--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every person I have known who has been…" description: "\"Every person I have known who has been truly happy has learned how to serve others.\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg" --- # Every person I have known who has been truly happy has… ![“Every person I have known who has been truly happy has learned how to serve others.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg) > “Every person I have known who has been truly happy has learned how to serve others.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from selfless service to others rather than personal gain. **In simple terms:** Happiness is found in serving others. Key Takeaway Focus on helping people to find joy. Themes happiness service selflessness Mood gratitude fulfilling inspirational Type aphilosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - caregiving - community projects - teaching - mentoring Key Concepts Altruism purpose well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you serve without sacrificing self‑care? - What small act of kindness can you do today? A Different Perspective Service can be demanding and may lead to burnout if boundaries aren't set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-learned-3885621/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-truly-1659160/) [Learned Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-serve-4414289/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve/) [Truly happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-happy/) ## Related quotes > [The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-only-really-happy-people-are-those-who-have-learned-how-to-serve/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I had to learn what made Kim happy. I learned you have to take care of the spark in your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/i-had-to-learn-what-made-kim-happy-i-learned-you-have-to-take-care-of/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/but-to-be-fully-known-and-truly-loved-is-well-a-lot-like-being-loved/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-be-loved-but-not-known-is-comforting-but-superficial-to-be-known-2/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When over the years someone has seen you at your worst, and knows you with all your strengths and flaws, yet commits him- or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-over-the-years-someone-has-seen-you-at-your-worst-and-knows-you/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-be-loved-but-not-known-is-comforting-but-superficial-to-be-known/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/one-thing-i-know-the-only-ones-among-you-who-will-be-really-happy-are/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [If you truly desire happiness, seek and learn how to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/if-you-truly-desire-happiness-seek-and-learn-how-to-serve/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“The only ones among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-ones-among-us-who-will-be-really-happy-are-those-who-have/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“I can bear anything as long as I can have a bit of a laugh,” she told herself as she hurried down the street.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/i-can-bear-anything-as-long-as-i-can-have-a-bit-of-a-laugh-she-told/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [To deny your true feelings for the one you love will only cause them to have a broken heart, and will not allow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-deny-your-true-feelings-for-the-one-you-love-will-only-cause-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Knowing how to handle suffering, you know at the same time how to produce happiness. And if you’re truly happy, we all profit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/knowing-how-to-handle-suffering-you-know-at-the-same-time-how-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Yesterday I told myself I was gonna be okay. Gonna start a new day, truly happy. I was gonna take control of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-green/yesterday-i-told-myself-i-was-gonna-be-okay-gonna-start-a-new-day/) [Vivian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-green/) > [“She could not remember ever being truly happy in her adult life; her years with her mother had been built up devotedly around small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/she-could-not-remember-ever-being-truly-happy-in-her-adult-life-her/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every person I have known who has been truly happy has learned how to serve others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-truly-happy-has-learned-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-truly-happy-has-learned-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/albert-schweitzer-701_happiness_every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-t_523698.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every person I have known who has been truly happy has learned how to serve others.” — Albert Schweitzer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every person I have known who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-truly-happy-has-learned-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-person-i-have-known-who-has-been-truly-happy-has-learned-how-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```