The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson Philosopher, Poet, Author, Essayist

Purpose
Pass It On®
Pass It On®

  email   print

Your Comments
patricia from OREGON FEBRUARY 3, 2020
love this!
Keith from Columbus Ohio  JULY 5, 2016
Ahh... Where was this when I thought I knew it all?

Here are some other inspiring quotes you might like.
Compassion is an action word with no boundaries. #<Author:0x00007f1f06d7c018>
COMPASSION
A real leader uses every issue, no matter how serious and sensitive, to ensure that at the end of the debate we should emerge stronger and more united than ever before. #<Author:0x00007f1f06dc4908>
LEADERSHIP
Hope is a passion for the possible. #<Author:0x00007f1f06dae4a0>
HOPE
It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. #<Author:0x00007f1f06dff3a0>
OVERCOMING
If you want to make a difference and leave your world a better place, let others know how important they are as you put their needs above yours. #<Author:0x00007f1f06dec5e8>
CARING
You really can change the world if you care enough. #<Author:0x00007f1f06dd4628>
CARING
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e27120>
PURPOSE
Education is everything—education is your power, education is your way in life for whatever you want to do. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e14660>
LEARNING
Infinitely more important than sharing one's material wealth is sharing the wealth of ourselves—our time and energy, our passion and commitment, and, above all, our love. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e5e418>
GENEROSITY
You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e4c060>
INNOVATION
There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become most truly alive. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e95f30>
PURPOSE
True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’ #<Author:0x00007f1f06e844b0>
FORGIVENESS
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. #<Author:0x00007f1f06e6e6b0>
HARD WORK
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. #<Author:0x00007f1f06ebc338>
GOOD MANNERS
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. #<Author:0x00007f1f06ea6880>
MOTIVATION
Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together. #<Author:0x00007f1f06ef45d0>
INCLUDING OTHERS
All Pass It On® Quotes

We use cookies or similar technologies to process data when you visit our site. This data may relate to your use of our site, your preferences, your device, or other information about you. We and third parties may use this information for a variety of purposes, such as enabling the sites to function, to personalize your experience when using our sites, and for analytical purposes. Read our privacy policy and terms of use for details. close

Reject All Accept All