---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our main motivation for living is our…"
description: "\"Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.\" — Viktor E. Frankl"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg"
---

#  Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning…

![“Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg)

> “Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.”

[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.

Human beings strive to create purpose, turning existence into a quest for significance.

**In simple terms:** We seek purpose in life.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal meaning.

Themes

purpose existence psychology

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career choices
- personal crises
- volunteering
- creative projects

Key Concepts

Logotherapy meaning-making

Questions to Reflect On

- What gives your life meaning?
- How can you create purpose today?

A Different Perspective

Finding meaning can be hindered by external pressures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Find me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find-me/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-meaning-1589140/) [Main Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-motivation-376655/) [Meaning life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-life/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivation Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation-living-1589139/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/)

## Related quotes

> [Motion is the context of living. We find meaning my and in our doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kegan/motion-is-the-context-of-living-we-find-meaning-my-and-in-our-doing/)

[Robert Kegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kegan/)

> [Living without meaning is not Life, it is Death. It is like being in the graveyard except that you still have breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/living-without-meaning-is-not-life-it-is-death-it-is-like-being-in/)

[RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/)

> [Meaning. If you're going to die, you want to find meaning in life. You want to connect the dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/meaning-if-you-re-going-to-die-you-want-to-find-meaning-in-life-you/)

[Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/)

> [“Whatever can be the meaning of this life? If we divide mankind into two large classes, we can say that one works for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/whatever-can-be-the-meaning-of-this-life-if-we-divide-mankind-into/)

[Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/)

> [“Meaning came out of living. Meaning could only come from his choices and actions. Meaning was made, not discovered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marlantes/meaning-came-out-of-living-meaning-could-only-come-from-his-choices/)

[Karl Marlantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marlantes/)

> [“This wasn't a hunger for a bigger house of a faster car. This was a far deeper hunger: a hunger for living with more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/this-wasn-t-a-hunger-for-a-bigger-house-of-a-faster-car-this-was-a/)

[Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/)

> [Insights from myth, dreams, and intuitions, from glimpses of an invisible reality, and from perennial human wisdom provide us with hints and guesses about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-shinoda-bolen/insights-from-myth-dreams-and-intuitions-from-glimpses-of-an/)

[Jean Shinoda Bolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-shinoda-bolen/)

> [The main motivation was to explore the empire's falling. I mean 'Duck City' is like an allegory for the Western Empire or the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-andersson/the-main-motivation-was-to-explore-the-empire-s-falling-i-mean-duck/)

[Lena Andersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-andersson/)

> [My main motivation with my whole existence is to be representation for queer, gender fluid, gender diverse, non-binary communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/my-main-motivation-with-my-whole-existence-is-to-be-representation/)

[G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/)

> [I believe we are put on this earth to be of service. It's how I find meaning in my life. And it's fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-delany/i-believe-we-are-put-on-this-earth-to-be-of-service-it-s-how-i-find/)

[Dana Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-delany/)

> [Man can find meaning in life only through devoting himself to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/man-can-find-meaning-in-life-only-through-devoting-himself-to-society/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I grew up in South Africa, but like many people at that time, I couldn't bear living in the country. The main motivation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-mann/i-grew-up-in-south-africa-but-like-many-people-at-that-time-i-couldn/)

[Manfred Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-mann/)

> [My main motivation for staying in the spotlight at all is, I don't want to just be known for being involved in 'Playboy,' or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/my-main-motivation-for-staying-in-the-spotlight-at-all-is-i-don-t/)

[Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/)

> [Life in itself has no meaning. Life is an opportunity to create meaning. Meaning has not to be discovered; it has to be created.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-in-itself-has-no-meaning-life-is-an-opportunity-to-create/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [My main motivation is to prove I'm No. 1 in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-askren/my-main-motivation-is-to-prove-i-m-no-1-in-the-world/)

[Ben Askren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-askren/)

## 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 Find me quotes

> [You usually find me writing what I like to think of as intelligent summer action and genre films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-landis/you-usually-find-me-writing-what-i-like-to-think-of-as-intelligent/)

[Max Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-landis/)

> [I'm a mix; I'm sure some of my Canadian friends find me very American, both in person and on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-m-a-mix-i-m-sure-some-of-my-canadian-friends-find-me-very-american/)

[James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/)

> [You won't know until it's over. You won't find me in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/you-won-t-know-until-it-s-over-you-won-t-find-me-in-time/)

[Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/)

> [Our perception of space alters the space. It is consciousness that finds meanings in all spaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarthang-tulku/our-perception-of-space-alters-the-space-it-is-consciousness-that/)

[Tarthang Tulku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarthang-tulku/)

> [Meaning. If you're going to die, you want to find meaning in life. You want to connect the dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/meaning-if-you-re-going-to-die-you-want-to-find-meaning-in-life-you/)

[Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/)

> [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/)

[Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/)

> [We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves, a shining purpose, the illumination of a Thousand Points of Light...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-can-find-meaning-and-reward-by-serving-some-higher-purpose-than/)

[George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/)

> [Everyone knows I drink a lot of Diet Coke, so...I drink chocolate milk after races as my recovery drink, and you won't ever find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/everyone-knows-i-drink-a-lot-of-diet-coke-so-i-drink-chocolate-milk/)

[Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/)

> [My day job finds me in a double-bind often, and it's an ideal position for anyone interested in becoming highly reactive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drumm/my-day-job-finds-me-in-a-double-bind-often-and-it-s-an-ideal-position/)

[Kevin Drumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drumm/)

> [How did you find me anyway." "For all that I must keep reminding you that I am not a bloodhound, it's true that on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-did-you-find-me-anyway-for-all-that-i-must-keep-reminding-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here I am in a rabbit run, here I am in a valley of pine, waiting for you to find me. I could pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/here-i-am-in-a-rabbit-run-here-i-am-in-a-valley-of-pine-waiting-for/)

[Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/)

> [Witch, do this for me, Find me a moon made of longing. Then cut it sliver thin, and having cut it, hang it high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witch-do-this-for-me-find-me-a-moon-made-of-longing-then-cut-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm ripe for the picking for the Scientologists - one of those creeps. Someone's got to find me. Some little weird cult can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-m-ripe-for-the-picking-for-the-scientologists-one-of-those-creeps/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [Hip hop is still strong. As an art form, music helps people express themselves, find meaning in their own lives and connect with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/hip-hop-is-still-strong-as-an-art-form-music-helps-people-express/)

[Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/)

> [Donald Trump creates word salads. And that is awful to language, because we try to parse out what he's saying and try to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/donald-trump-creates-word-salads-and-that-is-awful-to-language/)

[Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/)

[Browse all 410 Find me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find-me/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Viktor E. Frankl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-will-to-find-meaning-in-life/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Find me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-will-to-find-meaning-in-life/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/viktor-e-frankl-668_find-me_our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-wi_938788.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.” — Viktor E. Frankl",
                "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": "Viktor E. Frankl",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Our main motivation for living is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-will-to-find-meaning-in-life/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-main-motivation-for-living-is-our-will-to-find-meaning-in-life/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
