--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...to think of ourselves as those who…" description: "\"...to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life-daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/viktor-e-frankl-668_action_to-think-of-ourselves-as-those-who-were_1902508.jpg" --- # ...to think of ourselves as those who were being… ![“...to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life-daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/viktor-e-frankl-668_action_to-think-of-ourselves-as-those-who-were_1902508.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/viktor-e-frankl-668_action_to-think-of-ourselves-as-those-who-were_1902508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c0/viktor-e-frankl-668_action_to-think-of-ourselves-as-those-who-were_1902508.jpg) > “...to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life-daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct.” [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. True purpose is expressed through ethical action, not merely contemplation. **In simple terms:** Action, not talk, shows meaning. Key Takeaway Act with integrity. Themes purpose action ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - crisis response - daily decision‑making - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism logotherapy responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What right action aligns with your values? - How do you balance thought and deed? A Different Perspective Action without reflection can be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Daily life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-life/) [Mans search for meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-search-for-meaning/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Questioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioned/) [Questioned Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioned-life-1779083/) [Right action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-action/) [Right conduct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-conduct/) [Search for meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search-for-meaning/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Questioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-questioned-2817044/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“We had to learn ourselves and, furthermore, we had to teach the despairing men, that it did not really matter what we expected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-had-to-learn-ourselves-and-furthermore-we-had-to-teach-the/) [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/) > [And I quoted from Nietzsche: That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/and-i-quoted-from-nietzsche-that-which-does-not-kill-me-makes-me/) [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/) > [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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. 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