The theme of the meaning of life in Tuesdays With Morrie revolves around understanding what truly matters. Morrie Schwartz, a retired sociology professor, shares his insights with his former student, Mitch Albom, as he faces a terminal illness. Morrie emphasizes that life is not about material success but about love, relationships, and personal fulfillment. Through their conversations, Morrie teaches Mitch how to live a meaningful life by focusing on what is truly important.

Morrie believes that society often teaches the wrong values, prioritizing material ambitions over genuine human connections. He argues that people should create their own culture based on love and relationships. Morrie states, "But the big things—how we think, what we value—those you must choose yourself. You can’t let anyone—or any society determine those for you." He stresses the importance of nurturing relationships and accepting the inevitability of death to appreciate life fully.

In their discussions, Morrie advises Mitch to devote himself to loving others and finding purpose beyond material gain. Morrie says, "Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down, but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. You notice, there’s nothing in there about a salary." This highlights Morrie's belief that true fulfillment comes from love and community, not financial success.

Morrie also introduces the idea of the "tension of opposites," where life is a constant struggle between conflicting desires. He explains, "Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else... A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle." Morrie suggests that love should guide us through these conflicts, leading to a content and meaningful life.

Through Morrie's teachings, Mitch learns that by embracing love and relationships, one can find contentment and live with dignity. Morrie asserts that understanding how to live well also teaches us how to face death with grace. This philosophy is what Morrie believes should be taught in the "classroom of life," helping individuals find true meaning and fulfillment.