--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ultimately, man should not ask what the…" description: "\"Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.\" — Viktor E. Frankl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg" --- # Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his… ![“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg) > “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.” [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 isn’t a question to ask; it’s a call that asks us to respond. **In simple terms:** Purpose is a call, not a question. Key Takeaway Respond to life’s call with meaning. Themes meaning purpose existence Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal crises - daily decisions - volunteering Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What call are you hearing in your life? - How can you create meaning daily? A Different Perspective May feel overwhelming when purpose is unclear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) ## Related quotes > [“Dont ask what the meaning of life is. You define it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishah-madadiy/dont-ask-what-the-meaning-of-life-is-you-define-it/) [Aishah Madadiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishah-madadiy/) > [Ultimately, no man or woman is happy unless they have found a way to contribute beyond themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/ultimately-no-man-or-woman-is-happy-unless-they-have-found-a-way-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Don't ask what the meaning of life is. You define it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-clark/don-t-ask-what-the-meaning-of-life-is-you-define-it/) [Denise Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-clark/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“I want people to understand, that you are responsible for your life. Weather you are transexual, weather you are a divorcee, weather you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-people-to-understand-that-you-are-responsible-for-your-life/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You are guaranteed a wonderful life once you recognize life is wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marrett-green/you-are-guaranteed-a-wonderful-life-once-you-recognize-life-is/) [Marrett Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marrett-green/) > [The only job you have in life is to recognize and honor your personal legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-only-job-you-have-in-life-is-to-recognize-and-honor-your-personal/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You are nearing the land that is life; you will recognize it by its seriousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/you-are-nearing-the-land-that-is-life-you-will-recognize-it-by-its/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We shall never understand peace, justice and the living of life until we recognize that all people are human and that humans are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-hickel/we-shall-never-understand-peace-justice-and-the-living-of-life-until/) [Wally Hickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-hickel/) > [In all the events of life, you must recognize the Divine will. Adore and bless it, especially in the things which are the hardest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/in-all-the-events-of-life-you-must-recognize-the-divine-will-adore/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [I think you start in middle life to recognize your vulnerabilities, if you're lucky. You admit them and people find that interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-think-you-start-in-middle-life-to-recognize-your-vulnerabilities-if/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [There are so many things we do not appreciate in our life until we recognize God's love for us in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/there-are-so-many-things-we-do-not-appreciate-in-our-life-until-we/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [You can lead a happy life if you recognize that it's limited and completely unpredictable from one moment to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/you-can-lead-a-happy-life-if-you-recognize-that-it-s-limited-and/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) ## 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": "Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viktor E. Frankl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-meaning-of-his-life-is-but-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-meaning-of-his-life-is-but-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/viktor-e-frankl-668_life_ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-m_1530760.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he…” — 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": "Ultimately, man should not ask what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-meaning-of-his-life-is-but-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/ultimately-man-should-not-ask-what-the-meaning-of-his-life-is-but-2/#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 } } ] } ```