--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One should not search for an abstract…" description: "\"“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/viktor-e-frankl-668_career_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_3234738.jpg" --- # One should not search for an abstract meaning of life… ![“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/viktor-e-frankl-668_career_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_3234738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/viktor-e-frankl-668_career_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_3234738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/viktor-e-frankl-668_career_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_3234738.jpg) > ““One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment.”” [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. Life’s purpose is concrete, not abstract; each person has a specific mission to fulfill. **In simple terms:** Find your personal mission, not a vague meaning. Key Takeaway Commit to your unique purpose. Themes purpose meaning mission existential Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choice - personal development - life planning Key Concepts vocation fulfillment psychology Questions to Reflect On - What concrete task aligns with your deepest values? - How does your daily work reflect your mission? A Different Perspective Abstract searches can distract from actionable goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Specific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-specific-6132735/) [Meaning life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-life/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Specific Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specific-vocation-762250/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Vocation Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-mission-1464349/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/everyone-has-his-own-specific-vocation-or-mission-in-life-everyone-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/everyone-has-his-own-specific-vocation-or-mission-in-life-everyone/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/everyone-has-his-own-specific-vocation-or-mission-in-life-to-carry/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life¦ Therein he cannot be reíplaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyones task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/everyone-has-his-own-specific-vocation-or-mission-in-life-therein-he/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [The vocation and mission of the faithful can only be understood in light of a renewed awareness of the Church as sacrament or sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-vocation-and-mission-of-the-faithful-can-only-be-understood-in/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [What have I done with my baptism and confirmation? Is Christ really at the center of my life? Do I have time for prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/what-have-i-done-with-my-baptism-and-confirmation-is-christ-really-at/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Long ago we had passed the stage of asking what was the meaning of life, a naïve query which understands life as the attaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/long-ago-we-had-passed-the-stage-of-asking-what-was-the-meaning-of-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/challenging-the-meaning-of-life-is-the-truest-expression-of-the-state/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. 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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-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [Each of us has our own specific vocation, a sacred journey prepared by the Creator of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/each-of-us-has-our-own-specific-vocation-a-sacred-journey-prepared-by/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## 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 Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. 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