--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where can you find purpose? Like success…" description: "\"Where can you find purpose? Like success and happiness, our purpose exists in the present, and we constantly strive toward the future to maintain it. W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/philip-zimbardo-8654_happiness_where-can-you-find-purpose-like-success_1017262.png" --- # Where can you find purpose? Like success and happiness… ![“Where can you find purpose? Like success and happiness, our purpose exists in the present, and we constantly strive toward the future to maintain it. What it is for which we strive is up to each of us. The important thing is that we strive toward something.” quote by Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/philip-zimbardo-8654_happiness_where-can-you-find-purpose-like-success_1017262.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/philip-zimbardo-8654_happiness_where-can-you-find-purpose-like-success_1017262.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/philip-zimbardo-8654_happiness_where-can-you-find-purpose-like-success_1017262.png) > “Where can you find purpose? Like success and happiness, our purpose exists in the present, and we constantly strive toward the future to maintain it. What it is for which we strive is up to each of us. The important thing is that we strive toward something.” [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Purpose is a present‑oriented drive that guides future aspirations, shaped individually. **In simple terms:** Purpose lives now, guides future. Key Takeaway Define present purpose. Themes purpose time motivation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - mindfulness practice Key Concepts existentialism goal‑setting future‑orientation Questions to Reflect On - What present actions reflect your purpose? - How do you balance present joy with future goals? A Different Perspective Purpose may shift over time, causing uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“We don’t strive to make the future better; we strive because the future is lacking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaal-ama-darav/we-don-t-strive-to-make-the-future-better-we-strive-because-the/) Jaal Ama Darav > [“I can only strive for what is important”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-thomas/i-can-only-strive-for-what-is-important/) [Rosie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-thomas/) > [Art has no purpose. It exists for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-scher/art-has-no-purpose-it-exists-for-its-own-sake/) [Paula Scher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-scher/) > [A speech without a specific purpose is like a journey without a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-c-smedley/a-speech-without-a-specific-purpose-is-like-a-journey-without-a/) [Ralph C. Smedley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-c-smedley/) > [“You must have purpose in your life. A person without purpose is like a mighty river without its source, a soaring tree without its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-edward-simone/you-must-have-purpose-in-your-life-a-person-without-purpose-is-like-a/) [Val Edward Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-edward-simone/) > [If you lose your purpose ... it's like you're broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/if-you-lose-your-purpose-it-s-like-you-re-broken/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [When you find your purpose, it is like your heart has been set alight with passion. You know it absolutely, without any doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-find-your-purpose-it-is-like-your-heart-has-been-set-alight/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Every musical phrase has a purpose. It's like talking. If you talk with a particular purpose, people listen to you, but if you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/every-musical-phrase-has-a-purpose-it-s-like-talking-if-you-talk-with/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [“Purpose, like time, only exists when observed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-skyes/purpose-like-time-only-exists-when-observed/) [Alyssa Skyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-skyes/) > [No sooner had he thought this than he realized what was anchoring his happiness. It was purpose. He knew what he wanted to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/no-sooner-had-he-thought-this-than-he-realized-what-was-anchoring-his/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [“we need deep cleansing of our thoughts on and often so that we can recharge our energy for our own health, happiness and purpose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/we-need-deep-cleansing-of-our-thoughts-on-and-often-so-that-we-can/) [kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [“If there's one thing I'd like most for you, it's that you'll find your calling in life. That's where true happiness and purpose lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/if-there-s-one-thing-i-d-like-most-for-you-it-s-that-you-ll-find-your/) [Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/) > [Prescription for Life-long Happiness: Purpose enough for satisfaction; Work enough for sustenance; Sanity enough to know when to play and rest; Wealth enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/prescription-for-life-long-happiness-purpose-enough-for-satisfaction/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [“Wellth: a life exemplified by abundance, happiness, purpose, health, and joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wachob/wellth-a-life-exemplified-by-abundance-happiness-purpose-health-and/) Jason Wachob > [If you don't wake up and have your own thing, whether it's writing or reading or traveling or acting or dancing or singing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/if-you-don-t-wake-up-and-have-your-own-thing-whether-it-s-writing-or/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) ## More by Philip Zimbardo > [One can't live mindfully without being enmeshed in psychological processes that are around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/one-can-t-live-mindfully-without-being-enmeshed-in-psychological/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [When someone is anonymous, it opens the door to all kinds of antisocial behavior, as seen by the Ku Klux Klan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/when-someone-is-anonymous-it-opens-the-door-to-all-kinds-of/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [It was God who created hell as a place to store evil. He didn't do a good job of keeping it there though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/it-was-god-who-created-hell-as-a-place-to-store-evil-he-didn-t-do-a/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [That human behavior is more influenced by things outside of us than inside. The 'situation' is the external environment. The inner environment is genes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/that-human-behavior-is-more-influenced-by-things-outside-of-us-than/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [The "Lucifer Effect" describes the point in time when an ordinary, normal person first crosses the boundary between good and evil to engage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-lucifer-effect-describes-the-point-in-time-when-an-ordinary/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Time perspective is one of the most powerful influences on all of human behavior. We're trying to show how people become biased to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/time-perspective-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-influences-on-all-of/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [ The \[Stanford Prison Experiment\] was readily approved by the Human Subjects Research committee because it seemed like college kids playing cops and robbers, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-stanford-prison-experiment-was-readily-approved-by-the-human/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [A good cult delivers on its promises. A good cult nourishes the needs of its members, has transparency and integrity, and creates provisions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/a-good-cult-delivers-on-its-promises-a-good-cult-nourishes-the-needs/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [We can assume that most people, most of the time, are moral creatures. But imagine that this morality is like a gearshift that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/we-can-assume-that-most-people-most-of-the-time-are-moral-creatures/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [I'm saying to be a hero is means you step across the line and are willing to make a sacrifice, so heroes always are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/i-m-saying-to-be-a-hero-is-means-you-step-across-the-line-and-are/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Most of the evil of the world comes about not out of evil motives, but somebody saying 'get with the program, be a team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/most-of-the-evil-of-the-world-comes-about-not-out-of-evil-motives-but/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [The first time I spoke publicly about the Stanford Prison Experiment, Stanley Milgram told me: "Your study is going to take all the ethical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-first-time-i-spoke-publicly-about-the-stanford-prison-experiment/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Boys' brains are being digitally rewired for change, novelty, excitement and constant arousal. That means they're totally out of sync in traditional classes, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/boys-brains-are-being-digitally-rewired-for-change-novelty-excitement/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Research shows that the deciscions of a group as a whole are more thoughtful and creative when there is minority dissent than when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/research-shows-that-the-deciscions-of-a-group-as-a-whole-are-more/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [Boys are 30 percent more likely than girls to drop out of school. In Canada, five boys drop out for every three girls. Girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/boys-are-30-percent-more-likely-than-girls-to-drop-out-of-school-in/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) [Explore all 79 Philip Zimbardo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) ## More Happiness quotes > [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/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where can you find purpose? 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