In this sometimes ugly world, full of ups and downs, it can be hard to find the beauty and purpose in life. At those times, one needs a stimulus to find the meaning of life. Thus, I give you the best purpose of life quotes to inspire and motivate you.
Without purpose, our lives make no sense. However, what is the purpose? How do you achieve it?
Hopefully, these purpose of life quotes will give you a good answer to all your questions.
The Best Purpose of Life Quotes
1. “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Leading a life without purpose is quite unsatisfactory. Days pass by without you even noticing, and suddenly, one day you wake up gray and old, look in the mirror and ask yourself: “What was the point?”.
As Dostoyevsky mentioned, just staying alive is not enough. Therefore, finding a purpose in life is essential.
But first, in order to find it, you must get to know yourself. Explore your passions, identify your qualities and weaknesses, and follow your instincts. Once you find what the purpose of your life is, don’t give up on it.
2. “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” ―W. Clement Stone
Having a vague idea about your life goals won’t get you anywhere. You must define exactly what it is that you want to achieve.
Moreover, just thinking about what you want to achieve in life won’t make it come true. In order to fulfill your dreams, you must come up with a plan of action.
Think of the steps that you need to take to get there. Setting minor goals that lead to greater goals will make it seem easier and will keep you motivated. For instance, make a list of your short-term goals, as well as 5-year and 10-year goal plans.
3. “The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” ― Arnold Schwarzenegger
If the almighty Terminator said it, it must be true. The guy who started as a bodybuilder, became a genuine movie star, and ended up as the governor of California certainly knows a thing or two about moving ahead in life.
However, you don’t need to become a Hollywood A-lister to have a fulfilled life. The most important thing is to always work on yourself. If you keep honing your skills, educating yourself, and developing every aspect of your personality, nothing will be able to stop you.
4. “Life is meant to be fun, and joyous, and fulfilling. May each of yours be that.” ― Jim Henson
Whatever your goals may be, don’t forget to have fun! Yes, you should work hard on achieving your goals. However, don’t overburden yourself ― one of the universal purposes of life is to actually enjoy it.
Having fun will keep you fresh and motivated. Therefore, it’s essential for reaching your goals.
So, don’t feel guilty about taking a break. Hang out with your friends, take up a hobby, go dancing ― do whatever makes you happy.
5. “Begin at once to live, and count each day as a separate life.” ― Seneca
If you live your life waiting for something big to happen, trust me ― nothing will happen.
Start living at once! Seize the day and live your life to its fullest. Finally, learn to enjoy even the smallest things — you’ll realize that life is even more beautiful than it seems.
6. “I believe purpose is something for which one is responsible; it’s not just divinely assigned.” ― Michael J. Fox
This happens to be one of my favorite purpose of life quotes as it highlights our own responsibility for our lives.
I remember that when I was in my early twenties, I wanted to do so many things. However, all I did was dream about reaching those goals. It took me a while to realize that they weren’t going to come true by themselves — I had to work on achieving them. So, I accepted Mr. Fox’s advice and took my life into my own hands.
Nothing in life will just be handed to you. Your dreams won’t come true overnight ― you yourself have to make them happen.
However, I find this statement to be very positive. If you’re responsible for making something happen, it means you can do it! Yes, it might be hard, you may have to make some sacrifices, but in the end, you will be immensely proud of your achievements.
7. “I think essentially the meaning of life is probably the journey and not really any one thing or an outcome or a result.” ― Charisma Carpenter
Thinking of your life as one big journey is a great mindset. Our hopes and dreams, successes, and setbacks — all those things we experience every day make us who we are.
Therefore, be proud of your achievements. More importantly, don’t give up if you run into some obstacles. Turn them into lessons that will make you a better person.
What is Your Purpose in Life?
Your own purpose of life depends on what it is you want to achieve. In case you’re not sure, here are several purpose of life quotes that might inspire you, and some additional tips to keep in mind.
1. “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.” ― Thomas Merton
Love is one of the strongest forces in the world and has been the purpose of life of many great people. Whether you want to find the perfect partner and cherish them, have a big family, or be a stay-at-home mom or dad (or all of the above), devoting your life to love is a great and brave thing to do.
2. “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?” ― Steve Jobs
If you’re an ambitious and hard-working person, you might find the purpose in many different ways. For example, you may focus on your career, and eventually, make big changes in your field.
Another option is to devote your life to science and knowledge. For example, you can work towards making new discoveries, or opt to teach and spread your knowledge.
Alternatively, you can take up a cause and try to make the world a better place. The possibilities are endless!
3. “Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are ultimately to be at peace with themselves. What humans can be, they must be.” ― Abraham Maslow
If you’re an artist, don’t let anyone tell you that devoting your life to your craft is a waste of time.
Yes, most other careers will provide better financial security. However, if music, painting, or writing are your greatest passion, you shouldn’t give up on them.
This may be hard, but it will be worth it. A true artist could never be happy without their art.
4. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ― The Dalai Lama
Whatever you choose as the purpose of your life, do your best not to hurt other people in order to achieve that.
Moreover, try to devote some of your time to helping others. You’ll be surprised by how fulfilled that will make you feel.
5. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ― Dalai Lama
Everyone has their own dreams and a purpose. Learn to respect that. Additionally, never allow yourself to judge or be judged based on the goals you or someone else seeks to achieve.
Purpose of Life Quotes to Keep You Going
1. “The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn’t matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.” ― Barbara Hall
There is no road without obstacles. Everyone makes mistakes at times or experiences losses. What is important is that you don’t let this discourage you.
I understand that sometimes, problems seem impossible to overcome. I was there too, many times in my life. However, you should never stop believing in yourself and working on achieving your purpose in life.
Therefore, you should learn to embrace failure and learn from it. Bear in mind that if you quit, you’ll never achieve your goal. If you keep trying, though, with every piece of effort, you’ll get one step closer to it.
2. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ― Nelson Mandela
At first, your dreams may seem too far-fetched. With every setback, your goal will seem more and more impossible to achieve. Don’t let this stop you.
If you’re panicking right now and thinking, “Oh, God, I can’t do this!”, take a deep breath. We all experience moments of self-doubt, especially when something is important to us.
Do you think Steve Jobs thought it was possible for him to become a billionaire when he and his friends started Apple in a garage? Look at everything he managed to do!
Bottom line? Keep your eye on the goal, and don’t forget why you started it all in the first place.
3. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius
You work strenuously, make sacrifices, devote yourself completely, and somehow, there are barely any results. It’s understandable that at times you might think that it’s just not worth it.
However, keep in mind that the road to your goals is a long and slow one, and you must be patient. As I’ve mentioned before, don’t forget that your life’s purpose isn’t just about reaching the goal — it’s about the whole journey. So, enjoy every step you take and never give up.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these purpose of life quotes will inspire you and help you define what it is you want in your life. In addition, you’re now probably ready to go into action and work on achieving your goals.
Remember — your dreams are worth all the trouble. Never give up on trying to fulfill them.
