Man is not fully conditioned and determined but rather determines himself whether he gives in to conditions or stands up to them.

Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation

It is here that we encounter the central theme of existentialism: to live is to suffer, to survive is to find meaning in the suffering.

The meaning of my life is to help others find meaning in theirs.

I would say that our patients never really despair because of any suffering in itself! Instead, their despair stems in each instance from a doubt as to whether suffering is meaningful. Man is ready and willing to shoulder any suffering as soon and as long as he can see a meaning in it.

Pain is only bearable if we know it will end, not if we deny it exists.

In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.