And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
It's what I was born for, isn't it? If I don't go, why am I alive?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a deep connection between purpose and existence, suggesting that one's true calling is essential to living a fulfilling life.
Orson Scott Card's quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's innate purpose and passions. It poses a rhetorical question that challenges the listener to consider the significance of their life choices and the fulfillment they derive from following their calling. The sentiment suggests that merely existing without purpose is akin to not truly living, highlighting the extraordinary importance of self-discovery and pursuing one's dreams.
Themes
PurposeExistenceLifeCallingFulfillment
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech to inspire graduates to pursue their dreams.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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