He had learned long ago that, in general, the easier it was for anxious patients to reach him, the less likely they were to call. (107)
Irvin D. YalomRead
A sense of life meaning ensues but cannot be deliberately pursued: life meaning is always a derivative phenomenon that materializes when we have transcended ourselves, when we have forgotten ourselves and become absorbed in someone (or something) outside ourselves
Interpretation
True meaning in life arises from self-transcendence and connection with others.
This quote by Irvin D. Yalom suggests that the pursuit of meaning in life cannot be a primary goal; instead, it is a byproduct that occurs when individuals immerse themselves in experiences or relationships that are greater than themselves. Engaging deeply with others or with meaningful tasks leads to a sense of fulfillment and purpose, which emerges naturally rather than being forced.
In practice
In a speech about finding purpose, this quote can remind us to focus on our bonds with others.
He had learned long ago that, in general, the easier it was for anxious patients to reach him, the less likely they were to call. (107)
A curious thought experiment. . . Nietzsche's message to us was to live life in such a way that we would be willing to repeat the same life eternally
Marriage and its entourage of possession and jealousy enslave the spirit.
It is wrong to bear children out of need, wrong to use a child to alleviate loneliness, wrong to provide purpose in life by reproducing another copy of oneself. It is wrong also to seek immortality by spewing one's germ into the future as though sperm contains your consciousness!
Life is a spark between two identical voids, the darkness before birth and the one after death.
I dream of a love that is more than two people craving to possess one another.
When a human kills an animal for food, he is neglecting his own hunger for justice. Man prays for mercy, but is unwilling to extend it to others. Why should man then expect mercy from God? It's unfair to expect something that you are not willing to give.
Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth and the soul requires inward restfulness to attain its full height.
Neither fear your death's day nor long for it.
An attack upon our ability to tell stories is not just censorship - it is a crime against our nature as human beings.
For men in a state of freedom had thatch for their shelter, while slavery dwells beneath marble and gold.
Let us never forget that authentic power is service, which has its radiant culmination on the Cross.
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