--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know that you cannot give them…" description: "\"“To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you were not born the right person for them?”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg" --- # To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through… ![“To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you were not born the right person for them?” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg) > ““To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you were not born the right person for them?”” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing you cannot give someone happiness because of incompatibility, not fault. **In simple terms:** Incompatibility, not blame, prevents happiness. Key Takeaway Accept limits of relationships. Themes compatibility responsibility empathy relationship dynamics Mood sad reflective Type novelistic emotional When to use this quote - marriage counseling - friendship endings - parent‑child relations - team projects Key Concepts psychology of love ethical responsibility self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to let go? - How do you support someone without fixing them? A Different Perspective Accepting incompatibility can be painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [Do you know,' he said again softly, addressing his hands, 'what it is to love someone, and never - never! - be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/do-you-know-he-said-again-softly-addressing-his-hands-what-it-is-to/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Persons don't make their own faces, and it's no more my fault if mine is a good one than it is other people's fault…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/persons-don-t-make-their-own-faces-and-it-s-no-more-my-fault-if-mine/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Frankly, as secretary of state, if somebody treats you badly because you're a woman, it's your fault - not theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/frankly-as-secretary-of-state-if-somebody-treats-you-badly-because/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Those who are the most happy appear to know it the least; happiness is something that for the most part seems to mainly consist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/those-who-are-the-most-happy-appear-to-know-it-the-least-happiness-is/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) > [When Love Is Unknown For You, You Know What Is Happiness, When You Know Love... 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How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/nobody-s-life-is-filled-with-perfect-little-moments-and-if-it-were/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-anderson/only-one-thing-has-to-change-for-us-to-know-happiness-in-our-lives/) [Greg Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-anderson/) > [Know your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/know-your-own-happiness/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I cry for those who actually think they are happy, don't mistake my tears for my own sadness, I know happiness is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cry-for-those-who-actually-think-they-are-happy-don-t-mistake-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. 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"D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## 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 [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you were not born the right person for them?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happiness-not-through-any-fault-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happiness-not-through-any-fault-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/diana-gabaldon-185_happiness_to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happin_2600378.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To know that you cannot give them happiness, not through any fault of yours or theirs, but only because you…” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To know that you cannot give...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happiness-not-through-any-fault-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/to-know-that-you-cannot-give-them-happiness-not-through-any-fault-of/#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 } } ] } ```