Quotes about Purpose

And truly it demands something godlike in him who has cast off the common motives of humanity, and has ventured to trust himself for a taskmaster. High be his heart, faithful his will, clear his sight, that he may in good earnest be doctrine, society, law, to himself, that a simple purpose may be to him as strong as iron necessity is to others!

Life is too short to waste The critic bite or cynic bark, Quarrel, or reprimand; 'Twill soon be dark; Up! mind thine own aim, and God speed the mark!

Nothing in nature is exhausted in its first use...In God, every end is converted into a new means.

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be

In God, every end is converted into a new means. Thus the use of commodity, regarded by itself, is mean and squalid.

for the hand can never execute any thing higher than the character can inspire.

The lover seeks in marriage his private felicity and perfection, with no prospective end; and nature hides in his happiness her own ends, namely, progeny, or the perpetuity of the race.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you lived and lived well.

Why should I vapor and play the philosopher, instead of ballasting, the best I can, this dancing balloon?

Life is too short to waste In critic peep or cynic bark, Quarrel or reprimand: 'Twill soon be dark; Up, heed thine own aim, and God speed the mark!

Oh, what have I to do with time?

That divided and rebel mind, that distrust of a sentiment because our arithmetic has computed the strength and means opposed to our purpose, these [158] have not. Their mind being whole, their eye is as yet unconquered, and when we look in their faces we are disconcerted.