--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the ultimate purpose of life?…" description: "\"What is the ultimate purpose of life? It's to give.\" — Narayanan Krishnan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/narayanan-krishnan-62383_giving_what-is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-it_258891.png" --- # What is the ultimate purpose of life? It's to give. ![“What is the ultimate purpose of life? It's to give.” quote by Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/narayanan-krishnan-62383_giving_what-is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-it_258891.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/narayanan-krishnan-62383_giving_what-is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-it_258891.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3b/narayanan-krishnan-62383_giving_what-is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-it_258891.png) > “What is the ultimate purpose of life? It's to give.” [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s highest aim is to give to others, suggesting purpose is found through generosity and service. **In simple terms:** The purpose of life is to give to others. Key Takeaway Live by giving. Themes purpose generosity service Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - charitable work - daily kindness - mentor relationships Key Concepts altruism meaning human connection Questions to Reflect On - What can you give today? - How does giving shape your identity? A Different Perspective Giving can lead to personal burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [The one function that most gods seem to have in common is to give human existence some ultimate purpose - and, while it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-smoker/the-one-function-that-most-gods-seem-to-have-in-common-is-to-give/) [Barbara Smoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-smoker/) > [The ultimate purpose of life is to show that Jesus is more precious than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-is-to-show-that-jesus-is-more-precious/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The ultimate purpose of life is happiness, but happinesscomes easier when pursued indirectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/the-ultimate-purpose-of-life-is-happiness-but-happinesscomes-easier/) Senoraroy > [I have always believed that the ultimate purpose of economic policies and development policy is to meet the basic needs of our people. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-have-always-believed-that-the-ultimate-purpose-of-economic-policies/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [“Reflect on why you’re here. What is your ultimate purpose in life? What do you want to be, do, and have? What do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-johnson/reflect-on-why-you-re-here-what-is-your-ultimate-purpose-in-life-what/) [Vic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-johnson/) > [It was the ghost of rationality itself ... This is the ghost of normal everyday assumptions which declares that the ultimate purpose of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/it-was-the-ghost-of-rationality-itself-this-is-the-ghost-of-normal/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If you are searching for your purpose in life then you're never going to be satisfied. This life will never satisfy you. You'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/if-you-are-searching-for-your-purpose-in-life-then-you-re-never-going/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-great-question-underlies-our-experience-whether-we-think-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [To desire to be what one can be is purpose in life. There are no exterior forces. There are only interior forces. Who squanders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/to-desire-to-be-what-one-can-be-is-purpose-in-life-there-are-no/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [To remain healthy a man must have some goal, some purpose in life that he can respect and be proud to work for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/to-remain-healthy-a-man-must-have-some-goal-some-purpose-in-life-that/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [Problems tend to be put into their proper perspective the moment we get off SELF, and on PURPOSE. By choosing your purpose in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/problems-tend-to-be-put-into-their-proper-perspective-the-moment-we/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [We think the purpose of a child is to grow up because it does grow up. But its purpose is to play, to enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/we-think-the-purpose-of-a-child-is-to-grow-up-because-it-does-grow-up/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [I used to believe the purpose in life is to find happiness. I don’t believe that anymore. I believe we are all given gifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/i-used-to-believe-the-purpose-in-life-is-to-find-happiness-i-don-t/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) ## More by Narayanan Krishnan > [I want to save my people. That is the purpose of my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narayanan-krishnan/i-want-to-save-my-people-that-is-the-purpose-of-my-life/) [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) > [Food is one part. Love is another part. I cut their hair, I give them a shave, I give them bath. For them, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narayanan-krishnan/food-is-one-part-love-is-another-part-i-cut-their-hair-i-give-them-a/) [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) > [I saw a very old man, literally eating his own human waste out of hunger. I went to the nearby hotel and asked them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narayanan-krishnan/i-saw-a-very-old-man-literally-eating-his-own-human-waste-out-of/) [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) > [Everybody has got 5.5 liters of blood. I am just a human being. For me everybody the same. There are thousands and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narayanan-krishnan/everybody-has-got-5-5-liters-of-blood-i-am-just-a-human-being-for-me-2/) [Narayanan Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) [Explore all 5 Narayanan Krishnan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narayanan-krishnan/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the ultimate purpose of life? 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