George Bernard Shaw

If you're not producing as much as you consume, or perhaps a little more, then clearly we cannot use the big organization of our society for the purpose of keeping you alive, because your life does not benefit us, and it can't be of very much use to yourself.

Irish Playwright

George Harrison

Basically, I feel fortunate to have realized what the goal is in life. There's no point in dying having gone through your life without knowing who you are, what you are, or what the purpose of life is. And that's all it is.

British Musician

George W. Bush

Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.

American President

Joyce Meyer

Loving others always costs us something and requires effort. And you have to decide to do it on purpose. You can't wait for a feeling to motivate you.

American Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Be above it! Make the world serve your purpose, but do not serve it.

German Writer

Pablo Picasso

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

Spanish Painter

John F. Kennedy

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

Stephen Hawking

Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.

English Physicist

Edgar Allan Poe

With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.

American Poet

Saint Augustine

Saint

The word 'purpose' changes meaning depending on the situation and what it's referring to.

Context Matters

'Purpose' is often used with phrases like 'on purpose' to indicate intent, not accidentally.

Common Phrases

People often talk about 'life's purpose', which is a philosophical idea of life's meaning.

Figurative Use

When referring to a person, 'purpose' implies motivation and focused effort toward a goal.

Personal Drive

Using 'purpose' can imply that someone is inspired or driven, which is a positive trait.

Emotional Connotation

'Purpose' can be used before starting something to describe the intent behind future actions.

Before Action

Having a purpose doesn't guarantee success; an action can fail to fulfill its intended purpose.

Not Always Fulfilled

As a verb, 'purpose' is more formal and less common, often seen in literary or old-fashioned contexts.

Literary Usage

The verb form relates to planning for the future, particularly with determination.

Future Plans

 When she performs sacrifices, she focuses intently on the task. Licinia directs her energy towards being the best priestess she can be. She's worried that someday the state will claim her life for its own purposes to protect itself from danger. Licinia could be accused of incestum, meaning unchastity,

Who were the Vestal...

 or a trick of biology to make us procreate? Is it all we need? Do we need it at all? If romantic love has a purpose, neither science nor psychology has discovered it yet. But over the course of history, some of our most respected philosophers have put forward some intriguing theories.

Why do we love? A...

 But is there actually an evolutionary purpose to the itch, or is it simply there to annoy us? The leading theory is that our skin has evolved to be acutely aware of touch so that we're equipped to deal with risks from the outside world. Think about it.

Why do we itch? - Emma...

 to return the building to its former religious purposes. The story of the divine wisdom may be far from over, but one can only hope that the many voices residing there will be able to tell their part for years to come.

It's a church. It's a...

 my greatest salvation my greatest tool my voice saved my life my voice gave me a life it gave me a purpose it showed me a way out of the chaos of my home my voice gave me a reason to push through

Born to sing PIPE Taylor...

 But it can also raise our blood pressure, and make us feel anxious. It's the world most widely used drug. So how does it keep us awake? Caffeine evolved in plants where it serves a few purposes.

How does caffeine keep...

 he said, "Sir, I was in the sixth grade." And it reminded me that we're operating a force that must have shared purpose and shared consciousness, and yet he has different experiences,

Stanley McChrystal:...

 Synovial fluid is more or less the texture of egg yolk and its primary purpose is to cushion the bones and help them glide past each other. It also contains phagocytic cells

Why do your knuckles...

 all ant workers are female and sterile unable to reproduce themselves their sole purpose in life is to serve the queens

Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth

 i believe that we were all brought into this universe for purpose you exist for a very definite reason

Purpose

The reason why something is done or created.

Often appears as...

A person's determination or resolve.

Often appears as...

The action of intending to do something.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

Intend or plan to do something.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

Context Matters

Common Phrases

Figurative Use

Compare with

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