---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life…"
description: "\"“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very quick question to answer, however, and th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg"
---

#  Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very…

![“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very quick question to answer, however, and this you will understand one day, or even sooner. Love and be loved, and do a little bit of good. That is the purpose of life, even though tennis is…” quote by Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg)

> ““Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very quick question to answer, however, and this you will understand one day, or even sooner. Love and be loved, and do a little bit of good. That is the purpose of life, even though tennis is not cricket.””

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

## About This Quote

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

The purpose of life is to love, be loved, and perform small acts of kindness, despite life's trivialities.

**In simple terms:** Love, be loved, do good.

Key Takeaway

Practice kindness daily.

Themes

love kindness purpose life meaning

Mood

warm hopeful reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- community service
- daily interactions
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

humanism ethical behavior existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- What small act of kindness can you do today?
- How do you balance personal joy with helping others?

A Different Perspective

The definition may oversimplify complex philosophical debates.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Asks Puttar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks-puttar-2223475/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-tennis-1974563/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-life/) [Purpose of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-life/) [Puttar Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puttar-purpose-2223476/) [Ranga-plays-australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ranga-plays-australia-154000/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/)

## Related quotes

> [“1. Some people, Ranga, try to make things too complicated. One thing is not complicated. Two things are complicated, but not very complicated. Three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/1-some-people-ranga-try-to-make-things-too-complicated-one-thing-is/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Some people are like drums, Ranga. They are only heard when you strike them. Do not be like a drum, Ranga, be heard when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/some-people-are-like-drums-ranga-they-are-only-heard-when-you-strike/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a very unfortunate situation for the batting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/if-it-walks-like-a-duck-quacks-like-a-duck-and-looks-like-a-duck-it/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Think about the future, Ranga, but do not live in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/think-about-the-future-ranga-but-do-not-live-in-it/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“A boy, Ranga, is tomorrow’s world the day after tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/a-boy-ranga-is-tomorrow-s-world-the-day-after-tomorrow/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Some people are like dogs, Ranga, with wagging tails. Whilst thou are happily watching their wagging tails they are happily biting thou with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/some-people-are-like-dogs-ranga-with-wagging-tails-whilst-thou-are/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Too simple? An idea cannot be too simple. Simple is sometimes great, indeed. The Mahatma had a simple idea, although the British did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/too-simple-an-idea-cannot-be-too-simple-simple-is-sometimes-great/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [I have a very positive outlook on life. And not even tennis. Just even off-court, I would say everything that I'm doing daily, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-brady/i-have-a-very-positive-outlook-on-life-and-not-even-tennis-just-even/)

[Jennifer Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-brady/)

> [“A boy, Ranga, is a man in waiting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns-2/a-boy-ranga-is-a-man-in-waiting/)

[Ian B G Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns-2/)

> [I've changed my whole life around, I've devoted my life for tennis instead of partying. I'm very happy, you know, I'm 27, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-philippoussis/i-ve-changed-my-whole-life-around-i-ve-devoted-my-life-for-tennis/)

[Mark Philippoussis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-philippoussis/)

> [If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/if-you-can-react-the-same-way-to-winning-and-losing-that-s-a-big-2/)

[Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/)

> [At some point, you have worked so hard in your life and your tennis that you don't want to be too much up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/at-some-point-you-have-worked-so-hard-in-your-life-and-your-tennis/)

[Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/)

> [You always need to try hard to find solutions. It's the same in life or tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/you-always-need-to-try-hard-to-find-solutions-it-s-the-same-in-life/)

[Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/)

> [I feel like my whole life only tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-na/i-feel-like-my-whole-life-only-tennis/)

[Li Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-na/)

> [I like putting money back into what made my life, and tennis has been great to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-like-putting-money-back-into-what-made-my-life-and-tennis-has-been/)

[Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/)

## More by Ian B.G. Burns

> [“1. Some people, Ranga, try to make things too complicated. One thing is not complicated. Two things are complicated, but not very complicated. Three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/1-some-people-ranga-try-to-make-things-too-complicated-one-thing-is/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“A boy, Ranga, is the light in his father’s eye and the love in his mother’s heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/a-boy-ranga-is-the-light-in-his-father-s-eye-and-the-love-in-his/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Too simple? An idea cannot be too simple. Simple is sometimes great, indeed. The Mahatma had a simple idea, although the British did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/too-simple-an-idea-cannot-be-too-simple-simple-is-sometimes-great/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Some people are like dogs, Ranga, with wagging tails. Whilst thou are happily watching their wagging tails they are happily biting thou with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/some-people-are-like-dogs-ranga-with-wagging-tails-whilst-thou-are/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Think about the future, Ranga, but do not live in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/think-about-the-future-ranga-but-do-not-live-in-it/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a very unfortunate situation for the batting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/if-it-walks-like-a-duck-quacks-like-a-duck-and-looks-like-a-duck-it/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Those English always say, "Look before thou leap". But, as is customary with the English, that is looking the wrong way. I say, Ranga,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/those-english-always-say-look-before-thou-leap-but-as-is-customary/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“Some people are like drums, Ranga. They are only heard when you strike them. Do not be like a drum, Ranga, be heard when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/some-people-are-like-drums-ranga-they-are-only-heard-when-you-strike/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

> [“A boy, Ranga, is tomorrow’s world the day after tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/a-boy-ranga-is-tomorrow-s-world-the-day-after-tomorrow/)

[Ian B.G. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

[Explore all 10 Ian B.G. Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/)

## More Life quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/)

[Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/)

> [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/)

[Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/)

> [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/)

[Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/)

> [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/)

[Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/)

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

> [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

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

> [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

[Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very quick question to answer, however, and this you will understand one day, or even sooner. Love and be loved, and do a little bit of good. That is the purpose of life, even though tennis is not cricket.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian B.G. Burns"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-this-is-a-very-large-question/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-this-is-a-very-large-question/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/ian-b-g-burns-42431_life_thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-thi_1014405.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of life. This is a very large question indeed from one so young. It is a very…” — Ian B.G. Burns",
                "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": "Ian B.G. Burns",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-b-g-burns/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Thou asks, puttar, the purpose of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-this-is-a-very-large-question/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-b-g-burns/thou-asks-puttar-the-purpose-of-life-this-is-a-very-large-question/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
