--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To do the useful thing, to say the…" description: "\"To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man's life.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg" --- # To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to… ![“To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man's life.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg) > “To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man's life.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living a meaningful life can be as simple as doing good, speaking bravely, and appreciating beauty. **In simple terms:** Doing good, speaking bravely, and appreciating beauty is enough. Key Takeaway Practice kindness, courage, and mindfulness. Themes meaning morality beauty courage Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - public speaking - art appreciation - daily reflection Key Concepts ethical action philosophical reflection Questions to Reflect On - What small act of kindness can you do today? - How do you confront fear when speaking? A Different Perspective The view may seem idealistic without addressing deeper struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-things/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Good life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-life/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man's Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Useful things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-things/) ## Related quotes > [The most courageous thing you can do is live every day according to your true self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-courageous-thing-you-can-do-is-live-every-day-according-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always embarrassed when people say that I'm courageous. Soldiers are courageous. Policemen are courageous. Firemen are courageous. I just have a thick hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/i-m-always-embarrassed-when-people-say-that-i-m-courageous-soldiers/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Never hide yourself! When you say something, don't be in the shadow; let everyone see you! Whatever you say always put your name under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/never-hide-yourself-when-you-say-something-don-t-be-in-the-shadow-let/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [How did you find me anyway." "For all that I must keep reminding you that I am not a bloodhound, it's true that on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-did-you-find-me-anyway-for-all-that-i-must-keep-reminding-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-forgive-a-man-for-making-a-useful-thing-as-long-as-he-does-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our civilization is not Christian. It does not come from the skies. It is not a result of inspiration. It is the child of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-civilization-is-not-christian-it-does-not-come-from-the-skies-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is the courageous thing to do: to try to reach the other side before it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/this-is-the-courageous-thing-to-do-to-try-to-reach-the-other-side/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [To be outspoken when truth is under attack, when charity is being bruise, or when important issues of life are at stake is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-g-lovasik/to-be-outspoken-when-truth-is-under-attack-when-charity-is-being/) [Lawrence G. Lovasik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-g-lovasik/) > [The most courageous thing we will ever do is to bear humbly the mystery of our own reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-most-courageous-thing-we-will-ever-do-is-to-bear-humbly-the/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Choosing not to act on an angry impulse and to feel the pain that lies beneath it is a very courageous thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/choosing-not-to-act-on-an-angry-impulse-and-to-feel-the-pain-that/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I was 19, 20. I didn't know what to do. I knew one thing: I never saw myself on TV or anyone like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-cruz/i-was-19-20-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-i-knew-one-thing-i-never-saw/) [Wilson Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-cruz/) > [It's a courageous thing to do something that doesn't have rules or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-paradis/it-s-a-courageous-thing-to-do-something-that-doesn-t-have-rules-or/) [Vanessa Paradis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-paradis/) > [“What if the most courageous thing you do is hold a dying person's hand? That would be enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-salcedo/what-if-the-most-courageous-thing-you-do-is-hold-a-dying-person-s/) [Nicki Salcedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-salcedo/) > [I think it's such a courageous thing to look around and say, 'If I don't get to be one of the lucky ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-juvonen/i-think-it-s-such-a-courageous-thing-to-look-around-and-say-if-i-don/) [Nancy Juvonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-juvonen/) > [The truth is the only thing worth having, and, in a civilized life, like ours, where so many risks are removed, facing it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-v-lucas/the-truth-is-the-only-thing-worth-having-and-in-a-civilized-life-like/) [E. V. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-v-lucas/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man's life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courageous-thing-to-contemplate-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courageous-thing-to-contemplate-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/anonymous-1_ability_to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courag_146541.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To do the useful thing, to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courageous-thing-to-contemplate-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-the-useful-thing-to-say-the-courageous-thing-to-contemplate-the/#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 } } ] } ```