Who said “Nothing happens unless first a dream.”?

Verified

Carl Sandburg. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Washington Monument by Night" in Slabs of the Sunburnt West (1922)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Washington Monument by Night" in Slabs of the Sunburnt West (1922).

APA

Sandburg, C. (n.d.). Nothing happens unless first a dream. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13900-nothing-happens-unless-first-a-dream/

MLA

Sandburg, Carl. “Nothing happens unless first a dream.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13900-nothing-happens-unless-first-a-dream/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Sandburg, Carl. “Nothing happens unless first a dream.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13900-nothing-happens-unless-first-a-dream/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Carl Sandburg

“I have written some poetry that I don't understand myself.”
Poetry and Poets
“Poetry is the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.”
Poetry and Poets
All 17 Carl Sandburg quotes →