--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one knows where we are going, the aim…" description: "\"No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. Man has set out at tremendous speed- to go nowhere.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/jacques-ellul-4407_aim_no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim_270868.jpg" --- # No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been… ![“No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. Man has set out at tremendous speed- to go nowhere.” quote by Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/jacques-ellul-4407_aim_no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim_270868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/jacques-ellul-4407_aim_no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim_270868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/jacques-ellul-4407_aim_no-one-knows-where-we-are-going-the-aim_270868.jpg) > “No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. Man has set out at tremendous speed- to go nowhere.” [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity rushes forward without purpose, forgetting life's meaning and ultimate goals, leading to aimless progress. **In simple terms:** We chase speed, losing direction and purpose. Key Takeaway Pause to reflect on purpose. Themes purpose meaning modernity existence Mood reflective serious Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - societal critique - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts technological determinism existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What purpose guides your actions? - How can you balance progress with meaning? A Different Perspective Speed alone cannot provide fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim-of-life/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) ## Related quotes > [My biggest fear in life is to be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evita-peron/my-biggest-fear-in-life-is-to-be-forgotten/) [Evita Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evita-peron/) > [“They lived und laughed ant loved end left.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-lived-und-laughed-ant-loved-end-left/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You promised you'd stay. but in the end, you left me. like they all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/you-promised-you-d-stay-but-in-the-end-you-left-me-like-they-all-do/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Why every one we love do this to us… make promises… and everything and in the end they left us like we were just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/echoyan/why-every-one-we-love-do-this-to-us-make-promises-and-everything-and/) EchoYan > [It take's two to tango, but in the end only one is left to raise the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-take-s-two-to-tango-but-in-the-end-only-one-is-left-to-raise-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, all that's left is an echo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/in-the-end-all-that-s-left-is-an-echo/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [ “The war's \[World War II\] end has left America with loads of get-up-and-go, and no place to go. ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/the-war-s-world-war-ii-end-has-left-america-with-loads-of-get-up-and/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“In the end…we are left with ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-scott/in-the-end-we-are-left-with-ourselves/) [A.H. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-scott/) > [You try to keep life simple but it never works, and in the end all you have left is yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/you-try-to-keep-life-simple-but-it-never-works-and-in-the-end-all-you/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Once you start, there is no end to who is to go in and who is to be left out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-fisher/once-you-start-there-is-no-end-to-who-is-to-go-in-and-who-is-to-be/) [Geoffrey Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-fisher/) > [We have friendships, favors, loyalty Forgot to say alive, but who says life has been forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-friendships-favors-loyalty-forgot-to-say-alive-but-who-says/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Please come back in my life, I have forgotten to live it without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaceem-madd/please-come-back-in-my-life-i-have-forgotten-to-live-it-without-you/) [Kaceem Madd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaceem-madd/) > [“We live in a story in our heads that is always trying to get us to “do” life, dictating to us, telling us we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-o-malley/we-live-in-a-story-in-our-heads-that-is-always-trying-to-get-us-to-do/) [Mary O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-o-malley/) > [“Writing is breathing life into forgotten memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-anske/writing-is-breathing-life-into-forgotten-memories/) [Ksenia Anske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-anske/) > [“If we knew we could carry our memories to wherever we go next, then there would be nothing to fear. It's just the thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-knew-we-could-carry-our-memories-to-wherever-we-go-next-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jacques Ellul > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Propaganda begins when dialogue ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/propaganda-begins-when-dialogue-ends/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/christians-were-never-meant-to-be-normal-we-ve-always-been-holy/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [It is inconceivable that the God who gives Himself in His Son to save us, should have created some people ordained to evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-inconceivable-that-the-god-who-gives-himself-in-his-son-to-save/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Technological society leads to increasing numbers of people who cannot adapt to the inhuman rhythm of modern life with its emphasis on specialization. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/technological-society-leads-to-increasing-numbers-of-people-who/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [It is the multiplication of men who are exluded from working which provokes war. We ought at least to bear this in mind when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/it-is-the-multiplication-of-men-who-are-exluded-from-working-which/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The orchestration of press, radio and television to create a continuous, lasting and total environment renders the influence of propaganda virtually unnoticed precisely because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-orchestration-of-press-radio-and-television-to-create-a/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“No society can last in conditions of anarchy. This is self-evident and I am in full agreement. But my aim is not the establishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/no-society-can-last-in-conditions-of-anarchy-this-is-self-evident-and/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The qualities which technique requires for its advance are precisely those characteristics of a technical order which do not represent indivisual intelligence...The individual, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-qualities-which-technique-requires-for-its-advance-are-precisely/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Education no longer has a humanist end or any value in itself; it has only one goal, to create technicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/education-no-longer-has-a-humanist-end-or-any-value-in-itself-it-has/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The goal of modern propaganda is no longer to transform opinion but to arouse an active and mythical belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-goal-of-modern-propaganda-is-no-longer-to-transform-opinion-but/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Freedom is completely without meaning unless it is related to necessity, unless it represents victory over necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/freedom-is-completely-without-meaning-unless-it-is-related-to/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [When there is propaganda, we are no longer able to evaluate certain questions, or even to discuss them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/when-there-is-propaganda-we-are-no-longer-able-to-evaluate-certain/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [True technique will know how to maintain the illusion of liberty, choice, and individuality; but these will have been carefully calculated so that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/true-technique-will-know-how-to-maintain-the-illusion-of-liberty/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“To the extent that propaganda is based on current news, it cannot permit time for thought or reflection. A man caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/to-the-extent-that-propaganda-is-based-on-current-news-it-cannot/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) [Explore all 106 Jacques Ellul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [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/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No one knows where we are going, the aim of life has been forgotten, the end has been left behind. 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