Man is a being in search of meaning.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
When you can live forever what do you live for?
—Stephenie Meyer (b.1973) American Novelist
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
The main facts in human life are five: birth, food, sleep, love and death.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
For a large class of cases—though not for all—in which we employ the word “meaning” it can be defined thus: the meaning of a word is its use in the language.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
If God exists and we are made in his image we can have real meaning, and we can have real knowledge through what he has communicated to us.
—Francis Schaeffer (1912–84) American Presbyterian Religious Leader, Theologian, Philosopher
Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Excessive familiarity breeds contempt. Repeated visits (to anyone) result in disrespect. For instance, on the Malaya mountains (rich in sandalwood trees), the tribal housewife uses sandalwood as a fuel.
—Subhashita Manjari Sanskrit Anthology of Proverbs
God created a number of possibilities in case some of his prototypes failed—that is the meaning of evolution.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Things do not have meaning. We assign meaning to everything.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
In speaking, it is best to be clear and say just enough to convey the meaning.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Life may have no meaning. Or even worse, it may have a meaning of which I disapprove.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
You must go after your wish. As soon as you start to pursue a dream, your life wakes up and everything has meaning.
—Barbara Sher (1935–2020) American Career Coach
If liberty has any meaning it means freedom to improve.
—Philip Wylie (1902–71) American Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Screenwriter
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
You see, it’s never the environment; it’s never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events—how we interpret them—that shapes who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute… that gives meaning to our lives.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
There is a purpose to our lives that each day tugs at our sleeve as an annoying distraction.
—Robert Brault
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
Return to the root and you will find the meaning.
—Jianzhi Sengcan (d.606 CE) Chinese-Buddhist Monk
Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Novelist, Aviator
It is really true what philosophy tells us, that life must be understood backwards. But with this, one forgets the second proposition, that it must be lived forwards.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.
—Jean Houston (b.1937) American New Thought Author, Speaker
I don’t want to live. I want to love first, and live incidentally.
—Zelda Fitzgerald (1899–1948) American Writer, Artist
The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator