--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Naturalism says that we were not put here…" description: "\"Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose. But that doesn't mean there isn't such thing as purpose. It just means that purpose isn't im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg" --- # Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose… ![“Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose. But that doesn't mean there isn't such thing as purpose. It just means that purpose isn't imposed from outside. We human beings have the creative ability to give our lives purposes and meanings.” quote by Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg) > “Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose. But that doesn't mean there isn't such thing as purpose. It just means that purpose isn't imposed from outside. We human beings have the creative ability to give our lives purposes and meanings.” [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human life has no pre‑ordained purpose, but we can create our own meaning through choices and values. **In simple terms:** We make our own purpose. Key Takeaway Choose values that matter to you. Themes purpose meaning human agency existentialism Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - volunteering - artistic projects - spiritual practice Key Concepts free will subjective meaning creative agency Questions to Reflect On - What values will you define for yourself? - How do you sustain meaning when faced with doubt? A Different Perspective Purpose can feel fragile without external validation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-purpose-351261/) [Naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalism/) [Naturalism Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalism-says-351259/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-isn-351260/) [Purposes Meanings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposes-meanings-351262/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) ## Related quotes > [Naturalism is a counterpart to theism. Theism says there's the physical world and God. Naturalism says there's only the natural world. There are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/naturalism-is-a-counterpart-to-theism-theism-says-there-s-the/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [“If you are breathing, you are still alive. If you are alive, then you are still here, physically, on this planet. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/if-you-are-breathing-you-are-still-alive-if-you-are-alive-then-you/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [“When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There is a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-something-happens-to-you-good-or-bad-consider-what-it-means/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world exists, not for what it means but for what it is. The purpose of mushrooms is to be mushrooms, wine is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/the-world-exists-not-for-what-it-means-but-for-what-it-is-the-purpose/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [“If you are breathing, you are still alive. If you are alive, then you are still here, physically, on this planet. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/if-you-are-breathing-you-are-still-alive-if-you-are-alive-then-you-2/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [Having pride means we have a purpose, a meaning and an overall integrity. You have earned the right to be proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-pride-means-we-have-a-purpose-a-meaning-and-an-overall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Man is for woman a means: the purpose is always the child. But what is woman for man? Two different things wanteth the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-is-for-woman-a-means-the-purpose-is-always-the-child-but-what-is/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Finding your purpose isn't enough. the challenge for our generation is creating a world where everyone has a sense of purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/finding-your-purpose-isn-t-enough-the-challenge-for-our-generation-is/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [There's a purpose to every failed relationship. The purpose isn't to encourage you to lower your expectations, but to raise your standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-purpose-to-every-failed-relationship-the-purpose-isn-t-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’s messing people up, this social pressure to “find your passion” and “know what it is you want to do”. It’s perfectly fine to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-coulter/it-s-messing-people-up-this-social-pressure-to-find-your-passion-and/) [Sally Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-coulter/) > [We all serve a purpose. My purpose isn't to be rejected. My purpose isn't to think small or to be introverted. This door closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/we-all-serve-a-purpose-my-purpose-isn-t-to-be-rejected-my-purpose-isn/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [My purpose isn't to be confrontational. My purpose is to find out about the world and play myself against it to the extent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandra-mir/my-purpose-isn-t-to-be-confrontational-my-purpose-is-to-find-out/) [Aleksandra Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandra-mir/) > [Remember theres a PURPOSE to every FAILED relationship. The purpose isn't to encourage you to lower your expectations, but to raise your standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-theres-a-purpose-to-every-failed-relationship-the-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Their purpose isn't to save you but to show you how to save yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lang-leav/their-purpose-isn-t-to-save-you-but-to-show-you-how-to-save-yourself/) [Lang Leav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lang-leav/) > [“We are put on this earth for a purpose and it isn't to serve ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-beaudin/we-are-put-on-this-earth-for-a-purpose-and-it-isn-t-to-serve-ourselves/) [Karen Beaudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-beaudin/) ## More by Sean M. Carroll > [I'm a big believer that science is part of a larger cultural thing. Science is not all by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/i-m-a-big-believer-that-science-is-part-of-a-larger-cultural-thing/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [One of the tragedies of our educational system is that we've taken this incredibly interesting subject - how the universe works - and made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/one-of-the-tragedies-of-our-educational-system-is-that-we-ve-taken/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [I've loved physics from a young age, but I've also been interested in all sorts of big questions, from philosophy to evolution and neuroscience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/i-ve-loved-physics-from-a-young-age-but-i-ve-also-been-interested-in/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [The simplest way out of the puzzle of time travel is to say that it can't be done. That's very likely the right answer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/the-simplest-way-out-of-the-puzzle-of-time-travel-is-to-say-that-it/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [Our conviction that green cheese makes up a negligible fraction of the Moon's interior comes not from direct observation but from the gross incompatibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/our-conviction-that-green-cheese-makes-up-a-negligible-fraction-of/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [We are not important to the universe. That's the bad news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/we-are-not-important-to-the-universe-that-s-the-bad-news/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [The fact that you can remember yesterday but not tomorrow is because of entropy. The fact that you're always born young and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/the-fact-that-you-can-remember-yesterday-but-not-tomorrow-is-because/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [As we get older, we tend to grow quite fond of the planets of belief we have constructed for ourselves. We build elaborate defense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/as-we-get-older-we-tend-to-grow-quite-fond-of-the-planets-of-belief/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [If time travel were possible, you still wouldn't be able to change the past - it's already happened!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/if-time-travel-were-possible-you-still-wouldn-t-be-able-to-change-the/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [We seek an understanding of the laws of nature and of our particular universe in which everything makes sense to us. We do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/we-seek-an-understanding-of-the-laws-of-nature-and-of-our-particular/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [People don't realize how many aspects of our lives are touched in one way or another by not just the discoveries, the technological breakthroughs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/people-don-t-realize-how-many-aspects-of-our-lives-are-touched-in-one/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [Something can be real - actually existing, not merely illusory - and yet not be fundamental. Scientists used to think that heat, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/something-can-be-real-actually-existing-not-merely-illusory-and-yet/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [Claims that some form of consciousness persists after our bodies die and decay into their constituent atoms face one huge, insuperable obstacle: the laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/claims-that-some-form-of-consciousness-persists-after-our-bodies-die/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [Even in empty space, time and space still exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/even-in-empty-space-time-and-space-still-exist/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [The idea that time is an illusion is an old one, predating any Times Square ball drop or champagne celebrations. It reaches back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/the-idea-that-time-is-an-illusion-is-an-old-one-predating-any-times/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) [Explore all 47 Sean M. Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose. But that doesn't mean there isn't such thing as purpose. It just means that purpose isn't imposed from outside. We human beings have the creative ability to give our lives purposes and meanings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sean M. Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-here-for-any-purpose-but-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-here-for-any-purpose-but-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/sean-m-carroll-14197_ability_naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-her_2436884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Naturalism says that we were not put here for any purpose. But that doesn't mean there isn't such thing as…” — Sean M. Carroll", "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": "Sean M. Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Naturalism says that we were not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-here-for-any-purpose-but-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/naturalism-says-that-we-were-not-put-here-for-any-purpose-but-that/#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 } } ] } ```