--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your vocation in life is where your…" description: "\"Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.\" — Frederick Buechner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png" --- # Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the… ![“Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png) > “Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.” [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding a career that aligns personal joy with societal need creates fulfillment and impact. **In simple terms:** Match joy with need for fulfillment. Key Takeaway Seek work that serves both self and world. Themes purpose career service fulfillment Mood inspired determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - volunteer work - entrepreneurship - social enterprises - personal development Key Concepts meaning vocation societal impact Questions to Reflect On - What need excites you most? - How can your talents address that need? A Different Perspective Balancing personal passion with market demand can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Greatest Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-joy/) [Greatest Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-need/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-greatest/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Vocation Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-life-553259/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Vocation is the place where the world's greatest need and a person's greatest joy meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/vocation-is-the-place-where-the-world-s-greatest-need-and-a-person-s/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant, someone who disrupts the daily drag of life just enough to leave the victim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-ultimate-vocation-in-life-is-to-be-an-irritant-someone-who/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Teaching is supposed to be a vocation for life - not a lifelong vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/teaching-is-supposed-to-be-a-vocation-for-life-not-a-lifelong-vacation/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [To be a mother is a woman's greatest vocation in life. She is a partner with God. No being has a position of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/to-be-a-mother-is-a-woman-s-greatest-vocation-in-life-she-is-a/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“There is something in the depths of our being that hungers for wholeness and finality. Because we are made for eternal life, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/there-is-something-in-the-depths-of-our-being-that-hungers-for/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Your calling is where your own greatest joy intersects with the needs of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-calling-is-where-your-own-greatest-joy-intersects-with-the-needs/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely gives him comfortable subsistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/everyone-has-a-natural-right-to-choose-that-vocation-in-life-which-he/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-ultimate-vocation-in-life-is-to-be-an-irritant/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, therein lies your vocation. These two, your talents and the needs of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/where-your-talents-and-the-needs-of-the-world-cross-therein-lies-your/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Finding and creating your life's work, even if it is entirely different from what you have done most of your life, will bring you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kimbro/finding-and-creating-your-life-s-work-even-if-it-is-entirely/) [Dennis Kimbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kimbro/) > [Your vocation lies in the intersection of the world's deep need and your deep joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-vocation-lies-in-the-intersection-of-the-world-s-deep-need-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/vocation-is-the-place-where-our-deep-gladness-meets-the-world-s-deep/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“Humanity greatest need is God's grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/humanity-greatest-need-is-god-s-grace/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Aggressive Christianity is the world's greatest need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/aggressive-christianity-is-the-world-s-greatest-need/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [I tell myself, 'I'm the greatest, and this is what you need to do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-tell-myself-i-m-the-greatest-and-this-is-what-you-need-to-do/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) ## More by Frederick Buechner > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it didfor millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/it-is-impossible-to-conceive-how-different-things-would-have-turned/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [At least to look back over their own lives, as I have looked back over mine, for certain themes and patterns and signals that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/at-least-to-look-back-over-their-own-lives-as-i-have-looked-back-over/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Snobs are people who look down on other people, but that does not justify our looking down on them. Who can say what dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/snobs-are-people-who-look-down-on-other-people-but-that-does-not/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I could, of course, have done no more if no less than affiliated myself in one way or another with a particular church, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-could-of-course-have-done-no-more-if-no-less-than-affiliated-myself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/even-the-saddest-things-can-become-once-we-have-made-peace-with-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else, just better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/a-christian-isn-t-necessarily-any-nicer-than-anybody-else-just-better/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“The things that the world fills time with are enough to turn the heart to stone, but the goodness of time itself is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-things-that-the-world-fills-time-with-are-enough-to-turn-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The pride that keeps us from forgiving is the same pride which keeps us from accepting forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/the-pride-that-keeps-us-from-forgiving-is-the-same-pride-which-keeps/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but a the same time you carry them with you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/you-can-kiss-your-family-and-friends-good-bye-and-put-miles-between/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [If the truth is worth telling, it is worth making a fool of yourself to tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-the-truth-is-worth-telling-it-is-worth-making-a-fool-of-yourself/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/i-suspect-that-jesus-spoke-many-of-his-parables-as-a-kind-of-sad-and/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“How Adewen stuffed her braid in her mouth at that! Or she'd cover her mirth with her hands and shake till you'd think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/how-adewen-stuffed-her-braid-in-her-mouth-at-that-or-she-d-cover-her/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/resurrection-means-that-the-worst-thing-is-never-the-last-thing/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) [Explore all 339 Frederick Buechner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## 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": "Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Buechner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-greatest-joy-meets-the-world-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-greatest-joy-meets-the-world-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ca/frederick-buechner-883_career_your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-grea_1156559.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.” — Frederick Buechner", "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": "Frederick Buechner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your vocation in life is where...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-greatest-joy-meets-the-world-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/your-vocation-in-life-is-where-your-greatest-joy-meets-the-world-s/#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 } } ] } ```