We sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the fact that I had a chance to read a lot.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
The dream of a cat is filled with mice
—Arabic Proverb
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance—and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter’s evening. Some of us let these dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who hope that their dreams will come true.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
At a time when opportunism is everything, when hope seems lost, when everything boils down to a cynical business deal, we must find the courage to dream. To reclaim romance. The romance of believing in justice, in freedom, and in dignity. For everybody.
—Arundhati Roy (b.1961) Indian Author, Actress, Activist
They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
Reverie is not a mind vacuum. It is rather the gift of an hour which knows the plenitude of the soul.
—Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962) French Philosopher, Psychoanalyst, Poet
And the dream we were conceived in will reveal a joyful face… and the world we once believed in will shine again in grace. Then why do we keep strangling life wound this Earth, crucify its soul. Though it’s plain to see, this world is heavenly. We could be God’s glow… Heal the world.
—Michael Jackson (1958–2009) American Singer-Songwriter
The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Maybe we are less than our dreams, but that less would make us more than some Gods would dream of.
—Corita Kent (1918–86) American Artist, Graphic Artist, Educator
You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.
—Joel A. Barker
Huge and mighty forms that do not live like living men, moved slowly through the mind by day and were trouble to my dreams.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Dreams are great. When they disappear you may still be there, but you will have ceased to live.
—Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (1879–1964) American-born British Politician
Dreams are necessary to life.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
I dream, therefore I exist.
—August Strindberg (1849–1912) Swedish Playwright, Novelist, Essayist
For dhrames always go by conthraries, my dear.
—Samuel Lover (1797–1868) Anglo-Irish Writer, Artist, Songwriter
If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
I don’t use drugs; my dreams are frightening enough.
—M. C. Escher (1898–1972) Dutch Graphic Artist
Dream the impossible dream, Fight the unbeatable foe, Strive with your last once of courage To reach the unreachable star.
—Unknown