--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man who sets out to justify his…" description: "\"A man who sets out to justify his existence and his activities has to distinguish two different questions. The first is whether the work which he does ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/g-h-hardy-8763_activity_a-man-who-sets-out-to-justify-his-existe_2013141.jpg" --- # A man who sets out to justify his existence and his… ![“A man who sets out to justify his existence and his activities has to distinguish two different questions. The first is whether the work which he does is worth doing; and the second is why he does it (whatever its value may be).” quote by G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/g-h-hardy-8763_activity_a-man-who-sets-out-to-justify-his-existe_2013141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/g-h-hardy-8763_activity_a-man-who-sets-out-to-justify-his-existe_2013141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/g-h-hardy-8763_activity_a-man-who-sets-out-to-justify-his-existe_2013141.jpg) > “A man who sets out to justify his existence and his activities has to distinguish two different questions. The first is whether the work which he does is worth doing; and the second is why he does it (whatever its value may be).” [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must assess both the value of work and the purpose behind it, separating intrinsic worth from personal motivation. **In simple terms:** Evaluate work's worth and why you do it. Key Takeaway Consider both value and purpose. Themes purpose value existence motivation philosophy Mood contemplative philosophical Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - artistic projects - scientific research - personal goals Key Concepts ethics meaning self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to pursue this work? - Is the work valuable even if motivation shifts? A Different Perspective Purpose can be ambiguous and change over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“An existant can never justify the existence of another existant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/an-existant-can-never-justify-the-existence-of-another-existant/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I feel worn down as a human being who has to constantly justify their existence to other human beings because I'm a minority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-feel-worn-down-as-a-human-being-who-has-to-constantly-justify-their/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [The hour when you say, "What does my happiness matter? It is poverty and filth, and a wretched complacency. Yet my happiness should justify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-hour-when-you-say-what-does-my-happiness-matter-it-is-poverty-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Every activity worth doing has a learning curve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/every-activity-worth-doing-has-a-learning-curve/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“...although the reason for the existence of women is obvious enough, nobody has any real idea what point there is in being a man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/although-the-reason-for-the-existence-of-women-is-obvious-enough/) [Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/) > [“Can you justify your existence then?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/can-you-justify-your-existence-then/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We should all be obliged to appear before a board every five years and justify our existence... on pain of liquidation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/we-should-all-be-obliged-to-appear-before-a-board-every-five-years/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The individual who has to justify his existence by his own efforts is in eternal bondage to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-individual-who-has-to-justify-his-existence-by-his-own-efforts-is/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [We are all warriors. Each of us struggles every day to define and defend our sense of purpose and integrity, to justify our existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/we-are-all-warriors-each-of-us-struggles-every-day-to-define-and/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Every individual concerned to justify his existence feels that his existence involves an undefined need to transcend himself, to engage in freely chosen projects.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/every-individual-concerned-to-justify-his-existence-feels-that-his/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [To be just, that is to say, to justify its existence, criticism should be partial, passionate and political, that is to say, written from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/to-be-just-that-is-to-say-to-justify-its-existence-criticism-should-2/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Why do we need to justify God's existence? He exists. We need to justify our own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/why-do-we-need-to-justify-god-s-existence-he-exists-we-need-to/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [“In particular those who are condemned to stagnation are often pronounced happy on the pretext that happiness consists in being at rest. This notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/in-particular-those-who-are-condemned-to-stagnation-are-often/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [To be just, that is to say, to justify its existence, criticism should be partial, passionate and political, that is to say, written from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/to-be-just-that-is-to-say-to-justify-its-existence-criticism-should/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [“You are alive, and you don’t need to justify your existence. You can be the biggest mystery in your own story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/you-are-alive-and-you-don-t-need-to-justify-your-existence-you-can-be/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) ## More by G. H. Hardy > [Cricket is the only game where you are playing against eleven of the other side and ten of your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/cricket-is-the-only-game-where-you-are-playing-against-eleven-of-the/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [The "seriousness" of a mathematical theorem lies, not in its practical consequences, which are usually negligible, but in the significance of the mathematical ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/the-seriousness-of-a-mathematical-theorem-lies-not-in-its-practical/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-discovery-of-mine-has-made-or-is-likely-to-make-directly-or/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [It is a melancholy experience for a professional mathematician to find himself writing about mathematics. The function of a mathematician is to do something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/it-is-a-melancholy-experience-for-a-professional-mathematician-to/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/beauty-is-the-first-test-there-is-no-permanent-place-in-the-world-for/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [ They \[formulae 1.10 - 1.12 of Ramanujan\] must be true because, if they were not true, no one would have had the imagination to invent them. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/they-formulae-1-10-1-12-of-ramanujan-must-be-true-because-if-they/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [When the world is mad, a mathematician may find in mathematics an incomparable anodyne. For mathematics is, of all the arts and sciences, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/when-the-world-is-mad-a-mathematician-may-find-in-mathematics-an/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Asked if he believes in one G-d, a mathematician answered: "Yes, up to isomorphism".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/asked-if-he-believes-in-one-g-d-a-mathematician-answered-yes-up-to/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [No one should ever be bored. … One can be horrified, or disgusted, but one can’t be bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-one-should-ever-be-bored-one-can-be-horrified-or-disgusted-but-one/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [I propose to put forward an apology for mathematics; and I may be told that it needs none, since there are now few studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/i-propose-to-put-forward-an-apology-for-mathematics-and-i-may-be-told/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [For my part, it is difficult for me to say what I owe to Ramanujan - his originality has been a constant source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/for-my-part-it-is-difficult-for-me-to-say-what-i-owe-to-ramanujan-his/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [A mathematician, like a painter or poet, is a maker of patterns. If his patterns are more permanent than theirs, it is because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/a-mathematician-like-a-painter-or-poet-is-a-maker-of-patterns-if-his/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [A month's intelligent instruction in the theory of numbes ought to be twice as instructive, twice as useful, and at least 10 times as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/a-month-s-intelligent-instruction-in-the-theory-of-numbes-ought-to-be/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [The fact is there are few more popular subjects than mathematics. Most people have some appreciation of mathematics, just as most people can enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/the-fact-is-there-are-few-more-popular-subjects-than-mathematics-most/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [If intellectual curiosity, professional pride, and ambition are the dominant incentives to research, then assuredly no one has a fairer chance of gratifying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/if-intellectual-curiosity-professional-pride-and-ambition-are-the/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) [Explore all 78 G. H. Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man who sets out to justify his existence and his activities has to distinguish two different questions. 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