I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

The saying distinguishes between position and trajectory: moral and personal evaluation should focus less on one’s current circumstances (“where we stand”) than on one’s chosen course (“what direction we are moving”). The “port of heaven” frames life as a voyage toward an ultimate good, while the alternating winds acknowledge that progress requires adaptability—sometimes circumstances aid us, sometimes they resist. The imperative is agency: keep moving with intention rather than passively “drift” or complacently “lie at anchor.” In effect, the line argues for perseverance and moral purpose over status, emphasizing that character is revealed in sustained direction, not momentary location.