What Does It All Mean?

Meaning is not something you stumble across, like an answer to a riddle or the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life. You build it out of your own past, out of the affections and loyalties, out of the experience of humankind as it is passed on to you, out of your own talent and understanding, out of the things you believe in, out of the things and people you love, out of the values for which you are willing to sacrifice something. The ingredients are there. You are the only one who can put them together into that unique pattern that will be your life. Let it be a life that has dignity and meaning for you. If it does, then the particular balance of success or failure is of less account.—

John Gardner

8 Comments »

  1. woodnymph Said:

    Good advice.

  2. gailkav Said:

    very, very true.

  3. Thalia Said:

    beautifully said. And this site looks great, too.

  4. rosylee Said:

    Apt quote!

  5. Jill Said:

    Oh I do like that one – so true :)

  6. fairyrainbow Said:

    Oh yes, Gardner. A favourite of teachers all across the globe!

  7. senua Said:

    always happy to hear from john gardner. well said. we should add this to the library under quotes.

  8. [...] January 15, 2009 @ 4:36 pm } · { Uncategorized } { } · { Comments (7) [...]


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