Conditions are never perfect. “Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: Conditions are never perfect, and waiting for the "perfect" time to pursue our dreams or take action can be a hindrance. Procrastination fueled by the illusion of a perfect future can prevent us from living our passions and fulfilling our potential. "Someday" can become a disease that keeps our dreams buried within us. It's a reminder to seize the moment, take action despite imperfections, and strive towards our goals with determination and resilience.
Who said the quote?
The quote “Conditions are never perfect. "Someday" is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” was said in the book The 4-Hour Workweek (Summary / Quotes) by Timothy Ferriss. Timothy Ferriss: American entrepreneur and author of "The 4-Hour Workweek" and other self-help books.
What's the quote's message?
This quote challenges us to confront a widespread tendency towards procrastination and waiting for the "right" moment. When it says, "Conditions are never perfect," it means that there will never be a time when every single factor is in our favor, when all the stars align for us to confidently pursue our dreams. Life is fluid, ever-changing, and unpredictable, and waiting for perfect circumstances could mean waiting indefinitely.
"Someday" is referred to as a disease because it infects our minds with the idea of future perfection, making us put off our dreams, desires, and ambitions for a time that never truly comes. This constant deferral is harmful as it can lead us to the end of our lives never having pursued what we truly wanted to do.
In essence, the quote urges us to seize the moment, to embrace the imperfections of the present, and to act on our dreams right now. It's a reminder that life is fleeting and that waiting for "someday" to come could mean waiting forever. It challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, to take risks, and to realize that growth and fulfillment often come from navigating through imperfect conditions. After all, it is through facing challenges that we build resilience, learn, grow, and make our dreams a reality.
Is there a historical example that illustrates the message of the quote?
There are many historical examples that could be interpreted to convey this message, but one particularly prominent one is the story of the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, the dream of achieving powered human flight was still widely seen as an impossible, or at least incredibly distant, goal. The Wright Brothers, however, were undeterred by these doubts. They ran a bicycle sales and repair shop in Dayton, Ohio, which gave them some mechanical skill, but they had no formal training in engineering or aeronautics. Furthermore, they didn't have the extensive resources that some other groups and individuals working on the problem had.
Still, they didn't let these conditions dissuade them from their dream. They started by researching everything they could about the problem, studying the works of others who had tried and failed to create flying machines. They used their bicycle shop to fund their experiments, and they conducted their tests in relative secrecy to avoid the pressures and distractions of publicity.
They didn't wait for the conditions to become perfect before starting their work. They didn't wait for someone else to figure out how to build a flying machine. They didn't wait for more funding or better technology. They simply started with what they had and learned as they went along.
In 1903, their efforts paid off when they successfully flew the world's first powered, controlled, and sustained flight with a heavier-than-air aircraft. Their success changed the world and laid the foundation for the entire field of aviation.
The story of the Wright Brothers is a great example of why "someday" can be a destructive mindset. They didn't wait for perfect conditions or a perfect time—they pursued their dreams with the resources and knowledge they had, and they didn't let failure or setbacks deter them from their goal.
* The editor of this interpretation made every effort to maintain information accuracy. This includes the source and any key ideas or meanings conveyed in it.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
