Literary notes about Vocation (AI summary)
Literary authors often imbue the term "vocation" with a rich duality, portraying it as both an inherent calling and a chosen path that defines one’s identity. In some works, it reflects a deep, personal destiny—as when a character muses that “My vocation is a different one” [1] or discovers his true calling in life despite initial reluctance [2]. At other moments, the word serves to differentiate genuine inner purpose from mere ambition, hinting that one must be cautious not to mistake ambition for a true vocation [3]. Meanwhile, vocation can also denote a noble duty or professional pursuit, suggesting that one’s work is not just a source of livelihood but a core aspect of who they are [4].
- “My vocation is a different one,” thought Princess Mary.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - But it was in Seville that he found out his true vocation, though he himself would not by any means have admitted it to be so.
— from The History of Don Quixote, Volume 1, Complete by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Who knows how easy it is for ambition to call itself vocation?
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - Why, Hal, ’tis my vocation, Hal; ’tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
