--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man in earnest finds means or, if he…" description: "\"A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them.\" — William Ellery Channing" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg" --- # A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find… ![“A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them.” quote by William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg) > “A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them.” [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When purpose is absent, individuals either discover it or create it through effort and imagination. **In simple terms:** Find or forge purpose. Key Takeaway Seek meaning actively. Themes purpose meaning initiative Mood thoughtful motivated Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - volunteering - creative projects - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives you currently? - How can you turn a lack of purpose into opportunity? A Different Perspective Purpose can feel forced if not authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest/) [Earnest Finds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest-finds-4693889/) [Find me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find-me/) [Finds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finds/) [Finds Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finds-means-4693890/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Man Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-earnest-4693892/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Creates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-creates-4693891/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Creativity finds its own creator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-kohli/creativity-finds-its-own-creator/) [Girish Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girish-kohli/) > [Happiness finds you, when you least expect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-finds-you-when-you-least-expect-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Its attitude, which it has preached and practiced, is skepticism. Now, it finds, the public is applying that skepticism to the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-griffith/its-attitude-which-it-has-preached-and-practiced-is-skepticism-now-it/) [Thomas Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-griffith/) > [Awise man will make more opportunities than he finds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/awise-man-will-make-more-opportunities-than-he-finds/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [My target audience is anyone who finds the world interesting and human behavior fascinating, terrible, inspiring, funny, and occasionally, mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/my-target-audience-is-anyone-who-finds-the-world-interesting-and/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Of two cowards, the one who finds the other out first has the advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italian-proverb/of-two-cowards-the-one-who-finds-the-other-out-first-has-the-advantage/) [Italian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italian-proverb/) > [“All I want for her is that she finds a way to be who she is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-goode/all-i-want-for-her-is-that-she-finds-a-way-to-be-who-she-is/) [Laura Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-goode/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [I have two curiosity cabinets at home filled with finds from jumble sales, markets and my travels. My favourite piece is a voodoo mask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-have-two-curiosity-cabinets-at-home-filled-with-finds-from-jumble/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [Adversity finds at last the man whom she has often passed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/adversity-finds-at-last-the-man-whom-she-has-often-passed-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Ignorance is when you don't know something and someone finds out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ignorance-is-when-you-don-t-know-something-and-someone-finds-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ultimately, magic finds you, if you let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-wheeler/ultimately-magic-finds-you-if-you-let-it/) [Tony Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-wheeler/) > [Sometimes you find your path, sometimes it finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/sometimes-you-find-your-path-sometimes-it-finds-you/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Children are my pet cause. I have a foster child in El Salvador, and whenever I'm home, I work for the Adam Walsh Foundation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-badler/children-are-my-pet-cause-i-have-a-foster-child-in-el-salvador-and/) [Jane Badler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-badler/) ## More by William Ellery Channing > [The reveries of youth, in which so much energy is wasted, are the yearnings of a Spirit made for what it has not found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/the-reveries-of-youth-in-which-so-much-energy-is-wasted-are-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [A man may quarrel with himself alone; that is, by controverting his better instincts and knowledge when brought face to face with temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-may-quarrel-with-himself-alone-that-is-by-controverting-his/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Men are never very wise and select in the exercise of a new power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/men-are-never-very-wise-and-select-in-the-exercise-of-a-new-power/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [All virtue lies in individual action, in inward energy, in self determination. There is no moral worth in being swept away by a crowd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/all-virtue-lies-in-individual-action-in-inward-energy-in-self/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [We honor revelation too highly to make it the antagonist of reason, or to believe that it calls us to renounce our highest powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/we-honor-revelation-too-highly-to-make-it-the-antagonist-of-reason-or/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [To give a generous hope to a man of his own nature, is to enrich him immeasurably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-give-a-generous-hope-to-a-man-of-his-own-nature-is-to-enrich-him/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [No man receives the full culture of a man in whom the sensibility to the beautiful is not cherished; and there is no condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/no-man-receives-the-full-culture-of-a-man-in-whom-the-sensibility-to/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/i-call-that-mind-free-which-jealously-guards-its-intellectual-rights/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Error is discipline through which we advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/error-is-discipline-through-which-we-advance/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/ideas-are-the-mightiest-influence-on-earth-one-great-thought-breathed/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-live-content-with-small-means-to-seek-elegance-rather-than-luxury/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“god be thanked for books. they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the-voices-of-the-distant-and-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Perhaps in our presence, the most heroic deed on earth is done in some silent spirit, the loftiest purpose cherished, the most generous sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/perhaps-in-our-presence-the-most-heroic-deed-on-earth-is-done-in-some/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Each of us is meant to have a character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/each-of-us-is-meant-to-have-a-character-all-our-own-to-be-what-no/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) [Explore all 130 William Ellery Channing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) ## More Earnest quotes > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by the electric media--movies, Telstar, flight--far surpassesany possible influence mom and dad can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-family-circle-has-widened-the-worldpool-of-information-fathered/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Earnest men never think in vain, though their thoughts may be errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/earnest-men-never-think-in-vain-though-their-thoughts-may-be-errors/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [As if goaded by a kind of frantic despair, I sketched these dirty, ragged little victims of the war with their bruised, lacerated minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-keane/as-if-goaded-by-a-kind-of-frantic-despair-i-sketched-these-dirty/) [Walter Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-keane/) > [My most earnest wish is to see the republican element of popular control pushed to the maximum of its practicable exercise. I shall then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-most-earnest-wish-is-to-see-the-republican-element-of-popular/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Extension work is not exhortation. Nor is it exploitation of the people, or advertising of an institution, or publicity work for securing students. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-hyde-bailey/extension-work-is-not-exhortation-nor-is-it-exploitation-of-the/) [Liberty Hyde Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-hyde-bailey/) > [If we with earnest effort could succeed To make our life one long, connected prayer, As lives of some, perhaps, have been and are;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/if-we-with-earnest-effort-could-succeed-to-make-our-life-one-long/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [Deemest thou laborOnly is earnest?Grave is all beauty,Solemn is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson/deemest-thou-laboronly-is-earnest-grave-is-all-beauty-solemn-is-joy/) [William Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson/) > [He who says he hates all kinds of flattery, and says so in earnest, has undoubtedly not as yet become acquainted with all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/he-who-says-he-hates-all-kinds-of-flattery-and-says-so-in-earnest-has/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Insurance companies, whether private or government owned, must be compelled to pay for health-promoting measures. In turn, this will encourage physicians to offer such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/insurance-companies-whether-private-or-government-owned-must-be/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [This world is given as a prize for the men in earnest; and that which is true of this world is truer still of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/this-world-is-given-as-a-prize-for-the-men-in-earnest-and-that-which/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) [Browse all 537 Earnest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Ellery Channing" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-cannot-find-creates-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Earnest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-cannot-find-creates-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e9/william-ellery-channing-3428_earnest_a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-ca_2990092.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man in earnest finds means or, if he cannot find, creates them.” — William Ellery Channing", "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": "William Ellery Channing", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man in earnest finds means...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-cannot-find-creates-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-in-earnest-finds-means-or-if-he-cannot-find-creates-them/#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 } } ] } ```