9 Quotes by Victor Frankl

Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.

If you don't know what your mission in life is, you already have one - to find it

A life of short duration...could be so rich in joy and love that it could contain more meaning than a life lasting eighty years.

We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one's predicament into a human achievement. When we are no longer able to change a situation... we are challenged to change ourselves.

An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.

While we were waiting for the shower, our nakedness was brought home to us: we really had nothing now except our bare bodies—even minus hair; all we possessed, literally, was our naked existence

We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.

We don't invent our mission; we detect it.

Because of social pressure, individualism is rejected by most people in favor of conformity. Thus the individual relies mainly upon the actions of others and neglects the meaning of his own personal life. Hence he sees his own life as meaningless and falls into the “existential vacuum” feeling inner void. Progressive automation causes increasing alcoholism, juvenile delinquency, and suicide.