--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every person has a longing to be…" description: "\"Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/john-c-maxwell-113_contribution_every-person-has-a-longing-to-be-signifi_2464349.jpg" --- # Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a… ![“Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/john-c-maxwell-113_contribution_every-person-has-a-longing-to-be-signifi_2464349.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/john-c-maxwell-113_contribution_every-person-has-a-longing-to-be-signifi_2464349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/john-c-maxwell-113_contribution_every-person-has-a-longing-to-be-signifi_2464349.jpg) > “Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People desire purpose, contribution, and belonging to something greater than themselves. **In simple terms:** Humans seek meaning and impact. Key Takeaway Pursue roles that serve a higher cause. Themes purpose contribution belonging meaning Mood inspired reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career choice - volunteering - team projects - personal mission statements Key Concepts self‑actualization social identity legacy Questions to Reflect On - What does significance look like for you? - How can you align daily actions with a larger purpose? A Different Perspective Desire for significance can clash with realistic limitations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Longing Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-significant-692955/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Noble Purposeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble-purposeful-692956/) [Person Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-longing-692957/) [Purposeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposeful/) [Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significant/) ## Related quotes > [If the entire divinity and domain of God sits in the heart of a person, and his longing becomes timeless, then man can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/if-the-entire-divinity-and-domain-of-god-sits-in-the-heart-of-a/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [I wasn't a person who was longing forever to have a baby; the desire came up suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-wasn-t-a-person-who-was-longing-forever-to-have-a-baby-the-desire/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [“What a blessing to love someone so much that you long for them at the core of your being. 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And while it’s terribly painful to admit, incessantly pretending that I do the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/running-is-driven-by-panic-destination-is-driven-by-thought-and-while/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [All of her bones seemed more purposeful than other people’s. Like they weren’t just there to hold her up, they were there to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/all-of-her-bones-seemed-more-purposeful-than-other-people-s-like-they/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [The best way to create a purposeful life is to allow the soul's decision to precede the body's action. One does not do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-best-way-to-create-a-purposeful-life-is-to-allow-the-soul-s/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“Life is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/life-is-difficult/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. 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Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Contribution quotes > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. 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His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The way a culture treats women in birth is a good indicator of how well women and their contributions to society are valued and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-may-gaskin/the-way-a-culture-treats-women-in-birth-is-a-good-indicator-of-how/) [Ina May Gaskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-may-gaskin/) > [The excellence of this important contribution to genre literature CANNOT be overstated A masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-nolan/the-excellence-of-this-important-contribution-to-genre-literature/) [William F. Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-nolan/) > [Of course, corporations and governments have a right to something for their money. They pay the wages. 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