---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The meaning of life is to give life…"
description: "\"“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.”\" — Viktor E. Frankl"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg"
---

#  The meaning of life is to give life meaning.

![“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg)

> ““The meaning of life is to give life meaning.””

[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 to assign meaning to existence, not to seek it passively.

**In simple terms:** Give life meaning yourself.

Key Takeaway

Actively create purpose.

Themes

meaning purpose existential

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career
- relationships
- adversity
- personal growth

Key Concepts

logotherapy humanism

Questions to Reflect On

- What gives your life meaning?
- How can you create meaning in daily tasks?

A Different Perspective

Meaning can be elusive without effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons/) [Life meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-meaning/) [Life purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-purpose/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/)

## Related quotes

> [The foundation of life and purpose is to find the why in you. The why in you is purpose, knowing who you are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/the-foundation-of-life-and-purpose-is-to-find-the-why-in-you-the-why/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [Life is short,Make it happy,don't keep bitterness and pain to our heart and give meaning our life.Life is awesome with God and don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/life-is-short-make-it-happy-don-t-keep-bitterness-and-pain-to-our/)

[Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/)

> [The meaning of life is to give life a meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mass/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-a-meaning/)

[wendy mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mass/)

> [“What is the meaning of life? 'To give life meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-to-give-life-meaning/)

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

> [People wonder why there seems to be no meaning in life. Meaning does not exist a priori. There is no meaning existing in life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/people-wonder-why-there-seems-to-be-no-meaning-in-life-meaning-does/)

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

> [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/)

> [“The meaning of life should be to give your life a meaning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saif-rahman/the-meaning-of-life-should-be-to-give-your-life-a-meaning/)

[Saif Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saif-rahman/)

> [What is the meaning of life? Life has the meaning that you give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-life-has-the-meaning-that-you-give-it/)

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

> [ “\[T\]here is nothing to say about life. It has no meaning. You make meaning. If you want a meaning in your life, find a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/t-here-is-nothing-to-say-about-life-it-has-no-meaning-you-make/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [As a child, I wondered often, 'Why are we? What is the meaning of life?' These questions made me realize that life is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/as-a-child-i-wondered-often-why-are-we-what-is-the-meaning-of-life/)

[Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/)

> [“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

> [The meaning of life is to get meaning for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-get-meaning-for-life/)

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

> [No matter how much we try to run away from this thirst for the answer to life, for the meaning of life, the intensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/no-matter-how-much-we-try-to-run-away-from-this-thirst-for-the-answer/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. We are the only answer of meaning of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/life-has-no-meaning-each-of-us-has-meaning-and-we-bring-it-to-life-we/)

[Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/)

> [The meaning of life consists in the fact that it makes no sense to say that life has no meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/the-meaning-of-life-consists-in-the-fact-that-it-makes-no-sense-to/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

## 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 Life quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

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

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/)

[Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/)

> [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/)

[Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/)

> [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/)

[Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/)

> [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/)

Deanna L. Lawlis

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

> [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

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

> [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

[Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Viktor E. Frankl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-meaning/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Life"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-meaning/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-mean_2244808.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” — 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": "“The meaning of life is to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-meaning/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-meaning-of-life-is-to-give-life-meaning/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
