--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ultimate purpose? There are three…" description: "\"“The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.”\" — Benton MacKaye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/benton-mackaye-42462_goals_the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-thi_2252957.jpg" --- # The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk… ![“The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.” quote by Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/benton-mackaye-42462_goals_the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-thi_2252957.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/benton-mackaye-42462_goals_the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-thi_2252957.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/benton-mackaye-42462_goals_the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-thi_2252957.jpg) > ““The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.”” [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote lists three fundamental aims: walking, seeing, and reflecting on what is seen, emphasizing active engagement with the world. **In simple terms:** Walk, see, and reflect on what you see. Key Takeaway Engage fully with experience. Themes purpose mindfulness experience Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - travel - nature walks - creative observation - personal growth Key Concepts Existentialism self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn seeing into understanding? - What does “seeing what you see” mean to you? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper analysis beyond observation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [There are three things: to walk, to see, and to see what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/there-are-three-things-to-walk-to-see-and-to-see-what-you-see/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [No matter how bad things get, you can still walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/no-matter-how-bad-things-get-you-can-still-walk-away/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [There are things you can't walk away from. Not if you want to live with yourself afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/there-are-things-you-can-t-walk-away-from-not-if-you-want-to-live/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Our freedom can be measured by the number of things we can walk away from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/our-freedom-can-be-measured-by-the-number-of-things-we-can-walk-away/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [I have always believed that the ultimate purpose of economic policies and development policy is to meet the basic needs of our people. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-have-always-believed-that-the-ultimate-purpose-of-economic-policies/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [When things fall apart, consider the possibility that life knocked it down on purpose. Not to bully you, or to punish you, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-things-fall-apart-consider-the-possibility-that-life-knocked-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Love. Purpose. Those are things that you can't plan for. Those are things that just happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/love-purpose-those-are-things-that-you-can-t-plan-for-those-are/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [The things you need in life are those that will help you to fulfill your dominant purpose. Things you may want but not need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-things-you-need-in-life-are-those-that-will-help-you-to-fulfill/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that God has a purpose for things. Everything fits together like a puzzle, but we’re looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/if-there-s-one-thing-i-know-it-s-that-god-has-a-purpose-for-things/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [“But it would serve no purpose – there are many things the ones we love don’t need to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cimadori/but-it-would-serve-no-purpose-there-are-many-things-the-ones-we-love/) Sandra Cimadori > [God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-is-not-concerned-about-our-plans-he-doesn-t-ask-do-you-want-to-go/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-men-may-construe-things-after-their-fashion-clean-from-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The true purpose is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-true-purpose-is-to-see-things-as-they-are-to-observe-things-as/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [I would much rather live a life of purpose than one in which I might have other things but not that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-would-much-rather-live-a-life-of-purpose-than-one-in-which-i-might/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) ## More by Benton MacKaye > [“The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for civilization; the trailway should 'open up' a country as an escape from civilization... The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/the-railway-opens-up-a-country-as-a-site-for-civilization-the/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [A period recourse into the wilds is not a retreat into secret silent sanctums to escape a wicked world, it is to take breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/a-period-recourse-into-the-wilds-is-not-a-retreat-into-secret-silent/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [Wilderness is two things-fact and feeling. It is a fund of knowledge and a spring of influence. It is the ultimate source of health-terrestrial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/wilderness-is-two-things-fact-and-feeling-it-is-a-fund-of-knowledge/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [However useful may be the National Parks and Forests of the West for those affording the Pullman fare to reach them, what is needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/however-useful-may-be-the-national-parks-and-forests-of-the-west-for/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [There are three things: to walk, to see, and to see what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/there-are-three-things-to-walk-to-see-and-to-see-what-you-see/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [One function, at least, of true wilderness is to provide a refuge from the crassitudes of civilization-whether visible, intangible, audible-whether of billboard, of pavement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/one-function-at-least-of-true-wilderness-is-to-provide-a-refuge-from/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [My own doctrine of organization is that any body of people coming together for a purpose (whatever it may be) should consist of persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/my-own-doctrine-of-organization-is-that-any-body-of-people-coming/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [For we need this thing wilderness far more than it needs us. Civilizations (like glaciers) come and go, but the mountain and its forest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/for-we-need-this-thing-wilderness-far-more-than-it-needs-us/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [The problem of living is at bottom an economic one. And this alone is bad enough, even in a period of so-called "normalcy." But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/the-problem-of-living-is-at-bottom-an-economic-one-and-this-alone-is/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) [Explore all 10 Benton MacKaye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The ultimate purpose? 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