It is not society's fault that most men seem to miss their vocation. Most men have no vocation.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Santayana argues that most men lack a specific vocation rather than society failing to match them to one.
- In plain terms
- Most men miss their vocation because they do not have one, not because society failed them.
- What can you take from it?
- Find a vocation rather than blaming society.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you feel you have a clear vocation?
- What responsibility do you have for finding purpose?
Another view
This overlooks how societal structures limit access to meaningful vocations for many people.
More from George Santayana
To call war the soil of courage and virtue is like calling debauchery the soil of love.
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Permalink to quote #20 The human race, in its intellectual life, is organized like the bees: the masculine soul is a worker, sexually atrophied, and essentially dedicated to imperson…
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