--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think everyone is always asking…" description: "\"I think everyone is always asking themselves, How is my work meaningful, how is my life meaningful? As I get older, I feel like who I am as a person an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/zoe-kazan-3186_borderline_i-think-everyone-is-always-asking-themse_1931388.jpg" --- # I think everyone is always asking themselves, How is my… ![“I think everyone is always asking themselves, How is my work meaningful, how is my life meaningful? As I get older, I feel like who I am as a person and a citizen is more important than who I am in my work. But I do think it reframed slightly for me, how much I have to care about a project in…” quote by Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/zoe-kazan-3186_borderline_i-think-everyone-is-always-asking-themse_1931388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/zoe-kazan-3186_borderline_i-think-everyone-is-always-asking-themse_1931388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/zoe-kazan-3186_borderline_i-think-everyone-is-always-asking-themse_1931388.jpg) > “I think everyone is always asking themselves, How is my work meaningful, how is my life meaningful? As I get older, I feel like who I am as a person and a citizen is more important than who I am in my work. But I do think it reframed slightly for me, how much I have to care about a project in order to want to do it. Sometimes, obviously, you have a take a job for money. But I think I'm quicker now when I get a script that's, say, borderline misogynist, I'm not going to go in for it. I'm thinking more about what I'm putting into the world.” [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects a shift from seeking personal identity through work to valuing personal and civic identity, and emphasizes ethical responsibility in choosing projects. **In simple terms:** Work is less about identity, more about ethical impact. Key Takeaway Prioritize projects that align with your values. Themes identity ethics career personal growth Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - job selection - project evaluation - career counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism ethical decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a project's ethical impact? - What values guide your career choices? A Different Perspective Balancing financial needs with ethical standards can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-life/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won't make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-truth-is-if-what-we-choose-to-do-with-our-lives-won-t-make-a/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [...Grateful living makes life meaningful and full of joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/grateful-living-makes-life-meaningful-and-full-of-joy/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [You just decide what your values are in life and what you are going to do, and then you feel like you count, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/you-just-decide-what-your-values-are-in-life-and-what-you-are-going/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [You can use your life in a very useful and intelligent way. You can very well transform that negative energy into a positive energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/you-can-use-your-life-in-a-very-useful-and-intelligent-way-you-can/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is this spiritual freedom - which cannot be taken away - that makes life meaningful and purposeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/it-is-this-spiritual-freedom-which-cannot-be-taken-away-that-makes/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Life is difficult. Not just for me or other ALS patients. Life is difficult for everyone. Finding ways to make life meaningful and purposeful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gleason/life-is-difficult-not-just-for-me-or-other-als-patients-life-is/) [Steve Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gleason/) > [I think it's innate in human nature to want to make a difference, to make your life meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/i-think-it-s-innate-in-human-nature-to-want-to-make-a-difference-to/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [“While making money was good, having meaningful work and meaningful relationships was far better. To me, meaningful work is being on a mission I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/while-making-money-was-good-having-meaningful-work-and-meaningful/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Life is good when you live from your roots. Your values are a critical source of energy, enthusiasm, and direction. Work is meaningful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoshana-zuboff/life-is-good-when-you-live-from-your-roots-your-values-are-a-critical/) [Shoshana Zuboff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoshana-zuboff/) > [“Think about the work you already do. Is it meaningful & challenging? Are you appreciated & recognized for what you're doing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-s-sivasubramanian/think-about-the-work-you-already-do-is-it-meaningful-challenging-are/) [Mani S. Sivasubramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-s-sivasubramanian/) > [“meaningful work and meaningful relationships were and still are my primary goals and everything I did was for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/meaningful-work-and-meaningful-relationships-were-and-still-are-my/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [The meaningful work and the meaningful relationships are, to me, comparable rewards. I think being on a mission to do something great is great,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/the-meaningful-work-and-the-meaningful-relationships-are-to-me/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My conscious decision has always been to do work that's meaningful and play characters that give something to the film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/my-conscious-decision-has-always-been-to-do-work-that-s-meaningful/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [In the end, what matters most is that the people you work with share your values, so I've wanted people who value the meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/in-the-end-what-matters-most-is-that-the-people-you-work-with-share/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“companies more than ever need to have a clear understanding of their purpose in order to make work meaningful and thereby attract, motivate, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/companies-more-than-ever-need-to-have-a-clear-understanding-of-their/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## More by Zoe Kazan > [Maybe this is a way of gaslighting myself, but I think of it this way: In certain circles, my grandpa was considered to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/maybe-this-is-a-way-of-gaslighting-myself-but-i-think-of-it-this-way/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [There aren't a lot of movies being made about women, period. Most of the time, the roles that are available are the sidekick, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/there-aren-t-a-lot-of-movies-being-made-about-women-period-most-of/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [Every role requires its own set of tools, and I think, because of that, it is very hard to ever feel totally prepared or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/every-role-requires-its-own-set-of-tools-and-i-think-because-of-that/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I love bad movies, whereas going to the theater for me is a painful experience. I think it's really hard to sit and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-love-bad-movies-whereas-going-to-the-theater-for-me-is-a-painful/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think the written word is my first love. I was just a very imagination - centered child and a big part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-the-written-word-is-my-first-love-i-was-just-a-very/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [If I'm not working, I don't feel complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/if-i-m-not-working-i-don-t-feel-complete/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think, a lot of times, directors assume that whatever they get from you the first time, whether it be at an audition or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-a-lot-of-times-directors-assume-that-whatever-they-get-from/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I think from my earliest childhood, I liked to tell stories, put on plays and write things. It's funny to think of it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-think-from-my-earliest-childhood-i-liked-to-tell-stories-put-on/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I'm a very serious person. Unfortunately, sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-m-a-very-serious-person-unfortunately-sometimes/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [When I would get close on a part but wouldn't get it, I would be like, "They made a mistake," which is not how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/when-i-would-get-close-on-a-part-but-wouldn-t-get-it-i-would-be-like/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [If I ever feel that acting is just soul-sucking and I don't want to do it anymore, I could stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/if-i-ever-feel-that-acting-is-just-soul-sucking-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I'm definitely feeling whatever's going on pretty hard. It's like playing Barbies. You're holding the Barbies, but all of the action is happening inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-m-definitely-feeling-whatever-s-going-on-pretty-hard-it-s-like/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [My hero is Michelle Williams, who I grew close to when we did 'Meek's Cutoff.' She's an extraordinary actor and mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/my-hero-is-michelle-williams-who-i-grew-close-to-when-we-did-meek-s/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [Writing-wise, I like to have a lot of things on the burners at once, because when I hit a wall, I like to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/writing-wise-i-like-to-have-a-lot-of-things-on-the-burners-at-once/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [I love to act and that's sort of my first love. That's what I started out doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-love-to-act-and-that-s-sort-of-my-first-love-that-s-what-i-started/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) [Explore all 137 Zoe Kazan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) ## More Borderline quotes > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [I don't know if my mother was a narcissist - or bi-polar or borderline. Those were words she tossed around over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-don-t-know-if-my-mother-was-a-narcissist-or-bi-polar-or-borderline/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Working is the best thing for me because I'm borderline ADHD, so I need some kind of focus or I go a bit extreme.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-winstone/working-is-the-best-thing-for-me-because-i-m-borderline-adhd-so-i/) [Jaime Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-winstone/) > [The real problem with big issues like Medicare is that both parties have to be brave at the same time. Every pollster will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/the-real-problem-with-big-issues-like-medicare-is-that-both-parties/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“When you fall in love, everything is impregnated with new meaning. It is as if you suddenly have borderline personality disorder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/when-you-fall-in-love-everything-is-impregnated-with-new-meaning-it/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [“So at family gatherings… I try to stick to the acceptable script. Indeed, I discover that the less I say, the happier everyone seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-van-gelder/so-at-family-gatherings-i-try-to-stick-to-the-acceptable-script/) [Kiera Van Gelder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-van-gelder/) > [To my mind, nothing is as important as good writing, because in literature, the walls between people and cultures are broken down, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bausch/to-my-mind-nothing-is-as-important-as-good-writing-because-in/) [Richard Bausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bausch/) > [Welcome to the psychiatric hotline: if you are obsessive compulsive press one repeatedly. If you are schizophrenic listen closely and a little voice will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-oakley/welcome-to-the-psychiatric-hotline-if-you-are-obsessive-compulsive/) [Barbara Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-oakley/) > [My brother has a tendency to get quite lyrical when he writes music; he gets so romantic, it's borderline. I make it slightly more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/my-brother-has-a-tendency-to-get-quite-lyrical-when-he-writes-music/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) > [Sports is so hard for me to wrap my head around. I never played any sports, I don't watch any sports, I hardly know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-clifton/sports-is-so-hard-for-me-to-wrap-my-head-around-i-never-played-any/) [Scott Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-clifton/) > [“            Tempting as it may be to draw one conclusion or another from my story and universalize it to apply to another's experience, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reiland/tempting-as-it-may-be-to-draw-one-conclusion-or-another-from-my-story/) [Rachel Reiland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reiland/) > [I lived right on the borderline of a black neighborhood. 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The magic of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diriye-osman/in-those-sticky-summer-nights-in-south-london-our-windows-stay-open/) [Diriye Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diriye-osman/) Browse all 108 Borderline quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think everyone is always asking themselves, How is my work meaningful, how is my life meaningful? As I get older, I feel like who I am as a person and a citizen is more important than who I am in my work. But I do think it reframed slightly for me, how much I have to care about a project in order to want to do it. Sometimes, obviously, you have a take a job for money. But I think I'm quicker now when I get a script that's, say, borderline misogynist, I'm not going to go in for it. 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