Theory for Aim for the stars and maybe you'll reach the sky?

Answer 1

"Aim for the stars and maybe you'll reach the sky" was a quote from Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr an American Protestant theologian.

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Another contributor added:

That answer accurately and authoritatively describes the source and history of the quote.

But it doesn't answer the question, which appears to be "What does the quote mean ?".

We'll suggest that the meaning of the quote is something like this:

Knowing that our accomplishments typically fall short of our targets, one must remember to aim high,

set his sites above his objectives, try for more than he expects, or, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote,

"man's reach should exceed his grasp, else what's a heaven for ?".

Answer 2

This phrase suggests that by setting ambitious goals and aiming high, one may not reach the ultimate goal of reaching the stars, but may still achieve significant success or progress ("the sky") along the way. It encourages people to dream big and strive for greatness, even if they fall slightly short of their loftiest aspirations.