--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness in the ordinary sense is not…" description: "\"Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in life, though one is right to aim at it. The true satisfaction is to come through, and see thos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/e-m-forster-1118_aim_happiness-in-the-ordinary-sense-is-not-w_1008911.png" --- # Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in… ![“Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in life, though one is right to aim at it. The true satisfaction is to come through, and see those whom one lives come through.” quote by E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/e-m-forster-1118_aim_happiness-in-the-ordinary-sense-is-not-w_1008911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/e-m-forster-1118_aim_happiness-in-the-ordinary-sense-is-not-w_1008911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/e-m-forster-1118_aim_happiness-in-the-ordinary-sense-is-not-w_1008911.png) > “Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in life, though one is right to aim at it. The true satisfaction is to come through, and see those whom one lives come through.” [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from helping others succeed, not merely seeking personal happiness. **In simple terms:** Helping others thrive is deeper than personal happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on contributing to others’ growth. Themes service purpose self‑transcendence human connection Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Community work - mentoring - volunteering - team projects Key Concepts Altruism existential meaning interdependence Questions to Reflect On - In what ways can you serve others today? - How do you balance personal joy with helping others? A Different Perspective May neglect self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) ## Related quotes > [When I look at what the world does and where people nowadays believe they can find happiness, I am not sure that that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/when-i-look-at-what-the-world-does-and-where-people-nowadays-believe/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“The happiness was there, ordinary equipment, stowed right alongside the worry and sorrow and resolve, and it didn’t solve anything, but it lightened it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-happiness-was-there-ordinary-equipment-stowed-right-alongside-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [The art of being happy lies on the power of finding happiness in ordinary things. Life doesn't force us to be the best, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-art-of-being-happy-lies-on-the-power-of-finding-happiness-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are happy you are ordinary, because to be happy is just to be natural. To be miserable is to become extraordinary. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-you-are-happy-you-are-ordinary-because-to-be-happy-is-just-to-be/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [If you pursue happiness, you are an ordinary person. If happiness pursues you, you are an extraordinary person. Do not chase happiness; let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-deunov/if-you-pursue-happiness-you-are-an-ordinary-person-if-happiness/) [Peter Deunov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-deunov/) > [Motivation needs to be a part of your own life for you to be effective in conveying it to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/motivation-needs-to-be-a-part-of-your-own-life-for-you-to-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If a man marries a wicked woman from a wicked family, certainly he will die the day he needs life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-a-man-marries-a-wicked-woman-from-a-wicked-family-certainly-he/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We have so many needs in our life but at the end of the day all we need is to be needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-so-many-needs-in-our-life-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-all-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle-onassis/millions-do-not-always-add-up-to-what-a-man-needs-out-of-life/) [Aristotle Onassis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle-onassis/) > [A writer needs a life of introspection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-writer-needs-a-life-of-introspection/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Everyone needs someone in their life to know how they take their coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-in-their-life-to-know-how-they-take-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone in their life who LOVES THEM ENOUGH to speak TRUTH to them, especially when it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-in-their-life-who-loves-them-enough-to-speak/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All Life needs for life is possible to will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/all-life-needs-for-life-is-possible-to-will/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [In two or three hundred years life on earth will be unimaginably beautiful, astounding. Man needs such a life and if it hasn't yetappeared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-two-or-three-hundred-years-life-on-earth-will-be-unimaginably/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“All anyone needs in life is a goal and the will to reach it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lewin/all-anyone-needs-in-life-is-a-goal-and-the-will-to-reach-it/) Rod Lewin ## More by E. M. Forster > [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Reverence is fatal to literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/reverence-is-fatal-to-literature/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/railway-termini-are-our-gates-to-the-glorious-and-the-unknown/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Ah, but you see, I didn't want to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/ah-but-you-see-i-didn-t-want-to-be-fair/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/the-final-test-for-a-novel-will-be-our-affection-for-it-as-it-is-the/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [A critic has no right to the narrowness which is the frequent prerogative of the creative artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-critic-has-no-right-to-the-narrowness-which-is-the-frequent/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. She erected tariff walls, broke treaties, persecuted minorities, obstructed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/before-the-civil-war-pottibakia-was-a-normal-member-of-the-comity-of/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/chess-is-a-forcing-house-where-the-fruits-of-character-can-ripen-more/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [I distrust Great Men... I believe in aristocracy, though... Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/i-distrust-great-men-i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-its-members-are/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/liking-one-person-is-an-extra-reason-for-liking-another/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/we-are-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor-they-are-unthinkable-and-only/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) [Explore all 287 E. M. Forster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness in the ordinary sense is not what one needs in life, though one is right to aim at it. The true satisfaction is to come through, and see those whom one lives come through.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. M. 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