Shoot for the moon
Meaning
To aim for an extremely ambitious or difficult goal, often implying that even partial success will still be significant.
Origin
The audacious spirit of 'shooting for the moon' truly captured the American imagination in the mid-20th century, a time when humanity looked skyward with newfound purpose. As the Space Race ignited, fueled by presidential decrees and the dreams of a nation, motivational speakers and authors like Norman Vincent Peale and W. Clement Stone popularized the stirring maxim: 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.' This powerful sentiment, blending aspirational drive with comforting reassurance, resonated deeply, transforming the seemingly impossible feat of lunar travel into a universal metaphor for setting extraordinarily high goals, ensuring that even a partial success would be remarkable.
Examples
- Don't be afraid to shoot for the moon when planning your career; even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
- Our startup decided to shoot for the moon with its innovative product, hoping to revolutionize the entire industry.