--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One should not search for an abstract…" description: "\"One should not search for an abstract meaning of life ... Life can be made meaningful in a threefold way: first, through what we give to life ... secon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/viktor-e-frankl-668_abstract_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_2009759.jpg" --- # One should not search for an abstract meaning of life… ![“One should not search for an abstract meaning of life ... Life can be made meaningful in a threefold way: first, through what we give to life ... second, by what we take from the world ... third, through the stand we take toward a fate we no longer can change.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/viktor-e-frankl-668_abstract_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_2009759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/viktor-e-frankl-668_abstract_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_2009759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/viktor-e-frankl-668_abstract_one-should-not-search-for-an-abstract-me_2009759.jpg) > “One should not search for an abstract meaning of life ... Life can be made meaningful in a threefold way: first, through what we give to life ... second, by what we take from the world ... third, through the stand we take toward a fate we no longer can change.” [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. Meaning arises from giving, receiving, and confronting fate, not from abstract speculation. **In simple terms:** Life gains purpose through contribution, reception, and stance toward destiny. Key Takeaway Embrace giving, receiving, and acceptance. Themes purpose existence agency Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - learning - grief coping - career decisions Key Concepts logotherapy meaning-making fate acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How do you contribute to others? - What stance do you take toward unchangeable events? A Different Perspective Abstract meaning may be elusive without concrete actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-meaningful/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-life/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful Threefold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-threefold-3582590/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won't make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-truth-is-if-what-we-choose-to-do-with-our-lives-won-t-make-a/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point… The truly adult view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-is-something-infantile-in-the-presumption-that-somebody-else/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [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/) > [“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. We needed to stop asking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/it-did-not-really-matter-what-we-expected-from-life-but-rather-what-2/) [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. We needed to stop asking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/it-did-not-really-matter-what-we-expected-from-life-but-rather-what/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“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/) [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-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [And I say, the meaning of life is what you make it. There will be as many different meaningful lives as there are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/and-i-say-the-meaning-of-life-is-what-you-make-it-there-will-be-as/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [“the meaning of life is not some kind of answer, which, once learned, is forever possessed. For life to stay meaningful it must continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/the-meaning-of-life-is-not-some-kind-of-answer-which-once-learned-is/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [I think it's innate in human nature to want to make a difference, to make your life meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/i-think-it-s-innate-in-human-nature-to-want-to-make-a-difference-to/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [“by a prominent psychologist, Dr. Gordon Allport, and the Foreword to this new edition is written by a clergyman. We have come to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/by-a-prominent-psychologist-dr-gordon-allport-and-the-foreword-to/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [It is this spiritual freedom - which cannot be taken away - that makes life meaningful and purposeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/it-is-this-spiritual-freedom-which-cannot-be-taken-away-that-makes/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“we must learn to see life as meaningful despite our circumstances. It emphasizes that there is an ultimate purpose to life. And in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-must-learn-to-see-life-as-meaningful-despite-our-circumstances-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## 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 Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. 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