life (noun): "the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body"
Though it's hard to argue with Merriam-Webster, we all know that life means something more than the standard dictionary definition—or, at least, we want it to. If you're searching for insights into the meaning of life, or words of inspiration to make your life more meaningful, there's no better source than authors of great works of literature.
From Shakespeare to Alice Walker, from Jane Austen to Saul Bellow, iconic authors have a lot to say about life—its hardships and joys, its lessons and surprises. Below, we've gathered 50+ of the best quotes about the nature and meaning of life from authors of some of the best books ever written.
Quotes to Encourage You When Life Turns Challenging
Every life comes with its share of hardships, disappointments, and detours. When life gets tough, these quotes just might give you the right perspective to push through, rise up, and shine.
1. "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." -,
2. "There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." -,
3. "Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat." -,
4. "Life is every bit as devious as Death. It too can wear a hooded coat. It too can slip into town, lurk in an alley, or wait in the back of a tavern." -,
5. "Wasn't that the story of her life?... You make the wrong choices, you make mistakes, you disappear for a decade, you marry the wrong man. You get hurt. You lose sight of who you are, or of who you want to be, and then you remember, and if you’re lucky you have sisters or friends who remind you when you forget your best intentions. You come back to yourself, again and again. You try, and fail, and try again." -,
6. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." -,
7. "You endure what is unbearable and you bear it. That is all." -,
8. "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." -,
9. "A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well—or ill?" -,
10. "Then you must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever." -,
