Life Purpose Articles

Keanu Reeves (September 2nd, 1964) is an actor who was born in Beirut and raised in Toronto. His breakthrough role was in the 1989 science fiction comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In addition to many films since then, Keanu has directed, plays bass guitar in the band Dogstar, and is known as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. Below we list some words of wisdom by Keanu Reeves. "I always felt a bit alone and isolated from other people...I did a lot of pretending as a child. It was my way of coping with the fact that I didn't feel like I fit in."

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (July 1, 1646–November 14, 1716) was a German scientist, mathematician, and philosopher. He developed core concepts of integral and differential calculus and was a pioneer in the realm of mechanical calculators. He is known as one of the founders of computer science. As a philosopher, he was of the scholastic tradition, influenced contemporary analytic philosophy, and viewed our world as one of God’s perfect creations. Below we list some words of wisdom from Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.

Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (February 25th or 27th, 1861--March 30th, 1925) was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and clairvoyant. He published may works including The Philosophy of Freedom, and founded an esoteric spiritual movement called anthroposophy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803--April 27, 1882) was an American writer, poet, and philosopher who promoted free thought, individualism, and independence. He helped launch the transcendentalist movement in the 1800s, and believed in reinca ation. He was considered an extremist by many of his peers due to his unorthodox views on religion and social conventions. Below we list some words of wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson. "We may be partial, but Fate is not." “Fate is nothing but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence.

Emanuel Swedenborg (February 8, 1688–March 29, 1772) was Swedish inventor, scientist, philosopher, theologian, and mystic. He is most known for his book about the afterlife, Heaven and Hell. His career as a scientist and inventor, involving mostly geometry, chemistry, and metallurgy, included several mathematical and mechanical inventions. Emanuel Swedenborg also published an article explaining mental and spiritual events as tiny vibrations, and was intent on forming a theory to explain how matter relates to spirit.

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809–October 7, 1849) was an American writer and poet who is considered to have pioneered the category of detective fiction, and was one of the first Americans to consistently write short stories. He is also the first well-know American writer to earn a living exclusively through writing. His writing focused on mystery, romanticism, and the grotesque. He also wrote science fiction, and believed in reinca ation. Below we list some words of wisdom from Edgar Allan Poe.

Dolly Parton (born January 19th, 1946) is a country music singer-songwriter legend. She’s also a business woman and philanthropist. She was first a successful songwriter for other artists, then released her first album in 1967, and has since sold over 100 million records since. She’s had 110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years. Below we list some words of wisdom from Dolly Parton. "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." "A positive attitude and a sense of humor go together like biscuits and gravy."

Albert Camus (November 7th, 1913 – January 4th, 1960) was an Algerian-bo French author, philosopher, dramatist, and jou alist. He received the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at age forty-four, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include The Plague, The Rebel, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, and The Fall. He was politically active and opposed Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union because of their totalitarianism. Camus was a moralist and leaned towards anarcho-syndicalism. Below we list words of wisdom by Albert Camus.

Laozi (translated as "Old Master"), also known as Lao Tzu, or Lao-Tze, proper name Li Er, was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He’s the author of the Tao Te Ching, founder of Taoism, and a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. He is usually portrayed as a 6th-century BCE contemporary of Confucius. Some modern historians believe he lived during the 4th century BCE. Below we list words of wisdom by Laozi. "For knowledge, add something every day. For wisdom...subtract."

Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–October 15, 1918) was an Indian spiritual teacher who is considered to be a saint by Hindus and Muslims. He emphasized the importance of self-actualization, forgiveness, compassion, inner peace, and devotion to God. Below we list some words of wisdom from Sai Baba of Shirdi. “All action results from thought, so it is thoughts that matter.”

Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452—May 2, 1519) was an Italian artist, scientist, architect, and engineer. He’s considered one of the greatest painters of all time, along with being a technological genius. Incredibly, da Vinci had no formal training beyond being taught to write, read, and do basic math. He was also ambidextrous and believed in reinca ation. Below we list some words of wisdom by Leonardo da Vinci. “Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” “You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure, what you do not understand.”

Rumi (September 30, 1207–December 17, 1273) was an Iranian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. His wisdom and spiritual writings are widely known throughout the Middle East, and he is one of the best-selling poets in the United States. Below we list some words of wisdom from Rumi. “I am neither of the East nor of the West, no boundaries exist within my breast.” “Your depression is connected to your insolence and refusal to praise.” “It may be that the satisfactio I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home.”

Hannah Arendt (October 14, 1906 – December 4, 1975) was a German-bo philosopher and historian, and was one of the most prominent political theorists in the last century. She wrote extensively on the topics of totalitarianism, and the nature of power and evil. The Origins of Totalitarianism and The Human Condition are two of her more well-known publications. Below we list some words of wisdom from Hannah Arendt. “We all carry fault within.”

Immanuel Kant (April 22nd, 1724 – February 12th, 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. His comprehensive and systematic works in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics made him one of the most influential thinkers in modern Western philosophy. Below we list some words of wisdom by Immanuel Kant. "Most men use their knowledge only under guidance from others because they lack the courage to think independently using their own reasoning abilities. It takes intellectual daring to discover the truth."

Jayne Mansfield (April 19th, 1933 – June 29th, 1967) was an American actress, singer, entertainer, and Playboy Playmate. She was known for her publicity stunts and personal life, had several box-office successes, and won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe Award. Jayne was one of Hollywood's original blonde bombshells and is still one of the most recognizable icons of 1950s celebrity culture.

Morgan Freeman (June 1, 1937) is an American actor, narrator, and producer. He’s received many awards for his work, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2008, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2018. Below we list words of wisdom by Morgan Freeman. "How are we going to get rid of racism? Stop talking about it!"

Zhuang Zhou, also known as Zhuangzi, was a 4th century BC influential Chinese philosopher. He wrote the Zhuangzi, which is one of the foundational texts of Taoism. Below we list some words of wisdom by Zhuangzi. "Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe." "A path is made by walking on it." "If you have insight, you use your inner eye, your inner ear, to pierce to the heart of things, and have no need of intellectual knowledge."

Goldie Hawn (born November 21st, 1945) is an American actress, producer, dancer, and singer. She rose to fame on the sketch comedy program Laugh-In (1968–1970). She received the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for Cactus Flower (1969) and has appeared in many films since. Below we list some words of wisdom from Goldie Hawn.

Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817¬–May 6, 1862) was an American philosopher and writer. He is best known as an advocate of transcendentalism. He also believed in reinca ation. His book Walden is about life in the woods, an experiment on self-sufficiency. His essay, Civil Disobedience, influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. In it, he wrote, "I heartily accept the motto—'That government is best which governs least’…” Below we list some words of wisdom from Henry David Thoreau. “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.”

Tom Shadyac (December 11, 1958) is an American author, director, producer, and screenwriter. He wrote and directed the comedy films The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty Patch Adams, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. In 2010, Shadyac wrote, directed, and narrated his documentary film I am, that looks at his leaving materialistic lifestyle after a bicycle accident. Below we list some words of wisdom by Tom Shadyac.

Hermann Karl Hesse (July 2, 1877–August 9, 1962) was a German-Swiss novelist and poet who received the Nobel Prize in Literature. His writings focused on spirituality and the search for self-understanding. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity influenced him the most, but he believed, "for different people, there are different ways to God." Below we list some words of wisdom from Hermann Karl Hesse. “Every experience has its element of magic.” “People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.”

Abigail Adams (November 22, 1744 – October 28, 1818) was the spouse and close advisor of John Adams. She was the first second lady of the United States, second first lady of the United States, and the mother of the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams. She was a prominent advocate for women’s rights and a strong believe in the importance of education for women.

Elizabeth Taylor (February 27th, 1932 – March 23rd, 2011) was a British-American actress. She was one of the most popular stars of Hollywood in the 1950s, became the world's highest paid movie star in the 1960s, and remained a well-known public figure.

Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902) was an Indian Hindu philosopher and religious teacher who was instrumental in introducing yoga to the Western world. He was also partly responsible for the rise of Hinduism to a major world religion. Below we list some words of wisdom from Hermann Swami Vivekananda “The will is not free - it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect - but there is something behind the will which is free.” “We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.”

Marilyn Monroe (June 1st, 1926 – August 4th, 1962) was an American actress, model, and singer. She was one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s and remains an icon decades after her death. She was a top-billed actress and in 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her as the sixth-greatest female screen legend from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Friedrich Nietzsche (October 15th, 1844 – August 25th, 1900) was a German poet, philologist, philosopher, composer, and cultural critic whose work heavily influenced contemporary philosophy. Below we list some words of wisdom by Friedrich Nietzsche. "Do you want to have an easy life? Then always stay with the herd and lose yourself in the herd." "Men who think deeply appear to be comedians in their dealings with others because they always have to feign superficiality in order to be understood."

Giordano Bruno (early 1548–February 17, 1600) was an Italian Hermetic occultist influenced greatly by Renaissance Hermeticism and the wisdom of Hermes Trismegistus, according to Historian Francis Yates. Bruno was also a mathematician and is known largely for his cosmological theories, including the universe is infinite, the stars are distant suns surrounded by planets, and life exists throughout the universe.

Giordano Bruno (early 1548–February 17, 1600) was an Italian Hermetic occultist influenced greatly by Renaissance Hermeticism and the wisdom of Hermes Trismegistus, according to Historian Francis Yates. Bruno was also a mathematician and is known largely for his cosmological theories, including the universe is infinite, the stars are distant suns surrounded by planets, and life exists throughout the universe.

Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662), was a French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, and inventor. A child prodigy, he wrote a remarkable dissertation on projective geometry at the age of 16. He later worked on probability theory, developed calculating machines, wrote a key treatise on the arithmetical triangle, and was a pioneer in the natural and applied sciences. Below we list some words of wisdom from Blaise Pascal. “When intuition and logic agree, you are always right.”

Baron de Montesquieu (January 18, 1689 – February 10 1755), was a French historian, judge, and political philosopher. He originated the theory of separation of powers, fought against despotism, and greatly influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was the most frequently quoted authority on politics and government in pre-revolutionary British America, cited more by the Founding Fathers than any other source, besides the Bible. One of Montesquieu’s main philosophies was "government should be set up so that no man need be afraid of another."

John Locke (August 29, 1632–October 28, 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, and known as the “father of liberalism.” Liberalism was originally defined as a political and moral philosophy based on the right to private property and personal liberty, basic human rights, and equality under the law. John Locke was one of the most important philosophers of the Enlightenment and his contributions are reflected in the United States Declaration of Independence. Below we list some words of wisdom from John Locke. “The most precious of all possessions is power over ourselves.”

Francis Ford Coppola (April 7, 1939–) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest directors of all time, having received five Academy Awards and six Golden Globes. Patton, The Godfather series, Apocalypse Now, The Cotton Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, and The Rainmaker are some of his most celebrated films. Below we list some words of wisdom from Francis Ford Coppola. “My talent is that I just try and try and try and try again and little by little it comes to something.”

Thomas Hobbes (April 5th, 1588 – December 20th, 1679) was an English philosopher. He is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan about social contract theory. Hobbes also contributed to ethics, history, geometry, and theology. He’s frequently considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Below we list words of wisdom from Thomas Hobbes. "The world is governed by opinion." "Prudence is a presumption of the future, contracted from the experience of time past." "It's not the pace of life I mind. It's the sudden stop at the end."

John Stuart Mill (May 20, 1806 – May 7, 1873) was an English economist, philosopher, politician and civil servant. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy called him "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century." He greatly influenced classical liberalism and championed the freedom of the individual. Below we list some words of wisdom from John Stuart Mill. “In the long-run, the best proof of a good character is good actions.” “There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized until personal experience has brought it home.”

David Hume (May 7th, 1711 – August 25th 1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, economist, historian, essayist, and librarian. He is best known for his system of philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism. Below we list some words of wisdom from David Hume. "There is no such thing as freedom of choice unless there is freedom to refuse." "A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence."

Niccolò di Be ardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21, 1527) lived during the Renaissance and was a Florentine diplomat, philosopher, historian, and author. He served as a senior official in the Florentine Republic for many years. He is most known for his political treatise The Prince (Il Principe) and he also wrote comedies, carnival songs, and poetry. Below we list some words of wisdom from Niccolo Machiavelli. "It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret." "The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it."

Sir Thomas More (February 7th, 1478 – July 6th, 1535), honored in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, author, social philosopher, amateur theologian, statesman, and Renaissance humanist. More opposed the Protestant Reformation and Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. He was executed in 1532 after refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, and convicted of treason on what he said was false evidence. At his execution, he reportedly said: "I die the King's good servant, and God's first."

George Berkeley (March 12, 1685 – January 14, 1753) was known as Bishop Berkeley (Bishop of Cloyne of the Anglican Church of Ireland) and was an Anglo-Irish philosopher. His primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism", which says material substances are ideas perceived by the mind and cannot exist without being perceived. Berkeley published his first major work in 1709 called An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision, which says objects of sight are not material objects, but light and color.

Charles Babbage (December 26, 1791 – October 18 1871) was an English philosopher, inventor, mechanical engineer, and mathematician. He is known for inventing the first mechanical computer and is considered the “father of the computer.” Below we list some words of wisdom from Charles Babbage.

Herbert Spencer (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was an English philosopher, biologist, and anthropologist. He coined the phrase “survival of the fittest,” yet his concept of evolution included ethical human progression. In the late 1800s he was one of the most influential European intellectuals and is one of the only philosophers to sell over a million copies of his works during his own lifetime. Below we list some words of wisdom from Herbert Spencer. “The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future.”

Sir Thomas More (February 7th, 1478 – July 6th, 1535), honored in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, author, social philosopher, amateur theologian, statesman, and Renaissance humanist. More opposed the Protestant Reformation and Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. He was executed in 1532 after refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, and convicted of treason on what he said was false evidence. At his execution, he reportedly said: "I die the King's good servant, and God's first."

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, June 28, 1712 – July 2 1778, was a Swiss-bo writer, philosopher, and composer. His philosophy greatly influenced the Age of Enlightenment and French Revolution. Below we list some words of wisdom from Jean-Jacques Rousseau. “There are always four sides to a story: your side, their side, the truth and what really happened.” “The money you have gives you freedom; the money you pursue enslaves you.” “By doing good we become good.” “What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”

Adam Smith (June 5, 1723 – July 17, 1790) was a Scottish philosopher and economist who is widely considered to be one of the fathers of capitalism and economics. He was also a key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. Below we list some words of wisdom from Adam Smith. “The first thing you have to know is yourself. A man who knows himself can step outside himself and watch his own reactions like an observer.” “On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity.” “Nothing is more graceful than habitual cheerfulness.”

Soren Kierkegaard (May 5th, 1813 – November 11th, 1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, social critic, poet, and religious author who many consider to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical works on organized religion, morality, ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of religion. Below we list some words of wisdom by Soren Kierkegaard. "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

Denis Diderot (October 5, 1713 – July 31, 1784) was a French philosopher and writer. He was a major figure in the Age of Enlightenment and best known as co-founder and contributor to the Encyclopédie, an encyclopedia of the arts and sciences. Below we list some words of wisdom from Denis Diderot. “We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.” “All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.”

Soren Kierkegaard (May 5th, 1813 – November 11th, 1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, social critic, poet, and religious author who many consider to be the first existentialist philosopher. He wrote critical works on organized religion, morality, ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of religion. Below we list some words of wisdom by Soren Kierkegaard. "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (October 28th, 1466 – July 12th 1536) was a Dutch Christian humanist, Catholic theologian, educationalist, satirist, and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Northern Renaissance and a major figure of Dutch and Western culture.

Michel de Montaigne (February 28, 1533 – September 13 1592), was a French statesman, writer, and philosopher, known for making the essay a popular literary genre. He was one of the most notable philosophers of the French Renaissance and is most known for his cynical statement, “What do I know?” Below we list some words of wisdom from Michel de Montaigne. “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” “He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.” “The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.”

Sir Be ard Arthur Owen Williams (September 21st, 1929 – June 10th, 2003) was an English moral philosopher. His authored the books Problems of the Self, Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, Shame and Necessity, and Truth and Truthfulness. He was a Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and a Deutsch Professor of Philosophy at the University of Califo ia, Berkeley. Below we list some words of wisdom from Be ard Williams. "If we try and fail, we have temporary disappointments. But if we do not try at all, we have permanent regrets."