--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are always trying to do something…" description: "\"If you are always trying to do something for a cause bigger than you - connected with serving others - then it is hard to be guilty.\" — Cornel West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg" --- # If you are always trying to do something for a cause… ![“If you are always trying to do something for a cause bigger than you - connected with serving others - then it is hard to be guilty.” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg) > “If you are always trying to do something for a cause bigger than you - connected with serving others - then it is hard to be guilty.” [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing service to causes larger than oneself reduces personal guilt because actions align with moral purpose. **In simple terms:** Serving others eases guilt. Key Takeaway Focus on helping others. Themes ethics service guilt purpose community Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - activism - career choices - daily kindness - leadership Key Concepts moral philosophy altruism social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does serving others change your sense of responsibility? - What causes feel most meaningful to you? A Different Perspective Guilt can still arise if motives are selfish. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Serving others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-others/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't have a cause bigger than yourself, you won't get beyond yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frederick-demartini/if-you-don-t-have-a-cause-bigger-than-yourself-you-won-t-get-beyond/) [John Frederick Demartini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frederick-demartini/) > [Someday I'll fly Someday I'll soar Someday I'll be so damn much more Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/someday-i-ll-fly-someday-i-ll-soar-someday-i-ll-be-so-damn-much-more/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [For the first time in our history, every spectrum of black thought is in the same room on the same page with a cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/for-the-first-time-in-our-history-every-spectrum-of-black-thought-is/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [All these companies that grew to any sizable proportions were all founded with a belief or a cause bigger than their products or services.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/all-these-companies-that-grew-to-any-sizable-proportions-were-all/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I'm not trying to cause trouble in other people's lives - except for my opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-perry/i-m-not-trying-to-cause-trouble-in-other-people-s-lives-except-for-my/) [Mike Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-perry/) > [Now I can not handle the fact that you wanna leave me And I can not handle it that you don't wanna be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-i-can-not-handle-the-fact-that-you-wanna-leave-me-and-i-can-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its not like Im not trying, cause Ill give anyone a shot once, each time finding that the more boys I meet, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/its-not-like-im-not-trying-cause-ill-give-anyone-a-shot-once-each/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [Im not perfect but I keep trying, cause that's what I said I would do from the start...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-perfect-but-i-keep-trying-cause-that-s-what-i-said-i-would-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We might win some and we might lose one but dont stop trying cause you only live once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-might-win-some-and-we-might-lose-one-but-dont-stop-trying-cause/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What a few fans are trying to do is cause trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/what-a-few-fans-are-trying-to-do-is-cause-trouble/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [We live in a world where people are fearful of extremism, but Martin Luther King would say he was always trying to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/we-live-in-a-world-where-people-are-fearful-of-extremism-but-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I think those who choose to find joy in serving others, those who choose to find their voice, to pursue their vocation and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-those-who-choose-to-find-joy-in-serving-others-those-who/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [A rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/a-rich-life-consists-fundamentally-of-serving-others-trying-to-leave/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The country is in deep trouble. We've forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-country-is-in-deep-trouble-we-ve-forgotten-that-a-rich-life/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) ## More by Cornel West > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Like King, we need to put on our cemetery clothes and be coffin-ready for the next great democratic battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/like-king-we-need-to-put-on-our-cemetery-clothes-and-be-coffin-ready/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [When we think of globalization we are thinking in part of structures and institutions that have been developed over time and that have allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/when-we-think-of-globalization-we-are-thinking-in-part-of-structures/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The challenge artists face today is whether to be an underground, unheard genius, or to dilute their art for the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-challenge-artists-face-today-is-whether-to-be-an-underground/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The need of black conservatives to gain the respect of their white peers deeply shapes certain elements of their conservatism. In this regard, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-need-of-black-conservatives-to-gain-the-respect-of-their-white/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I don't draw any distinctions between forms of bigotry or forms of ideology that lose sight of the humanity of people. I can't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-don-t-draw-any-distinctions-between-forms-of-bigotry-or-forms-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Barack Obama has domesticated the left in such a way that we feel as if we have no alternative but him...I refuse to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/barack-obama-has-domesticated-the-left-in-such-a-way-that-we-feel-as/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Larry Summers, I think, he had a long history of arrogance and relative ignorance about poor people's culture and working people's culture and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/larry-summers-i-think-he-had-a-long-history-of-arrogance-and-relative/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-gift-of-inspiration/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [You can see it in terms of the obsession on Wall Street with not just profits but greed, more profit, more profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-see-it-in-terms-of-the-obsession-on-wall-street-with-not-just/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Anybody who takes Martin Luther King seriously has got to go beyond the standard understanding of who he was, has to connect those dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/anybody-who-takes-martin-luther-king-seriously-has-got-to-go-beyond/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) [Explore all 400 Cornel West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## More Always trying quotes > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I think we're always trying to push ourselves to do new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-preciado/i-think-we-re-always-trying-to-push-ourselves-to-do-new-things/) [Jaime Preciado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-preciado/) > [I'm always trying to remember that kindness goes a long, long way. I think that's something that people will definitely take out of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-m-always-trying-to-remember-that-kindness-goes-a-long-long-way-i/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [I like embracing kind of normal forms but am always trying to approach them as if no one's ever done that before. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-like-embracing-kind-of-normal-forms-but-am-always-trying-to/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I believe in believing. My coach John Kavanagh is a big atheist, and he is always trying to persuade people to his way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-believe-in-believing-my-coach-john-kavanagh-is-a-big-atheist-and-he/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [I'm always trying to do something active because I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-agdal/i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-active-because-i-love-it/) [Nina Agdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-agdal/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I'm always trying to encourage people not to limit themselves in the same way that many of our parents stayed with one job forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-m-always-trying-to-encourage-people-not-to-limit-themselves-in-the/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My thing was always trying to do as much as I possibly could do. I wanted to do all the things the other kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/my-thing-was-always-trying-to-do-as-much-as-i-possibly-could-do-i/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Your parents were always trying to get you to be careful when you were a kid, and that's all pervasive in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/your-parents-were-always-trying-to-get-you-to-be-careful-when-you/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [I would not call myself an optimist, even though I would aspire to be. I am innately a skeptic. There's kind of an incessant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-would-not-call-myself-an-optimist-even-though-i-would-aspire-to-be/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [They say that to be a writer you must first have an unhappy childhood. I don't know if unhappiness is necessary, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/they-say-that-to-be-a-writer-you-must-first-have-an-unhappy-childhood/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) [Browse all 232 Always trying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are always trying to do something for a cause bigger than you - connected with serving others - then it is hard to be guilty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cornel West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something-for-a-cause-bigger-than-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always trying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something-for-a-cause-bigger-than-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01f/cornel-west-708_always-trying_if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something_2501702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are always trying to do something for a cause bigger than you - connected with serving others - then…” — Cornel West", "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": "Cornel West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are always trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something-for-a-cause-bigger-than-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/if-you-are-always-trying-to-do-something-for-a-cause-bigger-than-you/#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 } } ] } ```