No philosophy that he had ever heard or read gave any reasonable purpose for man's existence, nor any rational clue to his proper conduct. Basking in the sunshine might be as good a thing to do with one's life as any other - but it was not for him and he knew it, even if he could not define how he knew it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- No philosophy explained the speaker's purpose so he found his own. He felt sunshine was good but not enough for him.
- In plain terms
- Philosophies failed so he found his own reason to live.
- What can you take from it?
- Find personal purpose beyond texts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines your purpose?
- How do you know what fits?
Another view
Some find clear purpose in existing philosophies.
More from Robert A. Heinlein
Age is not an accomplishment, and youth is not a sin.
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Permalink to quote #26 Free will is a golden thread running through the frozen matrix of fixed events.
Permalink to quote #23
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