--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've observed over and over that people…" description: "\"I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something they've done as an act of service than out of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg" --- # I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much… ![“I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something they've done as an act of service than out of the things they do for themselves.” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg) > “I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something they've done as an act of service than out of the things they do for themselves.” [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serving others yields deeper fulfillment than self‑focused pursuits. **In simple terms:** Service brings deeper fulfillment. Key Takeaway Prioritize helping others. Themes service fulfillment altruism Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - volunteering - career choices - personal development - team projects Key Concepts meaning purpose community impact Questions to Reflect On - How does service shape personal identity? - What balance between self‑care and helping others? A Different Perspective Self‑neglect risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts of service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-of-service/) [Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeper/) [Deeper Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeper-sense-365878/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-deeper-2393429/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sense Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-fulfillment-851955/) [Service Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-things-4431195/) ## Related quotes > [Satisfaction is real sense of fulfillment & that comes from honesty to your assigned work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/satisfaction-is-real-sense-of-fulfillment-that-comes-from-honesty-to/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Valued achievements connect to people at a deeper level—and a deeper level can change behavior that is generally very difficult to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/valued-achievements-connect-to-people-at-a-deeper-level-and-a-deeper/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [People are much deeper than stereotypes. That's the first place our minds go. Then you get to know them and you hear their stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kressley/people-are-much-deeper-than-stereotypes-that-s-the-first-place-our/) [Carson Kressley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kressley/) > [“The silence of two people is deeper than the silence of one. Involuntarily”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-silence-of-two-people-is-deeper-than-the-silence-of-one/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [“We will have to move through a very deep valley, I believe much deeper than we can sense now, before we will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/we-will-have-to-move-through-a-very-deep-valley-i-believe-much-deeper/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [In Scripture, when something is repeated, especially a name, it shows an emotional connection, a deeper sense of meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/in-scripture-when-something-is-repeated-especially-a-name-it-shows-an/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“In point of fact, the greater one’s science, the deeper the sense of mystery. —Vladimir”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislas-dehaene/in-point-of-fact-the-greater-one-s-science-the-deeper-the-sense-of/) [Stanislas Dehaene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislas-dehaene/) > [Making money can give you a sense of achievement. But only Making a Difference will give you a sense of Fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-money-can-give-you-a-sense-of-achievement-but-only-making-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At the core of her senseless actions, she vaguely perceived that she yearned for something. A something that would provide her with a sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shusaku-endo/at-the-core-of-her-senseless-actions-she-vaguely-perceived-that-she/) [Shūsaku Endō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shusaku-endo/) > [“The sense of fulfillment is often hidden in acts of kindness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-stocker/the-sense-of-fulfillment-is-often-hidden-in-acts-of-kindness/) [Todd Stocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-stocker/) > [I am who I am and there’s nothing wrong with that. The days continue like they always have. They bring neither excessive desire nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryohgo-narita/i-am-who-i-am-and-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-that-the-days-continue/) [Ryohgo Narita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryohgo-narita/) > [Happiness is the real sense of fulfillment that comes from hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barbara/happiness-is-the-real-sense-of-fulfillment-that-comes-from-hard-work/) [Joseph Barbara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barbara/) > [Helping people prosper brings a sense of fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/helping-people-prosper-brings-a-sense-of-fulfillment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [people with a sense of fulfillment think it is a good world and would like to conserve it as it is, while the frustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-with-a-sense-of-fulfillment-think-it-is-a-good-world-and-would/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More by Edward Norton > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's better for people to miss you than to have seen too much of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/it-s-better-for-people-to-miss-you-than-to-have-seen-too-much-of-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [You can't control everything that comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-can-t-control-everything-that-comes-to-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The incentive for business is not, and cannot, be anything other than the root incentive for all business: they must profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-incentive-for-business-is-not-and-cannot-be-anything-other-than/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [My greatest hope is that we transcend the most fearful thing, which is that we are rapidly degrading the ecological systems on this planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/my-greatest-hope-is-that-we-transcend-the-most-fearful-thing-which-is/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [David Fincher is probably the best comprehensive director in terms of being a manger of a process that must drive forward. He has such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/david-fincher-is-probably-the-best-comprehensive-director-in-terms-of/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Sometimes their oppression of emotion and the weird way it comes out is more interesting than painting it in bold primary colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/sometimes-their-oppression-of-emotion-and-the-weird-way-it-comes-out/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-thing-i-m-absolutely-convinced-of-no-matter-how-crazy/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Making really great music, making really great films, writing great books is an antidote to all of that. And, as people, as artists, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/making-really-great-music-making-really-great-films-writing-great/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I like music, but I need to get outside more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-like-music-but-i-need-to-get-outside-more/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-taking-old-dramatic-ideas-and-devices/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I had a huge advantage with Edward Norton because he's directed a movie before, so one thing he appreciates is how hard my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-had-a-huge-advantage-with-edward-norton-because-he-s-directed-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) [Explore all 179 Edward Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## More Acts of service quotes > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody. And this is because the most powerful things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news-2/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The mother must set the example in holding out the shrine as the heart of the house hold! She must enforce discipline over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-mother-must-set-the-example-in-holding-out-the-shrine-as-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [By becoming the answer to someone's prayer, we often find the answer to our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/by-becoming-the-answer-to-someone-s-prayer-we-often-find-the-answer/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“If acts of service do not come naturally for you, it is still a love language worth acquiring. It is a way of expressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/if-acts-of-service-do-not-come-naturally-for-you-it-is-still-a-love/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [What are you doing for others?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-are-you-doing-for-others/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES Words of Affirmation Quality Time Receiving Gifts Acts of Service Physical Touch”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/the-5-love-languages-words-of-affirmation-quality-time-receiving/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [I have learned that it is by serving that we learn how to serve. When we engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/i-have-learned-that-it-is-by-serving-that-we-learn-how-to-serve-when/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Widen your shriveled heart, make the interests of others your own and serve them as much as you can by sympathy, kindness, presents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anandamayi-ma/widen-your-shriveled-heart-make-the-interests-of-others-your-own-and/) [Anandamayi Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anandamayi-ma/) > [There is no such thing as a simple act of compassion or an inconsequential act of service. Everything we do for another person has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-simple-act-of-compassion-or-an/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“understanding of God's will starts with surrender of our wills to Him and with charitable, loving acts of service to others. We cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-webster/understanding-of-god-s-will-starts-with-surrender-of-our-wills-to-him/) [Ed Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-webster/) > [Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person's family, quick words of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/often-small-acts-of-service-are-all-that-is-required-to-lift-and/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [It is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. . . . So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/it-is-vital-that-we-serve-each-other-in-the-kingdom-so-often-our-acts/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Do not consider any act of service as demeaning. Sweeping the streets, for example, is not below your dignity. Do you not sweep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/do-not-consider-any-act-of-service-as-demeaning-sweeping-the-streets/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“Learning the love language of acts of service will require some of us to reexamine our stereotypes of the roles of husbands and wives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/learning-the-love-language-of-acts-of-service-will-require-some-of-us/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“If you were not so gentle, If you were hard to please, If you were never patient And always ill at ease, If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/if-you-were-not-so-gentle-if-you-were-hard-to-please-if-you-were/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Browse all 40 Acts of service quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-of-service/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something they've done as an act of service than out of the things they do for themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Norton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people-seem-to-get-a-much-deeper/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acts of service" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people-seem-to-get-a-much-deeper/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/edward-norton-2203_acts-of-service_i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people_1325536.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've observed over and over that people seem to get a much deeper sense of fulfillment out of something…” — Edward Norton", "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": "Edward Norton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've observed over and over that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people-seem-to-get-a-much-deeper/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-observed-over-and-over-that-people-seem-to-get-a-much-deeper/#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 } } ] } ```