This suggests that trying to directly chase success or happiness often leads to frustration. Instead, these desirable outcomes are often byproducts of focusing on something else – like living meaningfully or pursuing a worthy cause. They emerge naturally when we are engaged in purposeful action.
Quote by Viktor Frankl: “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”
For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue.
Insight
Historical Context
In an era focused on rebuilding and striving for a better future, Frankl's philosophy subtly critiqued the direct pursuit of material success or fleeting pleasure. He advocated for a deeper, meaning-oriented approach to life, from which true fulfillment naturally followed.
About the Author
Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor, and founder of logotherapy, a form of existential analysis. His seminal work, "Man's Search for Meaning," details his experiences in concentration camps and his theory that finding meaning in life is the primary motivational force for humans.
View all quotes by Viktor Frankl