Life Quote by Viktor E. Frankl
““We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Man's Search for Meaning, 1946
We should stop seeking life's purpose and instead see ourselves as questions life asks, shaping our response to its demands.
In simple terms: Life asks us, not the other way around.
Key Takeaway
Focus on responding to life's demands.
Themes
meaning
existence
purpose
responsibility
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Therapy sessions
- career decisions
- personal crises
- daily decision making
Key Concepts
Existential psychology
logotherapy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing life as questioning you change your actions?
- What responsibilities arise when you see life demanding from you?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook personal agency in shaping meaning.
![“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life. What man needs is [...] the existential dynamics in a polar field of tension…” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ff1/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_it-did-not-really-matter-what-we-expecte_745144.jpg)
