Reverence for life, veneratio vit?, is the most direct and at the same time the profoundest achievement of my will-to-live. In reverence for life my knowledge passes into experience. The simple world- and life-affirmation which is within me just because I am will-to-live has, therefore, no need to enter into controversy with itself, if my will-to-live learns to think and yet does not understand the meaning of the world. In spite of the negative results of knowledge, I have to hold fast to world- and life-affirmation and deepen it. My life carries its own meaning in itself. This meaning lies in my living out the highest idea which shows itself in my will-to-live, the idea of reverence for life. With that for a starting-point I give value to my own life and to all the will-to-live which surrounds me, I persevere in activity, and I produce values.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reverence for life connects our will to live with meaningful action and value creation.
- In plain terms
- Living with reverence gives our will to live meaning and purpose.
- What can you take from it?
- Live actively to honor your will to live.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What gives your life meaning?
- How do you act on your will to live?
Another view
Finding personal meaning can be a subjective and shifting goal.
More from Albert Schweitzer
World-view is a product of life-view, not vice versa.
Permalink to quote #13 Ethics, too, are nothing but reverence for life. That is what gives me the fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, promot…
Permalink to quote #15 Resignation as to knowledge of the world is for me not an irretrievable plunge into a scepticism which leaves us to drift about in life like a derelict vessel.…
Permalink to quote #12
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