---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning…"
description: "\"When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.\" — Carl Jung"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg"
---

#  When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose…

![“When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg)

> “When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.”

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Loss of goals erodes meaning, which then removes purpose, leading life to feel dead.

**In simple terms:** Goals, meaning, purpose are linked.

Key Takeaway

Maintain clear goals to sustain purpose.

Themes

purpose meaning goals

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- health goals

Key Concepts

psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What goals give your life meaning?
- How can you revive purpose?

A Different Perspective

Purpose can be restored through new goals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-meaning-1707842/) [Goes Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-meaning-1707844/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-goes/) [Meaning Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-goes-1707843/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-goes-1707841/)

## Related quotes

> [If I had one wish for my children, it would be that each of them would reach for goals that have meaning for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-gordy-carter/if-i-had-one-wish-for-my-children-it-would-be-that-each-of-them-would/)

[Lillian Gordy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-gordy-carter/)

> [If one fails to develop goals that give meaning to one’s existence, if one does not use the mind to it’s fullest, then good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/if-one-fails-to-develop-goals-that-give-meaning-to-one-s-existence-if/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [The self is our life's goal, for it is the completest expression of that fateful combination we call individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-our-life-s-goal-for-it-is-the-completest-expression-of/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [People change. Feelings fade. Lovers drift. Friends leave. Friends become enemies. Lovers become strangers. Whatever happens but Life goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan/people-change-feelings-fade-lovers-drift-friends-leave-friends-become/)

[AaRon CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan/)

> [Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-re-flush-and-sometimes-you-re-bust-and-when-you-re-up/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life keeps going...love is meaningful and it means something special...but happiness is the key to making your dreams come true...if you dont have love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-keeps-going-love-is-meaningful-and-it-means-something-special/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Life goes different ways for different people. Some people’s lives are formed by a cookie cutter and some are immediately tossed from the kitchen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-zelazny/life-goes-different-ways-for-different-people-some-people-s-lives-are/)

[Trent Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-zelazny/)

> [Life goes on thats just the principle of everything in existence, cuz the closer you get, the farther youll realize you have to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/life-goes-on-thats-just-the-principle-of-everything-in-existence-cuz/)

[Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/)

> [“Interesting how life goes on in spite of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/interesting-how-life-goes-on-in-spite-of-itself/)

[Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/)

> [You WASTED my time, soo therefore YOU AINT WORTH MY TIME LIFE GOES ON!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty/you-wasted-my-time-soo-therefore-you-aint-worth-my-time-life-goes-on/)

[Ty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty/)

> [I was in this sheltered little environment where, basically, all my high school experience was in 'Life Goes On,' and everyone told me where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-was-in-this-sheltered-little-environment-where-basically-all-my/)

[Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/)

> [Life gOes on with or withOut yOu :-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-goes-on-with-or-without-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life Goes Very Fast When You Are A Youth, Just Hope You Don't Go With The Flow Till The Point Where You Find It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juru-samuels/life-goes-very-fast-when-you-are-a-youth-just-hope-you-don-t-go-with/)

[Juru Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juru-samuels/)

> [Life goes by fast. Enjoy it. Calm down. It's all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/life-goes-by-fast-enjoy-it-calm-down-it-s-all-funny/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [Life goes quickly, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/life-goes-quickly-doesn-t-it/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

## More by Carl Jung

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Metaphysical assertions, however, are statements of the psyche, and are therefore psychological. Whenever the Westerner hears the word “psychological,” it always sounds to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/metaphysical-assertions-however-are-statements-of-the-psyche-and-are/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Like the sea itself, the unconscious yields an endless and self-replenishing abundance of creatures, a wealth beyond our fathoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/like-the-sea-itself-the-unconscious-yields-an-endless-and-self/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Synchronicity reveals the meaningful connections between the subjective and objective world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/synchronicity-reveals-the-meaningful-connections-between-the/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Instinct is like Nature herself - prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/instinct-is-like-nature-herself-prodigiously-conservative-and-yet/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Paul hardly ever allows the real Jesus of Nazareth to get a word in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/paul-hardly-ever-allows-the-real-jesus-of-nazareth-to-get-a-word-in/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [“He would have lived countless times over the life of the individual, of the family, tribe and people, and he would possess the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/he-would-have-lived-countless-times-over-the-life-of-the-individual/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [People learn from who we are, rather than what we say, and to believe otherwise is a disease of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/people-learn-from-who-we-are-rather-than-what-we-say-and-to-believe/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Neurosis is an inner cleavage-the state of being at war with oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/neurosis-is-an-inner-cleavage-the-state-of-being-at-war-with-oneself/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-sad-but-unfortunately-true-that-man-learns-nothing-from-history/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Life is a luminous pause between two mysteries that are yet one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/life-is-a-luminous-pause-between-two-mysteries-that-are-yet-one/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Explore all 775 Carl Jung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

## More Goal 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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [“my role my goal my dream my life not yours -all mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-sisk/my-role-my-goal-my-dream-my-life-not-yours-all-mine/)

[Emi Sisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emi-sisk/)

> [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/)

[Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/)

> [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

> [Everybody tries to score a great goal, and I am lucky I have netted a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everybody-tries-to-score-a-great-goal-and-i-am-lucky-i-have-netted-a/)

[Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/)

> [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [When you look around the room during meetings and practice, you see that everyone has the same goal. It's obvious by the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kendricks/when-you-look-around-the-room-during-meetings-and-practice-you-see/)

[Eric Kendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kendricks/)

> [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/)

[Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/)

> [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/)

[Dayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayana/)

> [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/)

[Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/)

[Browse all 9,890 Goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carl Jung"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning-goes-purpose-goes-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Goal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning-goes-purpose-goes-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/carl-jung-274_goal_when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning_154023.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands.” — Carl Jung",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Carl Jung",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When goals go, meaning goes. When...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning-goes-purpose-goes-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/when-goals-go-meaning-goes-when-meaning-goes-purpose-goes-when/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
