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
There is a purpose to our lives that each day tugs at our sleeve as an annoying distraction.
—Robert Brault
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
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
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
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
One good punch on your enemy’s nose, gives more pleasure than hearing well-meaning advice from your elders.
—Tibetan Proverb
Wisdom is meaningless until your own experience has given it meaning, and there is wisdom in the selection of wisdom.
—Bergen Evans
Life may have no meaning. Or even worse, it may have a meaning of which I disapprove.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
In speaking, it is best to be clear and say just enough to convey the meaning.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Everything happens for a reason and a purpose, and it serves you.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
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 Leader, Theologian, Philosopher
Dare to err and to dream. Deep meaning often lies in childish plays.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.
—Richard Leider (b.1944) American Executive Coach, Author
If liberty has any meaning it means freedom to improve.
—Philip Wylie (1902–71) American Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Screenwriter
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 Writer, Aviator
Things do not have meaning. We assign meaning to everything.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
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
Time has no meaning in itself unless we choose to give it significance.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
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, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
Life has a meaning only if one barters it day by day for something other than itself.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
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
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
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
We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Activist, Advocate
Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
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