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Introduction
Every person seeks deeper purpose in their life and work, and we usually derive our greatest lessons from our own experiences. But what if we could harness the wisdom of some of the world’s wisest and most articulate individuals, in addition to what we learn on our own? This collection aims to do just that.
When you embark on a quest for purpose and meaning, you’ll quickly realize that an overwhelming abundance of resources is available. There are an estimated 136 million books in English, and if someone decided to read them all, it would take them over 172,000 years.
So how can we access the best insights from the brightest minds without dedicating our entire lives (and then some) to reading books? The answer lies in maxims. Maxims are fundamental principles and self-evident truths.
In the following pages, you’ll find 365 maxims I encountered during my own quest for more profound purpose. The ideas within span various angles and perspectives – from ancient stoic philosophy to New Age ideologies, futuristic sci-fi to timeless American poetry. What’s most surprising is that, despite vast advances in civilization over time, the fundamental human pursuit of greater purpose has remained remarkably unchanged.
The maxims in this collection take the form of quotes, attributions, etymological explanations, proverbial sayings, and teachings. All direct quotes are enclosed within quotation marks, with their sources italicized. Any copyright materials included are used under the rights of fair use for review, commentary, and educational purposes only. Attributions, adaptations, and other teachings that are not as well-documented (and possibly paraphrased or interpreted versions of someone’s ideas) are presented without quotation marks. Although some sources may be unclear or lost to time, all ideas presented in this collection align with the work and teachings of those attributed to them. Throughout this collection, I’ve also included a few of my own sentiments, indicated by this symbol:
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How you choose to engage with this text is entirely up to you. You can breeze through it in one sitting or take your time to thoroughly comprehend each maxim and its potential to aid you in your quest for purpose. Additionally, you may highlight passages, take notes, record your most significant takeaways from each section, and delve more succinctly into specific authors and their ideas. What do you think about each truth? More importantly, what feelings does it evoke?
In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King explains that no two people read the same book. In other words, all readers will interpret books differently. That’s because we bring our unique experiences, emotions, and perspectives to the act of reading. The same truth applies to reviewing maxims. No two individuals will draw the same conclusion from a single excerpt. Each of us will extract from them what we are seeking.
To derive the most benefit from this compilation, I’d like to share a few final recommendations on reading and writing, as inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra:
- Beware of Superficial Writing: Mass literacy, especially in the form of empty social media posts, can lead to a decline in the quality of writing and thinking. Very few people can produce outstanding literary works, and I’ve kept this in mind while selecting only the highest-quality maxims to review.
- Seek Depth in Writing: Exceptional writing emanates from a place of passion and authenticity, flowing from the depths of the writer’s soul. Nietzsche called this act “writing in blood.” I have deliberately sought out meaningful ideas stemming from spirited, toilsome contemplation.
- Actively Engage: Readers are encouraged to actively engage with ideas rather than passively absorb them. As with all texts, the maxims presented in this collection are subject to individual interpretation and understanding. What you’ll receive from each idea is directly proportional to the effort you invest in their exploration.
- Form Your Own Opinions: Given that no two readers will interpret a single book in the same way, it’s crucial to develop your own perspective rather than relying solely on outside interpretations. While the concepts presented herein have played a significant role in influencing my quest for purpose, I am sharing them with the hope that you, too, can glean insights in your own manner, forming individual critiques and impressions.
To uncover greater purpose through reading and writing, you must put in the effort. A maxim is merely a key to the door leading to depth. It’s your choice whether to use the key for its intended purpose.
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Jen Hitze 