--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone has a vocation by which he earns…" description: "\"Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but he also has a vocation in an older sense of the word-the vocation to use his powers and live ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png" --- # Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but… ![“Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but he also has a vocation in an older sense of the word-the vocation to use his powers and live his life well.” quote by Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png) > “Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but he also has a vocation in an older sense of the word-the vocation to use his powers and live his life well.” [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vocation is both a means of earning and a higher purpose to apply one's talents meaningfully. **In simple terms:** Work and higher purpose both matter. Key Takeaway Balance earning with purposeful living. Themes purpose career meaning balance Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - job search - career planning - personal development - volunteering Key Concepts self‑actualization calling mission Questions to Reflect On - How can you align your job with your deeper purpose? - What steps help you discover your higher vocation? A Different Perspective Balancing income and higher can be financially challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-vocation-4437932/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Vocation Earns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-earns-4437931/) [Vocation Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-older-4437933/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Word Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-vocation-4437934/) ## Related quotes > [“At its core, each vocation is a particular, unique instantiation of the father’s summons to the true homeland of the kingdom. The etymological root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doherty/at-its-core-each-vocation-is-a-particular-unique-instantiation-of-the/) [Mark Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doherty/) > [It is not sociologists who provide insights but photographers of our sort who are observers at the very center of their times. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/it-is-not-sociologists-who-provide-insights-but-photographers-of-our/) [Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/) > [I have this problem - I don't have hobbies. Everything that's interesting becomes a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-ben-israel/i-have-this-problem-i-don-t-have-hobbies-everything-that-s/) [Ron Ben-Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-ben-israel/) > [Whatever vocation you decide on, track down the best people in the world at doing it and surround yourself with them. Aim high and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/whatever-vocation-you-decide-on-track-down-the-best-people-in-the/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [To learn a vocation, you also have to learn the frauds it practices and the promises it breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/to-learn-a-vocation-you-also-have-to-learn-the-frauds-it-practices/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [It is well for a man to respect his own vocation whatever it is and to think himself bound to uphold it and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-is-well-for-a-man-to-respect-his-own-vocation-whatever-it-is-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [ I'm a jazz musician by education and vocation, but I don't think jazz should \[ dictate\] what I want to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-douglas/i-m-a-jazz-musician-by-education-and-vocation-but-i-don-t-think-jazz/) [Dave Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-douglas/) > [I'm beat to the square, and square to the beat, and that's my vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-everson/i-m-beat-to-the-square-and-square-to-the-beat-and-that-s-my-vocation/) [William Everson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-everson/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [It is funny, and also a bit sad, that poets are so often asked to justify our vocation. There seems to be something vaguely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-zapruder/it-is-funny-and-also-a-bit-sad-that-poets-are-so-often-asked-to/) [Matthew Zapruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-zapruder/) > [“On the other side of graduation was her actual life, the slow narrowing of possibilities that would catch her and freeze her in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/on-the-other-side-of-graduation-was-her-actual-life-the-slow/) [Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/) > [I feel in me the vocation of the Priest. I have the vocation of the Apostle. Martyrdom was the dream of my youth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/i-feel-in-me-the-vocation-of-the-priest-i-have-the-vocation-of-the/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [“The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-gift-of-singleness-is-more-a-vocation-than-an-empowerment/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [We have only to see how that which makes up the reality of our lives relates to our vocation; we have only to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-danielou/we-have-only-to-see-how-that-which-makes-up-the-reality-of-our-lives/) [Jean Danielou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-danielou/) ## More by Richard Livingstone > [Theories are more common than achievements in the history of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/theories-are-more-common-than-achievements-in-the-history-of-education/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [There are few greater treasures to be acquired in youth than great poetry-and prose-stored in the memory. At the time one may resent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/there-are-few-greater-treasures-to-be-acquired-in-youth-than-great/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [I doubt if anything learnt at school is of more value than great literature learnt by heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/i-doubt-if-anything-learnt-at-school-is-of-more-value-than-great/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [“The test of successful education is not the amount of knowledge that pupils take away from school, but their appetite to know and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/the-test-of-successful-education-is-not-the-amount-of-knowledge-that/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [One is apt to think of moral failure as due to weakness of character: more often it is due to an inadequate ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/one-is-apt-to-think-of-moral-failure-as-due-to-weakness-of-character/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [If the school sends out children with a desire for knowledge and some idea of how to acquire and use it, it will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/if-the-school-sends-out-children-with-a-desire-for-knowledge-and-some/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [Our danger is not too few, but too many options ... to be puzzled by innumerable alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/our-danger-is-not-too-few-but-too-many-options-to-be-puzzled-by/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) > [There is no virtue in being uncritical; nor is it a habit to which the young are given. But criticism is only the burying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/there-is-no-virtue-in-being-uncritical-nor-is-it-a-habit-to-which-the/) [Richard Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) [Explore all 9 Richard Livingstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but he also has a vocation in an older sense of the word-the vocation to use his powers and live his life well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Livingstone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earns-his-living-but-he-also-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earns-his-living-but-he-also-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/richard-livingstone-44850_career_everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earn_1326780.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone has a vocation by which he earns his living, but he also has a vocation in an older sense of the…” — Richard Livingstone", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Livingstone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-livingstone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everyone has a vocation by which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earns-his-living-but-he-also-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-livingstone/everyone-has-a-vocation-by-which-he-earns-his-living-but-he-also-has/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```