--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A vocation is a never-ending mission. In…" description: "\"“A vocation is a never-ending mission. In other words, a refined way of avoiding the unknown.”\" — Andrés Neuman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/andr-s-neuman-25746_career_a-vocation-is-a-never-ending-mission-in_182609.jpg" --- # A vocation is a never-ending mission. In other words, a… ![“A vocation is a never-ending mission. In other words, a refined way of avoiding the unknown.” quote by Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/andr-s-neuman-25746_career_a-vocation-is-a-never-ending-mission-in_182609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/andr-s-neuman-25746_career_a-vocation-is-a-never-ending-mission-in_182609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/andr-s-neuman-25746_career_a-vocation-is-a-never-ending-mission-in_182609.jpg) > ““A vocation is a never-ending mission. In other words, a refined way of avoiding the unknown.”” [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It portrays a vocation as an endless mission that serves as a refined way to avoid confronting the unknown. **In simple terms:** Vocation avoids unknown. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty. Themes career purpose fear avoidance Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - life transitions - personal development Key Concepts existentialism self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - How does your work mask uncertainty? - Can you face the unknown directly? A Different Perspective Avoiding the unknown may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding Unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-unknown-1948892/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Ending Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ending-mission-1948893/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Mission Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-words-1948891/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Vocation Ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-ending-1948890/) ## Related quotes > [Nature places a simple constraint on those who leave the flock to go their own way: they get eaten. In society it's a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/nature-places-a-simple-constraint-on-those-who-leave-the-flock-to-go/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [I'm on a mission to get over you, in other words mission impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-on-a-mission-to-get-over-you-in-other-words-mission-impossible/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not sociologists who provide insights but photographers of our sort who are observers at the very center of their times. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/it-is-not-sociologists-who-provide-insights-but-photographers-of-our/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) > [I have this problem - I don't have hobbies. Everything that's interesting becomes a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-ben-israel/i-have-this-problem-i-don-t-have-hobbies-everything-that-s/) [Ron Ben-Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-ben-israel/) > [Whatever vocation you decide on, track down the best people in the world at doing it and surround yourself with them. Aim high and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/whatever-vocation-you-decide-on-track-down-the-best-people-in-the/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [To learn a vocation, you also have to learn the frauds it practices and the promises it breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/to-learn-a-vocation-you-also-have-to-learn-the-frauds-it-practices/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [It is well for a man to respect his own vocation whatever it is and to think himself bound to uphold it and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-well-for-a-man-to-respect-his-own-vocation-whatever-it-is-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [ I'm a jazz musician by education and vocation, but I don't think jazz should \[ dictate\] what I want to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-douglas/i-m-a-jazz-musician-by-education-and-vocation-but-i-don-t-think-jazz/) [Dave Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-douglas/) > [I'm beat to the square, and square to the beat, and that's my vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-everson/i-m-beat-to-the-square-and-square-to-the-beat-and-that-s-my-vocation/) [William Everson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-everson/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [“On the other side of graduation was her actual life, the slow narrowing of possibilities that would catch her and freeze her in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/on-the-other-side-of-graduation-was-her-actual-life-the-slow/) [Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/) > [I feel in me the vocation of the Priest. I have the vocation of the Apostle. Martyrdom was the dream of my youth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/i-feel-in-me-the-vocation-of-the-priest-i-have-the-vocation-of-the/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [“The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-gift-of-singleness-is-more-a-vocation-than-an-empowerment/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [We have only to see how that which makes up the reality of our lives relates to our vocation; we have only to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-danielou/we-have-only-to-see-how-that-which-makes-up-the-reality-of-our-lives/) [Jean Danielou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-danielou/) ## More by Andrés Neuman > [“Travelers come here, people who have lost their way or were headed somewhere else, lone wolves. And they all end up staying here, Hans.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/travelers-come-here-people-who-have-lost-their-way-or-were-headed/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“We lose the fear of letting go of our baggage, but also the certainty that what is in them belongs to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/we-lose-the-fear-of-letting-go-of-our-baggage-but-also-the-certainty/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“It's the same with books, you see mounds of them in bookshops and you want to read them all, or at least to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/it-s-the-same-with-books-you-see-mounds-of-them-in-bookshops-and-you/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“What time is it? What! said Álvaro, astonished. Do you mean to tell me you don't wear a watch? The fact is, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/what-time-is-it-what-said-lvaro-astonished-do-you-mean-to-tell-me-you/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“And I couldn't help wondering where the hell the fatherland was, what exactly were we fighting for? Did I find out? Ah, that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/and-i-couldn-t-help-wondering-where-the-hell-the-fatherland-was-what/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“Packing a bag doesn't make you aware of changes, rather it compels you to postpone the past, and the present is taken up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/packing-a-bag-doesn-t-make-you-aware-of-changes-rather-it-compels-you/) [Andres Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“I don't know how long it will all last either, and for now I don't care. Today it is thus, we both agree, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/i-don-t-know-how-long-it-will-all-last-either-and-for-now-i-don-t/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“... I to je bilo ono nepopravljivo. Gotovo jednako kao to što sam nekoliko puta napisala "Bože moj". Ja, ovakva nevjernica supijana.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/i-to-je-bilo-ono-nepopravljivo-gotovo-jednako-kao-to-to-sam-nekoliko/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“But isn't that what love is, the old man said, being happy to stay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/but-isn-t-that-what-love-is-the-old-man-said-being-happy-to-stay/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“When I was young, because I was young once like you, I heard many organ grinders play, and I can assure you no two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/when-i-was-young-because-i-was-young-once-like-you-i-heard-many-organ/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“I don't know what it is about this city. ...First you appeared, ...and then her, there's always some reason for me to delay my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-about-this-city-first-you-appeared-and-then/) [Andres Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“These memories–we travel inside them. We are their passengers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/these-memories-we-travel-inside-them-we-are-their-passengers/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“Companionship isn't about experiencing the great moments together. True companionship is the other stuff. Sharing a sincere doing nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/companionship-isn-t-about-experiencing-the-great-moments-together/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“Farewells are so strange. There’s something terrifying, deadly, about them, and yet they awaken a desperate urge to live. Perhaps farewells create new territories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/farewells-are-so-strange-there-s-something-terrifying-deadly-about/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) > [“La basura, simplemente, huele a verdad. ¿O se piensan acaso que la verdad tiene aroma a Chanel o a suavizante?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-s-neuman/la-basura-simplemente-huele-a-verdad-o-se-piensan-acaso-que-la-verdad/) [Andrés Neuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) [Explore all 20 Andrés Neuman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-s-neuman/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A vocation is a never-ending mission. 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