--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We humans appear to be meaning-seeking…" description: "\"“We humans appear to be meaning-seeking creatures who have had the misfortune of being thrown into a world devoid of intrinsic meaning. One of our majo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/irvin-d-yalom-1519_life_we-humans-appear-to-be-meaning-seeking-c_1298605.png" --- # We humans appear to be meaning-seeking creatures who have… ![“We humans appear to be meaning-seeking creatures who have had the misfortune of being thrown into a world devoid of intrinsic meaning. One of our major tasks is to invent a meaning sturdy enough to support a life and to perform the tricky maneuver of denying our personal authorship of this…” quote by Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/irvin-d-yalom-1519_life_we-humans-appear-to-be-meaning-seeking-c_1298605.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/irvin-d-yalom-1519_life_we-humans-appear-to-be-meaning-seeking-c_1298605.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/irvin-d-yalom-1519_life_we-humans-appear-to-be-meaning-seeking-c_1298605.png) > ““We humans appear to be meaning-seeking creatures who have had the misfortune of being thrown into a world devoid of intrinsic meaning. One of our major tasks is to invent a meaning sturdy enough to support a life and to perform the tricky maneuver of denying our personal authorship of this meaning. Thus we conclude instead that it was "out there" waiting for us. Our ongoing search for substantial meaning systems often throws us into crises of meaning.”” [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans crave purpose in a universe without inherent meaning, so we create and sometimes deny our own narratives to feel grounded. **In simple terms:** People make up meaning to cope with a meaningless world. Key Takeaway Recognize and own the meanings you create. Themes existentialism meaning psychology identity crisis Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - life planning - philosophical debate Key Concepts authorship denial search for purpose existential anxiety Questions to Reflect On - What meanings have you invented? - How does denying authorship affect your life? 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Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [“Beginning therapists must learn that there are times to sit in silence, sometimes in silent communion, sometimes simply while waiting for patients' thoughts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/beginning-therapists-must-learn-that-there-are-times-to-sit-in/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) ## More by Irvin D. Yalom > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [I dream of a love that is more than two people craving to possess one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/i-dream-of-a-love-that-is-more-than-two-people-craving-to-possess-one/) [Irvin D. 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