Read motivational sayings and inspiring quotes by Viktor Frankl to find the motivation to live a meaningful life.
Viktor Emil Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author. He was the founder of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for life meaning as the central human motivational force. He published 39 books. The autobiographical book Man’s Search for Meaning is a best-selling book that is based on his experiences.
Inspiring Quotes by Viktor Frankl
The best inspiring Viktor E. Frankl Quotes to know the meaning of life.
Quote 1: “Don’t aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.” – Frankl suggests that if you focus solely on achieving success as your primary goal, you might actually fail. When success becomes an obsession, it can lead to anxiety, pressure, and disappointment because you’re fixated on the outcome.
Inspiration: This quote inspires us to shift our focus from the end result (success) to the journey and the actions we take. By doing what we believe in and working with dedication, success can naturally follow without the stress of making it the only target.
Quote 2: “Success, you have to let it happen by not caring about it.” – Frankl advises that success is more likely to occur when you don’t overly concern yourself with it. Paradoxically, when you’re not fixated on success, you can make more rational decisions and perform better.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to work diligently and sincerely towards our goals without being consumed by the fear of failure. When we focus on the task at hand rather than the outcome, success may come as a pleasant surprise.
Quote 3: “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” – Frankl emphasizes that external circumstances alone don’t make life unbearable. It’s the absence of a sense of meaning and purpose that can make life seem intolerable.
Inspiration: This quote motivates us to seek and create meaning in our lives. Even in difficult circumstances, finding a purpose can help us endure and find strength to overcome challenges.
Quote 4: “The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” – Frankl suggests that we are responsible for giving life its purpose and significance. Life itself doesn’t have inherent meaning; it’s up to us to create and define our own purpose.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to be active in shaping our lives and to find or create meaning through our actions, values, and experiences.
Quote 5: “Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answers to its problems.” – Frankl highlights that life involves taking responsibility for solving the challenges and problems it presents. We must actively seek solutions.
Inspiration: This quote motivates us to be proactive problem solvers and not shy away from the difficulties life presents. By taking responsibility for our actions and decisions, we can make our lives better.
Quote 6: “We have to learn ourselves that it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.” – Frankl urges us to shift our perspective from what we want from life to what life expects from us. Life places demands on us, and our response to those demands is crucial.
Inspiration: This quote inspires us to be adaptable and responsive to life’s challenges. By focusing on our responsibilities and how we can contribute, we can find greater fulfillment.
Quote 7: “A man should not ask what the meaning of life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.” – Frankl suggests that instead of seeking the meaning of life, we should understand that life asks us to define its meaning through our choices and actions.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to take an active role in shaping the meaning of our lives. It’s about recognizing that we have the power to give life purpose through our decisions and contributions.
Quote 8: “The meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day, from hour to hour.” – Frankl emphasizes that the meaning of life is not a fixed or universal concept. It can vary for each person and even change over time.
Inspiration: This quote reminds us that our sense of purpose is flexible and personal. It allows us to explore different avenues and adapt as we grow and evolve.
Quote 9: “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment.” – Frankl suggests that every person has a unique calling or mission in life, a specific task that only they can fulfill.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to seek our individual purpose and make a meaningful contribution to the world by fulfilling our unique missions.
Quote 10: “The way of finding a meaning in life is by experiencing something, such as goodness, truth, and beauty.” – Frankl proposes that we discover meaning in life through experiences, particularly those that involve qualities like goodness, truth, and beauty.
Inspiration: This quote motivates us to seek and appreciate meaningful experiences in life, whether they come from acts of kindness, the pursuit of truth, or the appreciation of beauty. These experiences can enrich our lives and give them purpose.
Quote 11: “Each man is questioned by life, and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life.” – Frankl suggests that life presents us with challenges, and we respond by taking responsibility for our own actions and choices.
Inspiration: This quote inspires us to be accountable for our lives. We should make decisions, set goals, and act in ways that reflect our values and aspirations, allowing us to shape our own path.
Quote 12: “When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.” – Frankl points out that when people lack a profound sense of purpose or meaning, they often turn to shallow pleasures and distractions to fill the void.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to seek and cultivate meaningful pursuits in our lives. By doing so, we can find fulfillment and purpose without relying on superficial distractions.
Quote 13: “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.” – Frankl emphasizes that while external circumstances can strip away many things, our power to choose how we react to those circumstances remains intact.
Inspiration: This quote empowers us to take control of our reactions and attitudes in the face of adversity. It reminds us that we have the freedom to choose our responses, even when circumstances are challenging.
Quote 14: “Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.” – Frankl highlights that the most significant freedom we possess is the ability to choose our attitudes, regardless of external factors.
Inspiration: This quote inspires us to recognize our power to shape our outlook and responses. By choosing a positive and constructive attitude, we can navigate life’s ups and downs with resilience and grace.
Quote 15: “Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become the next moment.” – Frankl reminds us that we are not passive observers in life; we continually make choices that shape our existence and our future.
Inspiration: This quote motivates us to be conscious of our decisions and actions. We can actively shape our lives by making choices that align with our goals and values.
Quote 16: “Fear makes come true that which one is afraid of.” – Frankl suggests that excessive fear can lead to the realization of the very things we are afraid of, as our thoughts and actions may inadvertently bring them about.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to manage our fears and anxieties. By focusing on positive outcomes and taking constructive steps, we can avoid self-fulfilling prophecies driven by fear.
Quote 17: “Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible, and of changing himself for the better if necessary.” – Frankl asserts that humans have the capacity to improve both the world around them and their own selves.
Inspiration: This quote reminds us of our potential for positive change. We can work towards making the world a better place and also engage in self-improvement when needed.
Quote 18: “The salvation of man is through love and in love.” – Frankl suggests that love, both giving and receiving, plays a crucial role in our well-being and salvation.
Inspiration: This quote encourages us to embrace love as a source of strength and healing. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing loving relationships and expressing compassion.
Quote 19: “You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.” – Frankl points out that while we can’t control external events, we have control over our emotional responses and actions.
Inspiration: This quote empowers us to take charge of our emotional reactions and behaviors. We can choose to respond to challenges with resilience, positivity, and purpose.
Quote 20: “Suffering completely fills the human soul and conscious mind, no matter whether the suffering is great or little.” – Frankl acknowledges that suffering is a universal experience and can profoundly affect our inner world, regardless of its magnitude.
Inspiration: This quote reminds us to be empathetic and understanding toward others who are suffering, no matter the scale of their pain. It emphasizes the importance of supporting and caring for one another during difficult times.
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Quotes source: Goodreads
