50 Purpose Quotes That Will Give Your Life Direction (2024)

If you feel unmotivated to keep going because you have no idea what your life is for, then this list of the best purpose quotes is perfect for you!

People feel fulfilled when they live a purposeful life.

When we live by our purpose, we’re constantly being guided in every aspect of our lives. Without it, we might be prone to demotivation and giving up.

But, despite the need, not everyone can easily identify their “why,” and that’s alright. It takes time to actually know what you live for.

So, in the meantime, gain some inspiration to find your purpose in this collection of quotes we’ve prepared for you.

Let’s begin.

And make sure to read these inspirational quotes and powerful quotes.

Best Purpose Quotes

1. “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” – W. Clement Stone

2. “Life is never made unbearable by circ*mstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” – Viktor Frankl

3. “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” – Robert Byrne

4. “We all have a purpose in life, and when you find yours you will recognize it.” – Catherine Pulsifer

5. “Each of us is born for a purpose, and we want our lives to matter. I don’t think it’s unique to only some of us—it’s a longing of every human being.” – Garrett Gravesen

6. “Your purpose must be particular to you. This is the road less traveled. Your purpose cannot be someone else’s path, not your family’s path nor your friends’ path.” – Drew Scott Pearlman

7. “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

8. “To begin to think with purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment.” – James Allen

9. “Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.” – Washington Irving

Famous Purpose Quotes

16. “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” – Buddha

17. “The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you discover the reason why.” – Mark Twain

18. “The person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.” – Thomas Carlyle

19. “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F. Kennedy

20. “When you find your why, you don’t hit snooze no more! You find a way to make it happen!” – Eric Thomas

21. “Nothing is more creative—nor destructive—than a brilliant mind with a purpose.” – Dan Brown

22. “To forget one’s purpose is the commonest form of stupidity.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

23. “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

24. “The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost. To be everywhere is to be nowhere.” – Michel de Montaigne

25. “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Also read: Famous Quotes, Positive Quotes

Motivational Purpose Quotes That Will Push You to Find Your Calling

26. “Understanding purpose is one thing, but recognizing the importance of having purpose is another. Everybody has a unique purpose in their life, whether it be to help others, provide for the family, or be free.” – Ben Gothard

27. “I believe purpose is something for which one is responsible—it’s not just divinely assigned.” – Michael J. Fox

28. “If you want to know what your purpose is, it is to make the most of your talents and skills for the greater good, and that means starting with yourself.” – Tony Clark

29. “Knowing your purpose gives your life meaning, simplicity, focus, and motivation. It also prepares you for eternity.” – Rick Warren

30. “Live for something, have a purpose. And that purpose keep in view.” – Robert Whitaker

31. “If you can tune into your purpose and really align with it, setting goals so that your vision is an expression of that purpose, then life flows much more easily.” – Jack Canfield

32. “Knowing your life’s purpose is the first step toward living a truly conscious life. A life purpose provides us with a clear goal, a set finish line that you truly want to reach.” – Simon Foster

33. “One thing is for sure, though, without a purpose, without a stated direction, you can wander around this world and play at life and not accomplish anything of significance and meaning.” – Byron Pulsifer

Purpose Quotes to Secure Your Happiness

34. “Perhaps the single most important ingredient in all of life for achieving happiness and fulfillment—purpose.” – Harvey Volson

35. “Not everybody can identify a purpose in life. But when you do, and when you pursue it, you will be living the kind of life you feel you were meant to live. And what’s more, you will be happy.” – Steve Goodier

36. “When you stay on purpose and refuse to be discouraged by fear, you align with the infinite self, in which all possibilities exist.” – Wayne Dyer

37. “Happy are those whose purpose has found them.” – Anonymous

38. “True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller

Purpose Quotes to Contribute to a Better Humanity

39. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso

40. “Giving so that others may be helped is a purpose of life that we should all embrace.” – Byron Pulsifer

41. “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to make things better.” – Robert F. Kennedy

42. “The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” – Mitch Albom

43. “Discovering your purpose is the most significant thing you will do in your life, and you, your loved ones, and the world will be better off because you went on this journey.” – Mastin Kipp

44. “Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.” – Kallam Anji Reddy

45. “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” – Albert Schweitzer

46. “Purpose is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s needs.” – Frederick Buechner

Purpose Quotes for a More Meaningful Career

47. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs

48. “But sometimes a particular purpose can be squared with a particular career. It may take nothing more than reexamining your career, asking some questions, and discovering a purpose you have overlooked in the past.” – Vince Lombardi Jr.

49. “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.” – Leonardo da Vinci

50. “Purpose is not a noun; it is a verb. It is about how we work. We experience purpose when we do something that’s greater than ourselves. We experience purpose when we push ourselves and grow. We experience purpose as part of a community.” – Aaron Hurst

Did These Quotes Inspire You to Search for Your Purpose?

We only have one life to live, and we must make the most out of it by being happy and fulfilled. One way to achieve this is by living with a purpose, which is usually found either by being aware of your passion from the start or through trial and error.

Sadly, most of us have to discover our purpose through trial and error. We always have to try out new things and see if it’s a good fit for us or not. It can also help to make the process easier if we constantly self-reflect on our goals, beliefs, advocacies, and motivations.

Remember that even if others find their purpose earlier in life, it doesn’t mean you are doing poorly. Purpose is unique for everyone, and so is the process of discovering it. As long as you are true to yourself and are constantly working on your personal growth, you’ll get there in no time.

With that, we hope that this list of quotes was able to give you insight into the importance of having a purpose in life. As you go through the journey of finding your own, feel free to return to this collection for guidance and inspiration. We are always rooting for your growth, so focus, reflect, and have clarity on your purpose!