--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The meaning of our existence is not…" description: "\"The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.\" — Viktor E. Frankl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/viktor-e-frankl-668_existence_the-meaning-of-our-existence-is-not-inve_2003212.jpg" --- # The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves… ![“The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/viktor-e-frankl-668_existence_the-meaning-of-our-existence-is-not-inve_2003212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/viktor-e-frankl-668_existence_the-meaning-of-our-existence-is-not-inve_2003212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/viktor-e-frankl-668_existence_the-meaning-of-our-existence-is-not-inve_2003212.jpg) > “The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.” [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. Purpose is discovered through experience, not created by will alone. **In simple terms:** We find meaning, not make it. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that reveal purpose. Themes meaning existence purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal loss - volunteering - creative projects Key Concepts Existentialism logotherapy Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have clarified your purpose? - How do you differentiate between imposed and discovered meaning? A Different Perspective Meaning can be elusive without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detected/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-invented-3536905/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Invented Detected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-detected-3536906/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mans search for meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-search-for-meaning/) [Meaning Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-existence-474092/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [Humans have always used our intelligence and creativity to improve our existence. After all, we invented the wheel, discovered how to make fire, invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/humans-have-always-used-our-intelligence-and-creativity-to-improve/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Man can only find meaning for his existence in something outside himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-can-only-find-meaning-for-his-existence-in-something-outside/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [These tasks, and therefore the meaning of life, differ from man to man, and from moment to moment. Thus it is impossible to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/these-tasks-and-therefore-the-meaning-of-life-differ-from-man-to-man/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [There are two races of men in this world but only these two: the race of the decent man and the race of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-are-two-races-of-men-in-this-world-but-only-these-two-the-race/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-he-will-have-to/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-needed-to-stop-asking-about-the-meaning-of-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [We had to learn...that it did not really matter what we expected from life but rather what life expected from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-had-to-learn-that-it-did-not-really-matter-what-we-expected-from/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life and not a "secondary rationalization" of instinctual drives. This meaning is unique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-primary-motivation-in-his-life-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [But my mind clung to my wife's image, imagining it with an uncanny acuteness. I heard her answering me, saw her smile, her frank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-my-mind-clung-to-my-wife-s-image-imagining-it-with-an-uncanny/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being until he loves him. By his love he is enabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/no-one-can-become-fully-aware-of-the-very-essence-of-another-human/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world may still know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-understood-how-a-man-who-has-nothing-left-in-this-world-may-still/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [What was really needed was a fundamental change in our attitude toward life. We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/what-was-really-needed-was-a-fundamental-change-in-our-attitude/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [What will it matter to him if he notices that he is growing old? Has he any reason to envy the young people whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/what-will-it-matter-to-him-if-he-notices-that-he-is-growing-old-has/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/love-is-the-ultimate-and-the-highest-goal-to-which-man-can-aspire/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [If architects want to strengthen a decrepit arch, they increase the load which is laid upon it, for thereby the parts are joined more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/if-architects-want-to-strengthen-a-decrepit-arch-they-increase-the/) [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 Detected quotes > [Chastity is curable, if detected early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/chastity-is-curable-if-detected-early/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Whenever I write a paragraph in English, I first check it with the Google Translator, and most often it says no language detected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/whenever-i-write-a-paragraph-in-english-i-first-check-it-with-the/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [We know well that mistakes are more easily detected in the works of others than in one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/we-know-well-that-mistakes-are-more-easily-detected-in-the-works-of/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered,” said Mr. Erskine; “I myself would say that it had merely been detected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/perhaps-after-all-america-never-has-been-discovered-said-mr-erskine-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“There were no footmarks.' 'Meaning that you saw none?' 'I assure you, sir, that there were none.' 'My good Hopkins, I have investigated many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/there-were-no-footmarks-meaning-that-you-saw-none-i-assure-you-sir/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“System 2 is activated when an event is detected that violates the model of the world that System 1 maintains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/system-2-is-activated-when-an-event-is-detected-that-violates-the/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered. I myself would say that it has merely been detected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/perhaps-after-all-america-never-has-been-discovered-i-myself-would/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I have done a terrible thing, I have postulated a particle that cannot be detected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-pauli/i-have-done-a-terrible-thing-i-have-postulated-a-particle-that-cannot/) [Wolfgang Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-pauli/) > [“Boasters brag most when they cannot be detected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/boasters-brag-most-when-they-cannot-be-detected/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“The wave quality of light is the same as that of the electron. The wave determines the probable location of the photon of light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-du-sautoy/the-wave-quality-of-light-is-the-same-as-that-of-the-electron-the/) [Marcus du Sautoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-du-sautoy/) > [It is a vulgar error to suppose that America was ever discovered. It was merely detected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-a-vulgar-error-to-suppose-that-america-was-ever-discovered-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [My Lord, had I detected any sign... a whisper of your whereabouts...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-malfoy/my-lord-had-i-detected-any-sign-a-whisper-of-your-whereabouts/) [Lucius Malfoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-malfoy/) [Browse all 13 Detected quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detected/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viktor E. 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