This anecdote was introduced by Will Durant, an American historian and philosopher, in his book On the Meaning of Life.
One day, a gentleman visited Durant and confessed that he saw no reason to continue living. However, Durant himself could not provide a specific answer.
Motivated by this conversation, Durant sent letters to 100 renowned individuals across various fields, asking fundamental questions about life’s purpose:
- Where do you find inspiration and energy?
- What motivates you to keep striving?
- Where do you find comfort and happiness?
- What do you hold most valuable?
The recipients were diverse—writers, entertainers, artists, scholars, businesspeople, scientists, religious figures, and even individuals serving life sentences. Each responded with their own perspectives:
“The only thing I truly desire is a way to free myself from the constant anxiety that seems to linger in my mind… I think anxiety is a chronic disease.”
“I regret to say this, but at the moment, I’m too busy to entertain the idea that life has no meaning or purpose.”
A world-renowned European playwright responded bluntly:
“How should I know? What meaning does such a question even have?”
These responses are not easy to dismiss. Throughout history, humanity has repeatedly pondered the same profound questions: “Why do we live?” “How should we live?” “Is death truly the end?” Yet, no one has discovered a universal, definitive, and unquestionably reliable answer. Even Durant concluded his book with these words:
“Even if life had no meaning except for its moments of beauty (and we are not sure that it has more), that would be enough.”
For those wandering through life as if lost in a dark tunnel, unable to see what lies ahead, a letter has already been written—one that carefully answers all the fundamental questions about existence, meaning, purpose, and destiny.
This letter is the Bible, and its sender is God. Through this letter, we come to understand the reason for our existence, the purpose of our lives, the path we should follow, and the true value of life. How grateful we should be! As we diligently study God’s words and put them into practice, our lives will flourish in ways we never imagined. Moreover, sharing God’s letter with those who are searching for life’s meaning will not only help them find answers but will also bring deeper joy and fulfillment to our own lives.