--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The search for purpose and meaning is…" description: "\"“The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.”\" — Zach Mercurio" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg" --- # The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human… ![“The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.” quote by Zach Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg) > ““The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.”” [Zach Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Purpose‑search is an inherent human drive that unites humanity. **In simple terms:** Humans naturally seek purpose. Key Takeaway Explore your personal purpose. Themes purpose meaning human nature Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career counseling - life coaching - education programs Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How can you align actions with purpose? A Different Perspective Purpose can be elusive and change over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fundamentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentally/) [Fundamentally Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentally-human-1272752/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning Fundamentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-fundamentally-4913240/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-driven/) [Purpose Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-meaning-265303/) [Purposeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposeful/) [Purposeful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposeful-life/) [Uniting Trait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniting-trait-4913239/) ## Related quotes > [“Strive to be a person of action, good deeds and a willing vessel of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/strive-to-be-a-person-of-action-good-deeds-and-a-willing-vessel-of/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“You see it as me going back. I see it as me staying on track.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/you-see-it-as-me-going-back-i-see-it-as-me-staying-on-track/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“You become what you digest into your spirit. Whatever you think about, focus on, read about, talk about, you’re going to attract more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/you-become-what-you-digest-into-your-spirit-whatever-you-think-about/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“With God, you are stronger than your struggles and more fierce than your fears. God provides comfort and strength to those who trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/with-god-you-are-stronger-than-your-struggles-and-more-fierce-than/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The whole movement of an essay is propelled by a fundamentally human impulse to want to figure things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/the-whole-movement-of-an-essay-is-propelled-by-a-fundamentally-human/) [John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/) > [I am not fundamentally a musician, I am fundamentally a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-am-not-fundamentally-a-musician-i-am-fundamentally-a-human-being/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [“What if I told you that that which makes you fundamentally human is something that you share with another people, a people so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/what-if-i-told-you-that-that-which-makes-you-fundamentally-human-is/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build from a vision practically anything; fundamentally it is a human, creative act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffry-a-timmons/entrepreneurship-is-the-ability-to-create-and-build-from-a-vision/) [Jeffry A Timmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffry-a-timmons/) > [“But surely the idea that one might slip away unseen and take up another life is nearly universal. Is there anything more fundamentally human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/but-surely-the-idea-that-one-might-slip-away-unseen-and-take-up/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Is there anything more fundamentally human than the desire to live in another world, as someone other than our own earthbound selves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/is-there-anything-more-fundamentally-human-than-the-desire-to-live-in/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Apollo has something to teach us as we enter a new century of genetic modification, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology. It's a cautionary tale about that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-smith/apollo-has-something-to-teach-us-as-we-enter-a-new-century-of-genetic/) [Andrew Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-smith/) > [Over time, our inescapable, systemic, fundamentally human impurity gives us the capacity to do what has not been done before: to make creative leaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/over-time-our-inescapable-systemic-fundamentally-human-impurity-gives/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“It’s not the span of time that counts, but what you do with it. While you humans have been grubbing around the galaxy, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/it-s-not-the-span-of-time-that-counts-but-what-you-do-with-it-while/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-many-people-walk-around-with-a-meaningless-life-they-seem-half/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Zach Mercurio > [“Purpose is the reason for your rare, precious existence that is useful to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/purpose-is-the-reason-for-your-rare-precious-existence-that-is-useful/) [Zach Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/) > [“What you do will only ever be as good as WHY you do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/what-you-do-will-only-ever-be-as-good-as-why-you-do-it/) [Zach Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/) > [“People will copy what you do and how you do it, but they can never copy WHY you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/people-will-copy-what-you-do-and-how-you-do-it-but-they-can-never/) [Zach Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/) [Explore all 4 Zach Mercurio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/) ## More Fundamentally quotes > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Life is fundamentally up for grabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/life-is-fundamentally-up-for-grabs/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [Fundamentally, I like to accomplish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/fundamentally-i-like-to-accomplish-things/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-lord-of-the-rings-is-of-course-a-fundamentally-religious-and/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [No one should be adored, it's fundamentally immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/no-one-should-be-adored-it-s-fundamentally-immoral/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [After spending 460 days as a hostage, I did emerge a fundamentally changed person. But I think, like everyone does as they grow older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/after-spending-460-days-as-a-hostage-i-did-emerge-a-fundamentally/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [When you're at a certain point in your time - age, that is, when you're older - you start to realize that, actually, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/when-you-re-at-a-certain-point-in-your-time-age-that-is-when-you-re/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [You would not enjoy Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-would-not-enjoy-nietzsche-sir-he-is-fundamentally-unsound/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the Hispanic community, the values that resonate in our community, are fundamentally conservative. They are faith, family, patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-the-hispanic-community-the-values-that-resonate-in-our/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Deterrence is still fundamentally about influencing an actor's decisions. It is about a solid policy foundation. It is about credible capabilities. It is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-robert-kehler/deterrence-is-still-fundamentally-about-influencing-an-actor-s/) [C. Robert Kehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-robert-kehler/) > [I think that books are fundamentally educational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/i-think-that-books-are-fundamentally-educational/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [I have a mantra that people are naturally, fundamentally and inherently mobile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/i-have-a-mantra-that-people-are-naturally-fundamentally-and/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [Compassion is the intention to see each human being as no better or worse than yourself, neither more nor less important, and as fundamentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-miller/compassion-is-the-intention-to-see-each-human-being-as-no-better-or/) [Timothy Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-miller/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) [Browse all 183 Fundamentally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentally/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zach Mercurio" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fundamentally-human-the-uniting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fundamentally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fundamentally-human-the-uniting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/zach-mercurio-71900_fundamentally_the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fu_603246.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The search for purpose and meaning is fundamentally human; the uniting trait of our species.” — Zach Mercurio", "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": "Zach Mercurio", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-mercurio/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The search for purpose and meaning...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fundamentally-human-the-uniting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-mercurio/the-search-for-purpose-and-meaning-is-fundamentally-human-the-uniting/#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 } } ] } ```