Yann Martel Quotes

I just want to do something meaningful in the world. I want to contribute positively. That means the roles I get to play as well.

What good is a life lived as if it made no difference at all to the great life of the world? - Fool

I hope that I have given happiness to others. I hope I have given children to the world, and that I have made some kind of a mark for myself here.

I'm just trying to matter and live a good life and make work that means something to somebody.

Every character is asking: 'What's my place? Why am I here? I don't want the answer to be 'Just because.' You find your own purpose. Each finds the reason to be here and how to contribute.

You can satisfy your soul's mission by committing to leaving something behind on this planet that will make a difference to those who come after you.

The worse thing in the world is for an individual to live, breath and exist and leave this earth, die, and not make impact.

I don't know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.

Things can be really empty in this world, and I don't just mean the music world. It can become a very meaningless place if you don't really understand: 'who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing?' To feel fulfilment and have a deeper level of understanding, personally, that is the most important thing.

You can retire from a job, but don't ever retire from making extremely meaningful contributions in life.

My fear was not of death itself, but a death without meaning.

Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose is: to make a difference in people's lives.

At the end of our lives we all ask, 'Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?'

Onstage or in films, you do affect peoples' lives, and sometimes that's very gratifying. But still, there's this little voice that says you should be doing something that matters.

The value of life is not in its duration, but in its donation. You are not important because of how long you live, you are important because of how effective you live.

What good is my parents' wealth and education and upbringing if I'm not contributing to the world?

Although it sounds cliche, the main thing I want to do is touch people with what I do. I want everything I do to be meaningful, and I want it to be about more than just myself, or the money.

Once I leave this earth, I know I've done something that will continue to help others.

I want the fact that I existed to mean something.

I do work that I feel I have something to contribute to.

I wanna make my mark, and I wanna be part of something!

I want to be remembered as a great footballer and a great player. When our football days are over, that's all we are - people.

You carry on knowing that there's something so much more important than yourself to deliver to millions of fans across the world, to all your friends, and to yourself.

The value of life is not in its duration, but in its donation. You are not important because of how long you live, you are important because of how effective you live. And most people are concerned about growing old rather than being effective.

What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in some way?