From Lincoln to Lennon: 30 quotes by great men about the meaning of life and finding happiness

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you want to draw a line and look at your achievements or philosophize on the topic “What is happiness and what is the meaning of life?”. This question has troubled people at all times. Of course, great people have also asked it.

They expressed their ideas in books, public speeches, and later, when television appeared, in numerous interviews. Diving deeper into their quotations, you can try to find answers to the questions that concern us to this day. How do people of science, pragmatic politicians and creative people answer them? Let’s take all approaches.

Albert Einstein

Theoretical physicist, founder of the theory of relativity, winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics, humanist, social activist. Genius and kindness, love of science and moral attitude to people were intertwined in this man. One of the brightest scientists of the XX century left behind not only phenomenal discoveries in the field of physics, but also philosophical deep reflections on the path of life.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you have to keep moving.

Outstanding personalities are formed not through beautiful speeches, but by one’s own labor and its result.

He who has never made mistakes has never tried anything new.

There are two ways to live: you can live as if miracles do not happen, and you can live as if everything in this world is a miracle.

The world is dangerous not because someone is doing evil, but because some people see it and do nothing about it.

Theodore Roosevelt

American politician and statesman, 26th president of the United States. A skillful politician thanks to his brilliant education and uncommon knowledge managed to gain fame and support of the country. In 1906, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In addition to his political career, Roosevelt went down in history as a great lover of nature and defender of animals. As a young man, he lived on a ranch for several years due to health problems. There he also developed a desire to do gymnastics and weightlifting.

Remembered the 26th President of the United States and his writings. In them he turned more to naturalistic themes, describing the life of hunters and farmers. Known books “Hunting trips rancher” and “The Conquest of the West”. Roosevelt never abandoned his writing craft. For 60 years of his life from under his pen came out more than 35 books. From them you can draw a lot of interesting philosophical thoughts.

The only person who does not make mistakes is the person who does nothing.

When you reach the end of the rope, tie a knot and hold on.

Sad as it may seem, there is no alternative to hard work. If your goal is to become indispensable, you must work longer, faster, and harder than anyone else.

Look to the stars, but keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.

The worst of all fears is the fear of living.

Abraham Lincoln

The famous politician and statesman, the 16th president of the United States is an example of a strong-willed man. Lincoln grew up in a poor farming family, and he had no opportunity to get a decent education in childhood. But the difficulties of life did not prevent the leader of the national liberation movement and the favorite of the American people to achieve career heights.

Lincoln was constantly engaged in self-education, read a lot and managed after reaching adulthood to obtain the right to practice law.

One of the main achievements of Abraham Lincoln – the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is still the most beloved and nationally recognized president of America. There are many motivational quotes in his writings that are still applicable in life.

People are usually as happy as they decide to be.

If you want to succeed, believe in yourself even when no one believes in you anymore.

We don’t help people when we do a job for them that they are able to do themselves.

No one will admire a person who has stumbled. But worthy of admiration is the person who was able to rise.

People who have no faults have very few virtues.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

French writer, poet, journalist became famous all over the world for his touching, poignant works about feelings, the meaning of life and the purpose of man. He explained in the words of the characters of his books many experiences and reasons for certain actions.

Writing was for St. Exupery more of a hobby than a main business. He worked as a pilot until the last days of his life. Prior to World War II, he flew commercial flights. He worked on airmail routes delivering documents to Europe, South Africa. At the beginning of the war, the writer enlisted in the French Air Force. In 1944, St. Exupery’s plane crashed. At the site of the crash, the wreckage of the board was found, and the writer was considered missing.

It was during his service in the army that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote his main works: “Citadel”, “Planet of Men”, “The Little Prince”. Despite the fact that the last work is included in the section of children’s books, it is primarily addressed to adults. In “The Little Prince” the writer philosophizes on the themes of friendship, love and the pain of loss. Quotations from the book became known all over the world and do not lose relevance to this day.

Never lose patience – it is the last key that unlocks doors.

You live in your actions, not your body. You are your actions and there is no other you.

You are forever responsible for those you have tamed.

That’s my secret, it’s very simple: the heart alone can see. You can’t see the most important things with your eyes.

To love is not to look at each other, to love is to look in the same direction.

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Russian writer, essayist, philosopher was not properly recognized during his lifetime. Literary critics were ruthless to him and wrote many barbed articles about his work. Nevertheless, he remained true to himself and his ideas.

Fyodor Mikhailovich was the founder of the innovative current of Russian realism. He had a great influence on all world literature and on future Nobel laureates.

In the piggy bank of his great works of genius are the novels “Besy”, “Crime and Punishment”, “The Idiot”, “The Brothers Karamazov”.

Reading them at a later age will open new meanings and will be perceived very differently than in school years.

Study and read. Read serious books. Life will do the rest.

One must love life more than the meaning of life itself!

Love is so omnipotent that it also rebirths us.

Whoever wants to do good can do much good even with his hands tied.

Life suffocates without purpose.

John Lennon

The name of this British singer is known all over the world. Poet, composer, writer, social activist, founder and member of the Liverpool foursome The Beatles is included in the top of the most famous Englishmen of the XX century. The British magazine Classic Rock recognized him as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

Fans even after the breakup of the popular band remained loyal and devoted to Lennon. The musician through his work preached the ideas of freedom, equality, brotherhood. For these views, John Lennon became an idol of the hippie subcultural movement. To this day, Lennon’s statements sound modern and help to find peace and tranquility.

The only way to experience life is to think of it as beautiful.

Time lost with pleasure is not considered lost.

Success can be achieved by anyone. Repeat these words to yourself all the time and success is sure to come.

Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.

At the end everything must be good. If something is bad, it is not the end.