Life’s meaning cannot be found in external achievements alone.

Evidence

Before occupying myself with my estate, with the education of my son, with the writing of books, I was bound to know why I did these things. Till I know the reasons for my own acts, I can do nothing, I cannot live. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 48

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 48
• XREF: connects to: Living a life of luxury obscures true understanding of existence. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 181; Hopeless artistic ambition can itself give a life its meaning — Karl Ove Knausgaard, A Death in the Family, 344; Life finds only illusory goals and ultimate disappointment when confined to itself — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 845 (+5 more)