# Quotes about purpose - Quotes: 47 - Authors: 34 - Narrower topics: [plans](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/plans.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.json ## Quotes > Very often when we have found ourselves forever separated from what we had intended to achieve, we have already, on our way, found something else worth desiring. [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe.md) · [Maxims and Reflections](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/maxims-and-reflections.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/maxims-and-reflections/very-often-when.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > He that dies in an earnest pursuit, is like one that is wounded in hot blood; who, for the time, scarce feels the hurt; and therefore a mind fixed, and bent upon somewhat that is good, doth avert the dolors of death. [Francis Bacon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon.md) · [The Essays](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/francis-bacon/the-essays/he-that-dies.md) Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > 'Somehow running away seldom seems to work out well unless you have a pretty good idea what you're running to." [John Wyndham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham.md) · [The Kraken Wakes](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/the-kraken-wakes.md) · p. 360 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-wyndham/the-kraken-wakes/somehow-running-away.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > DONALD BARTHELME: ...I was trying to make fiction that was like certain kinds of modern painting. You know, tending toward the abstract. But it’s really very dicey in fiction, because if you get too abstract it just looks like fog, for example. > > JO BRANS: Words, after all, have referents. They mean something—colors don’t. > > BARTHELME: Not in the same way. So, the project is next to impossible, which is what makes it interesting. There’s nothing so beautiful as having a very difficult problem. It gives purpose to life. And to work. I’m still worrying with it. [Donald Barthelme](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme.md) · [Not-Knowing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme/not-knowing.md) · p. 298 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/donald-barthelme/not-knowing/donald-barthelme-i-was.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [problems](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/problems.md) > Space is infinite to men without destinations. [Alasdair Gray](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alasdair-gray.md) · [Lanark](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alasdair-gray/lanark.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alasdair-gray/lanark/space-is-infinite.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > The only way to get somewhere, you know, is to figure out where you're going before you go there. [John Hoyer Updike](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-hoyer-updike.md) · [Rabbit, Run](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-hoyer-updike/rabbit-run.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/john-hoyer-updike/rabbit-run/the-only-way.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > If you have given up your heart for the Tower, Roland, you have already lost. A heartless creature is a loveless creature, and a loveless creature is a beast. To be a beast is perhaps bearable, although the man who has become one will surely pay hell’s own price in the end, but if you should gain your object? What if you should, heartless, storm the Dark Tower and win it? What could you do except degenerate from beast to monster? To gain one’s object as a beast would only be bitterly comic, like giving a magnifying glass to an elephaunt. But to gain one’s object as a monster…To pay hell is one thing. But do you want to own it? [Stephen King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king.md) · [The Drawing Of The Three](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-drawing-of-the-three.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-drawing-of-the-three/if-you-have.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Had he come this far just to die, then? He would not. And if he were to die in spite of his determination, he would die on his way to the Tower. [Stephen King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king.md) · [The Drawing Of The Three](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-drawing-of-the-three.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-drawing-of-the-three/had-he-come.md) Topics: [perseverance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/perseverance.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Why I ran at all or with what purpose in mind is beyond my answering, but when I had no specific destination I always ran as fast as I could in the hope of finding one--and I always found one. [Beryl Markham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/beryl-markham.md) · [West With The Night](https://www.leafyquotes.com/beryl-markham/west-with-the-night.md) · p. 57 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/beryl-markham/west-with-the-night/why-i-ran.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > What purpose and will didn’t tell you, unfortunately, was how to do something that must be done. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Aftermath](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/aftermath.md) · p. 474 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/aftermath/what-purpose-and.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > For the vision to be taken seriously, the destination- or the goal- has to be attainable. It's your vision, so you need to determine the timing. With your destination in focus, you need to describe who you are, what you do, and how you are going to get there. [Ann Dunwoody](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody.md) · [A Higher Standard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard.md) · p. 191 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard/for-the-vision.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. [Ann Dunwoody](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody.md) · [A Higher Standard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard.md) · p. 189 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ann-dunwoody/a-higher-standard/if-you-dont.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > If you aim at nothing, you become plagued by everything. [Jordan B. Peterson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson.md) · [Beyond Order](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson/beyond-order.md) · p. 184 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson/beyond-order/if-you-aim.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > There is a high goal, a mountain peak, a star that shines in the darkness, beckoning above the horizon. Its mere existence gives you hope—and that is the meaning without which you cannot live. [Jordan B. Peterson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson.md) · [Beyond Order](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson/beyond-order.md) · p. 133 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jordan-b-peterson/beyond-order/there-is-a-high.md) Topics: [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Lasting goal achievement requires lots of time, hard work, personal sacrifice, ongoing effort, and dedication to a process that is maintained over years. [Marshall Goldsmith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-goldsmith.md) · [What Got You Here Won't Get You There](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-goldsmith/what-got-you-here-wont-get-you-there.md) · p. 189 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marshall-goldsmith/what-got-you-here-wont-get-you-there/lasting-goal-achievement.md) Topics: [perseverance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/perseverance.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Is your goal taking up so much of your attention that you reduce the present moment to a means to an end? Is it taking the joy out of your doing? Are you waiting to start living? If you develop such a mind pattern, no matter what you achieve or get, the present will never be good enough; the future will always seem better. A perfect recipe for permanent dissatisfaction and nonfulfillment. [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [The Power of Now](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/the-power-of-now.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/the-power-of-now/is-your-goal.md) Topics: [the present moment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-present-moment.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > What could I say to you that would be of value, except that perhaps you seek too much, that as a result of your seeking you cannot find. … When someone is seeking, it happens quite easily that he only sees the thing that he is seeking; that he is unable to find anything, unable to absorb anything, because he is only thinking of the thing he is seeking, because he has a goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are perhaps indeed a seeker, for in striving towards your goal, you do not see many things that are under your nose. [Hermann Hesse](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hermann-hesse.md) · [Siddhartha](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hermann-hesse/siddhartha.md) · p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hermann-hesse/siddhartha/what-could-i-say.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > It is a deplorable thing to see all men deliberating on means alone, and not on the end. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/it-is-a-deplorable.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > You can’t set out to achieve your goals without a little madness. [Abraham Verghese](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abraham-verghese.md) · [The Covenant of Water](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abraham-verghese/the-covenant-of-water.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abraham-verghese/the-covenant-of-water/you-cant-set.md) Topics: [madness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/madness.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > "No," his father replied, "you ran for you. I just hope you're running toward something, not away from something." [Nicholas Sparks](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks.md) · [Nights In Rodanthe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/nights-in-rodanthe.md) · p. 24 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nicholas-sparks/nights-in-rodanthe/no-his-father.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Most of us spend our lives avoiding the thought of death. Instead, the inevitability of death should be continually on our minds. Understanding the shortness of life fills us with a sense of purpose and urgency to realize our goals. Training ourselves to confront and accept this reality makes it easier to manage the inevitable setbacks, separations, and crises in life. It gives us a sense of proportion, of what really matters in this brief existence of ours. Most people continually look for ways to separate themselves from others and feel superior. Instead, we must see the mortality in everyone, how it equalizes and connects us all. By becoming deeply aware of our mortality, we intensify our experience of every aspect of life. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/most-of-us-spend.md) Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Unlike animals, with their instincts to guide them past dangers, we humans have to rely upon our conscious decisions. We do the best we can when it comes to our career path and handling the inevitable setbacks in life. But in the back of our minds we can sense an overall lack of direction, as we are pulled this way and that way by our moods and by the opinions of others. How did we end up in this job, in this place? Such drifting can lead to dead ends. The way to avoid such a fate is to develop a sense of purpose, discovering our calling in life and using such knowledge to guide us in our decisions. We come to know ourselves more deeply—our tastes and inclinations. We trust ourselves, knowing which battles and detours to avoid. Even our moments of doubt, even our failures have a purpose—to toughen us up. With such energy and direction, our actions have unstoppable force. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/unlike-animals-with.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him. [Viktor Frankl](https://www.leafyquotes.com/viktor-frankl.md) · [Man's Search for Meaning](https://www.leafyquotes.com/viktor-frankl/mans-search-for-meaning.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/viktor-frankl/mans-search-for-meaning/what-man-actually.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > It's not common, in our age, for someone to retire while still at the top, but I'm a man who needs a goal, and who wants to make a difference. [Garry Kasparov](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garry-kasparov.md) · [Winter Is Coming](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garry-kasparov/winter-is-coming.md) · p. 136 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/garry-kasparov/winter-is-coming/its-not-common.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > The end justifies the means. But what if there never is an end? All we have is means. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Lathe Of Heaven](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-lathe-of-heaven.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-lathe-of-heaven/the-end-justifies.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Left Hand of Darkness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness.md) · p. 220 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness/it-is-good.md) Topics: [travel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/travel.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > To oppose something is to maintain it. > > They say here “all roads lead to Mishnory.” To be sure, if you turn your back on Mishnory and walk away from it, you are still on the Mishnory road. To oppose vulgarity is inevitably to be vulgar. You must go somewhere else; you must have another goal; then you walk a different road. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Left Hand of Darkness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness.md) · p. 151 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness/to-oppose-something.md) Topics: [rebellion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/rebellion.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > The aims of life are the best defense against death. [Primo Levi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/primo-levi.md) · [The Drowned And The Saved](https://www.leafyquotes.com/primo-levi/the-drowned-and-the-saved.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/primo-levi/the-drowned-and-the-saved/the-aims-of-life.md) Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > It may be, then, that form serves us best when it works as an obstruction to baffle us and deflect our intended course. It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work and that when we no longer know which way to go we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [Standing by Words](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/standing-by-words.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/standing-by-words/it-may-be-then.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > You are the grim, goal-oriented ones who will not believe that the joy is in the journey rather than the destination no matter how many times it has been proven to you. [Stephen King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king.md) · [The Dark Tower](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-dark-tower.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/the-dark-tower/you-are-the.md) Topics: [travel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/travel.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > "I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle." [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [Atlas Shrugged](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged.md) · p. 812 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged/i-started-my-life.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Wasn't it evil to wish without moving—or to move without aim? [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [Atlas Shrugged](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged.md) · p. 241 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/atlas-shrugged/wasnt-it-evil.md) Topics: [taking action](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/taking-action.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven, for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose – a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. [Mary Shelley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley.md) · [Frankenstein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein/i-feel-my-heart.md) Topics: [peace of mind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/peace-of-mind.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit. You either control your mind or it controls you. There is no half-way compromise. The most practical of all methods for controlling the mind is the habit of keeping it busy with a definite purpose, backed by a definite plan...Without this control, success is not possible. p. 173 [Napoleon Hill](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill.md) · [Think And Grow Rich](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill/think-and-grow-rich.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/napoleon-hill/think-and-grow-rich/mind-control-is-the.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [self-control](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/self-control.md) > True happiness, we are told, consists in getting out of one's self; but the point is not only to get out — you must stay out; and to stay out you must have some absorbing errand. [Henry James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james.md) · [Roderick Hudson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/roderick-hudson.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/roderick-hudson/true-happiness-we-are.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today. [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [The Romantic Manifesto](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/the-romantic-manifesto.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/the-romantic-manifesto/anyone-who-fights.md) Topics: [the future](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-future.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > It is futile to fight against, if one does not know what one is fighting for. [Ayn Rand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand.md) · [Capitalism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/capitalism.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ayn-rand/capitalism/it-is-futile.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > "Sal, we gotta go and never stop going till we get there." > > "Where we going, man?" > > "I don't know but we gotta go." [Jack Kerouac](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac.md) · [On the Road](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac/on-the-road.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-kerouac/on-the-road/sal-we-gotta.md) Topics: [travel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/travel.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > We can still remember the golden days before Heisenberg, who showed humans the walls enclosing our predestined arguments. The lives within me find this amusing. Knowledge, you see, has no uses without purpose, but purpose is what builds enclosing walls. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Children Of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune/we-can-still.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > When others place impossible expectations on a man, he must redefine his goals, and forge his own path. That way at least someone is satisfied. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune/when-others-place.md) Topics: [independence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/independence.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test that it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune/any-road-followed.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents' beds, unerringly I rush! Naught's an obstacle, naught's an angle to the iron way! [Herman Melville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville.md) · [Moby-Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick.md) · p. 186 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick/swerve-me-the.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [stubbornness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stubbornness.md), [obsession](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/obsession.md) > The love of Arda was set in your hearts by Ilúvatar, and he does not plant to no purpose. Nonetheless, many ages of Men unborn may pass ere that purpose is made known; and to you it will be revealed and not to the Valar. [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md) · [The Silmarillion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion/the-love-of-arda.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you are no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow. [Robert M. Pirsig](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig.md) · [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-m-pirsig/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/mountains-should-be-climbed.md) Topics: [the present moment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-present-moment.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Pale Blue Dot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/pale-blue-dot.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/pale-blue-dot/if-we-crave.md) Topics: [meaning of life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/meaning-of-life.md), [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md) > As enunciated today, 'progress' is simply a comparative of which we have not settled the superlative. [G. Chesterton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton.md) · [Heretics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/heretics.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/heretics/as-enunciated-today.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [technological progress](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/technological-progress.md) > When everything about a people is for the time growing weak and ineffective, it begins to talk about efficiency. So it is that when a man's body is a wreck he begins, for the first time, to talk about health. Vigorous organisms talk not about their processes, but about their aims. [G. Chesterton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton.md) · [Heretics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/heretics.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/heretics/when-everything-about.md) Topics: [purpose](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/purpose.md), [health](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/health.md)