--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is what happens to us when we…" description: "\"Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.\" — Charles Kingsley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png" --- # Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make… ![“Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.” quote by Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png) > “Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.” [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness arises when we focus on bringing joy to others, not when we chase it for ourselves. **In simple terms:** Joy comes from helping others. Key Takeaway Seek to uplift others. Themes kindness empathy joy Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - friendship - caregiving - teamwork Key Concepts Altruism reciprocity psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does serving others affect your own happiness? - Can you balance self‑care with altruism? A Different Perspective May neglect self‑care while over‑giving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness only happens when someone is there to make you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mehmood/happiness-only-happens-when-someone-is-there-to-make-you-happy/) [Sarah Mehmood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mehmood/) > [I never try to get noticed. It just happens. I never try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-never-try-to-get-noticed-it-just-happens-i-never-try/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [This is what happens when you try to help people. You get screwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/this-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-help-people-you-get-screwed/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Take whatever happens and try to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/take-whatever-happens-and-try-to-make-it-work/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [A lot of times when something bad happens, you always try to find the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/a-lot-of-times-when-something-bad-happens-you-always-try-to-find-the/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [Whenever something really good happens to me I try to not get used to it cause good things never last for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-something-really-good-happens-to-me-i-try-to-not-get-used-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What happens if I try to run?” I ask as the doors close. (jace) “I’ll stop you.” (charlie) “You don’t look too quick.” (jace)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-d-barant/what-happens-if-i-try-to-run-i-ask-as-the-doors-close-jace-i-ll-stop/) [D.D. Barant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-d-barant/) > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Never give up on something when in fact you know that it's the only thing that could make you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariejoie-uro/never-give-up-on-something-when-in-fact-you-know-that-it-s-the-only/) [Mariejoie Uro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariejoie-uro/) > [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [I do not think that we have a “right” to happiness. If happiness happens, say thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/i-do-not-think-that-we-have-a-right-to-happiness-if-happiness-happens/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [“All I’m saying is that I want you to be happy. I don’t care how it happens, or what it takes to facilitate it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/all-i-m-saying-is-that-i-want-you-to-be-happy-i-don-t-care-how-it/) Agnostic Zetetic > [Love and happiness happens only when trust and loyalty get together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hao-ming/love-and-happiness-happens-only-when-trust-and-loyalty-get-together/) [Hao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hao-ming/) > [“...actual happiness only happens by accident”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/actual-happiness-only-happens-by-accident/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You cannot achieve happiness. Happiness happens and is a transitory stage. Imagine how happy I felt when I got relief from bladder pressure. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-achieve-happiness-happiness-happens-and-is-a-transitory/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charles Kingsley > [A fine lady; by which term I wish to express the result of that perfect education in taste and manner, down to every gesture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/a-fine-lady-by-which-term-i-wish-to-express-the-result-of-that/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [If I am ever obscure in my expressions, do not fancy that therefore I am deep. If I were really deep, all the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-i-am-ever-obscure-in-my-expressions-do-not-fancy-that-therefore-i/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Those clouds are angels' robes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/those-clouds-are-angels-robes/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [He was one of those men who possess almost every gift, except the gift of the power to use them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/he-was-one-of-those-men-who-possess-almost-every-gift-except-the-gift/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Do you feel that you have lost your way in life? Then God Himself will show you your way. Are you utterly helpless, worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/do-you-feel-that-you-have-lost-your-way-in-life-then-god-himself-will/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [My friends, let us try to follow the Saviour's steps; let us remember all day long what it is to be men; that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/my-friends-let-us-try-to-follow-the-saviour-s-steps-let-us-remember/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [We have used the Bible as if it was a mere special constable's handbook — an opium-dose for keeping beasts of burden patient while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/we-have-used-the-bible-as-if-it-was-a-mere-special-constable-s/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [He was not only, I soon discovered, a water drinker, but a strict vegetarian, to which, perhaps, he owed a great deal of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/he-was-not-only-i-soon-discovered-a-water-drinker-but-a-strict/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Look at the bow in the cloud, in the very rain itself. That is a sign that the sun, though you cannot see it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/look-at-the-bow-in-the-cloud-in-the-very-rain-itself-that-is-a-sign/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Beauty is God's handwriting — a wayside sacrament; welcome it in every fair face, every fair sky, every fair flower, and thank for it Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/beauty-is-god-s-handwriting-a-wayside-sacrament-welcome-it-in-every/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Men must work, and women must weep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/men-must-work-and-women-must-weep/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [... the heroism of the average mother. Ah! When I think of that broad fact, I gather hope again for poor humanity; and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/the-heroism-of-the-average-mother-ah-when-i-think-of-that-broad-fact/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Except a living man there is nothing more wonderful than a book. A message to us from the dead - from human souls we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/except-a-living-man-there-is-nothing-more-wonderful-than-a-book-a/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/be-good-sweet-maid-and-let-who-will-be-clever/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Music has been called the speech of the angels; I will go farther and call it the speech of God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/music-has-been-called-the-speech-of-the-angels-i-will-go-farther-and/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) [Explore all 199 Charles Kingsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) ## More Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) Browse all 13,486 Happens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Kingsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we-try-to-make-someone-else-happy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we-try-to-make-someone-else-happy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/charles-kingsley-1896_happens_happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we_2037686.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.” — Charles Kingsley", "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": "Charles Kingsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness is what happens to us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we-try-to-make-someone-else-happy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/happiness-is-what-happens-to-us-when-we-try-to-make-someone-else-happy/#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 } } ] } ```