--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life asks of every individual a…" description: "\"Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be\" — Viktor E. Frankl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/viktor-e-frankl-668_asks_life-asks-of-every-individual-a-contribu_1110867.jpg" --- # Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up… ![“Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/viktor-e-frankl-668_asks_life-asks-of-every-individual-a-contribu_1110867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/viktor-e-frankl-668_asks_life-asks-of-every-individual-a-contribu_1110867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de8/viktor-e-frankl-668_asks_life-asks-of-every-individual-a-contribu_1110867.jpg) > “Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each person must discover their unique contribution, which gives life purpose. **In simple terms:** Find your personal contribution. Key Takeaway Identify your purpose. Themes purpose meaning individuality responsibility Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - volunteering - goal setting - life coaching Key Concepts existential psychology self‑actualization humanism Questions to Reflect On - What contribution feels most meaningful now? - How can you start exploring it? A Different Perspective Finding purpose can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Contribution Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution-individual-2958547/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-contribution-486480/) [Individual Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-discover-2958548/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-asks-701183/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [I have never had illusions about the value of my individual contribution! I realized early that what a man or a woman does is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/i-have-never-had-illusions-about-the-value-of-my-individual/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [“It is we ourselves who must answer the questions that life asks of us, and to those questions we can respond only by being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/it-is-we-ourselves-who-must-answer-the-questions-that-life-asks-of-us/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Research shows that the climate of an organization influences an individual's contribution far more than the individual himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/research-shows-that-the-climate-of-an-organization-influences-an-2/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“We tend to overrate our individual contribution to groups, which, bluntly put, tends to lead to an overblown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/we-tend-to-overrate-our-individual-contribution-to-groups-which/) [Harvard Business School Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvard-business-school-press/) > [Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/life-asks-not-merely-what-you-can-do-it-asks-how-much-can-you-endure/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Life Only Asks Of You, What It's Sure You Can Handle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mzati-zapita/life-only-asks-of-you-what-it-s-sure-you-can-handle/) [Mzati Zapita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mzati-zapita/) > [“Sometimes life asks us to make more serious choices than whether or not to believe a fairy tale”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystal-vaughan/sometimes-life-asks-us-to-make-more-serious-choices-than-whether-or/) [Chrystal Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystal-vaughan/) > [Life asks what things are good for. Love asks,What good are things if you don't have love?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/life-asks-what-things-are-good-for-love-asks-what-good-are-things-if/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [You never realize how boring your life is until someone asks what you like to do for fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-paul/you-never-realize-how-boring-your-life-is-until-someone-asks-what-you/) [Vince Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-paul/) > [“What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable? How very odd, to believe God gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-is-the-point-of-being-alive-if-you-don-t-at-least-try-to-do-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ “First and foremost, \[Writing\] reminds us that we are alive and that it is gift and a privilege, not a right. We must earn… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/first-and-foremost-writing-reminds-us-that-we-are-alive-and-that-it/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Life offers its wisdom generously. Everything teaches. Not everyone learns. Life asks of us the same thing we have been asked in every class:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/life-offers-its-wisdom-generously-everything-teaches-not-everyone/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Show LOVE and CARE to all the people u meet in ur life.. So, When someone asks u, R u in LOVE? then u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/show-love-and-care-to-all-the-people-u-meet-in-ur-life-so-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We do not ask life what the meaning of life is. Life asks us, what is the meaning of your life. And life demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl-attributed/we-do-not-ask-life-what-the-meaning-of-life-is-life-asks-us-what-is/) [Viktor E. Frankl Attributed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl-attributed/) > [Often life asks much of you, and you either honor life by answering with all your heart, or you cower your way into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-life-asks-much-of-you-and-you-either-honor-life-by-answering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. To be sure, people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-the-past-nothing-is-irretrievably-lost-but-rather-on-the-contrary/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer... his unique opportunity lies in the way he bears his burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-his-unique/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-positive-attitude-enables-a-person-to-endure-suffering-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“our sacrifice did have a meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-sacrifice-did-have-a-meaning/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the chief motivation of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-chief-motivation-of-his-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viktor E. 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