Motivational Quote: “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” is attributed to Oscar Wilde, This quote emphasizes expresses a profound observation about the nature of human life and the way many people experience it.
Deeper Meaning of Motivational Quote by Oscar Wilde:
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
Existence vs. Living:
Wilde distinguishes between merely existing and truly living. Existence refers to the passive state of being alive, going through the motions of daily life, following routines, and fulfilling responsibilities without deep engagement or passion. It’s the state of simply “getting by” without any sense of fulfillment or consciousness of the richness of life.
On the other hand, living refers to an active, engaged, and purposeful experience of life. To truly live means to experience the world fully, to engage deeply with one’s emotions, passions, and the people around them, and to seek meaning beyond mere survival. It involves being present, aware, and making conscious choices rather than drifting through life.
The Rarity of Truly Living:
Wilde suggests that true living is rare. While many people go through their days, moving from one task to the next, they do not fully experience or appreciate the richness of life. They might fulfill societal expectations—work, relationships, obligations—but they do so without engaging with the deeper aspects of existence. True living requires awareness, engagement, and a willingness to seek meaning, often in ways that go beyond societal norms or expectations.
Critique of Society and Routine:
Wilde often critiqued the superficiality of societal conventions, which he believed encouraged people to live by strict, predetermined roles and routines. According to him, these routines often prevent people from asking bigger questions or seeking a life that feels truly satisfying. In this sense, the quote can be seen as a call to break free from the monotony and embrace a life that is full of passion, creativity, and consciousness.
Philosophical Reflection on Life:
On a deeper level, Wilde’s quote also touches on the existential idea that many people don’t fully grasp or confront their own existence. They are not alive in a philosophical sense—they don’t stop to think about the meaning of their life or take risks to pursue what truly matters to them. They are simply existing in the sense of being alive but not truly experiencing the depths of life.
Here’s a story inspired by Motivational Quote “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
Motivational Story: “The Rarest Thing“
Sophia woke up to the same sound every morning—the sharp buzz of her alarm clock, followed by the mechanical rhythm of her daily routine. She stretched, brushed her teeth, and slipped into clothes that were more about function than expression. Another day, another predictable set of hours to navigate.
She wasn’t unhappy, not exactly. Her job as a graphic designer in a downtown office paid well, and her life seemed orderly. But there was a quiet emptiness to it. The people around her seemed to be just like her—moving through their days, meeting deadlines, ticking off the same boxes, never questioning whether there was something more to life than this.
Sophia in small bathroom:
She glanced at her reflection in the bathroom mirror one morning and barely recognized the face staring back at her. She was only in her late twenties, but she looked tired, like someone who had already lived a lifetime of routines. She wasn’t living; she was just existing.
Sophia in a Cafe:
At lunch, she ate alone in a café. Around her, people were hunched over their phones or lost in conversation about the same topics—work, the weather, the weekend plans. They weren’t really there, not in any meaningful way. They were just passing through their days, like shadows on the sidewalk.
Sophia passing through crowded street:
Later that afternoon, Sophia walked out of the office building and into the crowded street, the same street she had walked on for years. But today something felt different. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow across the city, and the world seemed to breathe with a kind of quiet energy she had never noticed before.
She paused, staring at the sky, watching the colors shift from blue to pink to purple. It was a simple moment, but it was real. The world was alive—full of light, sound, and endless possibility. And for the first time in a long while, she felt awake.
Sophia in her Study room:
As she walked home, her mind began to wander. Why had she been so caught up in the motions of life? When had she stopped dreaming, stopped living? She had once wanted to be a painter, to travel, to experience things beyond the safety of her comfortable routine. But somewhere along the way, she had buried those desires, trading them for stability and predictability.
That evening, Sophia sat down with a sketchbook and a pencil. She had no grand plans, no goal other than to create something—anything. She drew a landscape, simple but full of detail. The act of creating felt alive. She felt alive.
The next morning, she woke with a sense of purpose she hadn’t had in years. She made a decision: she would stop letting life slip by unnoticed. She would find joy in the small things—like walking through the park, taking time to breathe deeply, and talking to the people around her not just out of politeness but out of curiosity and connection.
Sophia started taking small steps toward a fuller life. She enrolled in an art class, even though she was unsure whether she was any good. She took weekend trips to places she had always wanted to visit. She started saying yes to things that scared her, to things that made her feel alive.
And slowly, she began to realize something: living wasn’t about the big moments or grand achievements. It was about being present, about making conscious choices to engage with the world. It was about feeling the breeze on her face, tasting the coffee slowly, listening intently to the stories of others.
Sophia in a Park:
One evening, sitting in the park watching the sunset, Sophia understood what Wilde meant. Most people, including herself for so long, had merely existed. But to truly live was rare—it was about waking up to the world, embracing each moment with intention and passion.
And for the first time in years, Sophia felt the fullness of life around her, not as a passive observer, but as an active participant.
Here is the end of motivational story of quote “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.“