“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why”

“The two most important days in ypur life are the day you are/were born and the day you find/found out why” is a popular saying that is frequently credited to American writer Mark Twain (1835-1910), but the known citations of the saying date only to the 1990s—well after Twain’s lifetime. From the book Code Your Future: The Color Code to Strengthen Your Character (1999) by Taylor Hartman:
 
The three most significant days in your life are:
1. The day you were born.
2. The day you find out why you were you born.
3. The day you discover how to contribute the gift you were born to give.
   
The saying usually involves just two days. “A wise friend once told me that there are two great days in a persons life: the day you are born and the day you find out why you were born” was cited in a 2001 book.
   
 
1 January 1997, New Braunfels (TX) Herald-Zeitung, “The Art of the Matter” by Elizabeth Elliott, pg. 8A, col. 2:
In a very small book, written by Doug Manning, minister, award-winning newspaper columnist and family counselor, I found word that make me want to keep on “keeping on.” I may have even shared them with you before, If so, chalk it up to my forgetfulness then be refreshed by the message again. Mr. Manning says, “There are two great days in lite: the day you were born arid the day you discover why you were born. ... We are here to become. We are valuable because of what we are, not what we do.”
   
Google Books
Color Your Future:
The Color Code to Strengthen Your Character
By Taylor Hartman
New York, NY: Scribner
1999
Pg. 147:
The three most significant days in your life are:
1. The day you were born.
2. The day you find out why you were you born.
3. The day you discover how to contribute the gift you were born to give.
 
Google Books
Fire in the Deep
By Robert J. Miller
Franklin, WI: Sheed & Ward
2001
Pg. 33:
A wise friend once told me that there are two great days in a persons life: the day you are born and the day you find out why you were born.
 
Twitter
Iconic88
‏@Iconic88
They say there are two important days in a your life: the day you were born, and the day you find out why you were born.- Carl Townsend
11:31 PM - 29 Oct 2009
 
Google Books
As A Man Traineth
By Justin Lopez
Lulu Enterprises Incorporated
2010
Pg. 4:
Mark Twain once articulated, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
 
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Phil Cooke
‏@PhilCooke
“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.” - Dave Martin
5:47 PM - 12 Jan 2010
 
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Frank Kickbush
‏@FrankKickbush
“The two most important days of your life: the day you were born and the day you found out why” - Les Brown - http://ow.ly/1DpoG
7:15 AM - 4 May 2010
 
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Asha Haji
‏@ashahaji
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” - Reggie Van Lee #aasuconf
11:21 AM - 5 Mar 2011
 
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I’m a Vessel!
‏@DjamarV
Two important things happen to you in life. The day you are born and the day you find out why you were born! #SteveHarvey
1:42 PM - 2 Jul 2011