--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is not a goal, it is a…" description: "\"Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. For what keeps our interest in life and makes us look forward to tomorrow is giving pleasure to other peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/eleanor-roosevelt-381_giving_happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-produ_2831938.jpg" --- # Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. For what… ![“Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. For what keeps our interest in life and makes us look forward to tomorrow is giving pleasure to other people.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/eleanor-roosevelt-381_giving_happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-produ_2831938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/eleanor-roosevelt-381_giving_happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-produ_2831938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47c/eleanor-roosevelt-381_giving_happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-produ_2831938.jpg) > “Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. For what keeps our interest in life and makes us look forward to tomorrow is giving pleasure to other people.” [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## 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 as a side effect of helping others, not as a direct target, emphasizing altruism as a source of joy. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from giving pleasure to others. Key Takeaway Focus on serving others to find joy. Themes altruism joy purpose Mood hopeful inspiring Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - career - daily kindness Key Concepts service community fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate service daily? - What does joy look like when you help? A Different Perspective Self‑centered pursuits may still bring happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Interest in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest-in-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [“Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. Paradoxically, the one sure way not to be happy is deliberately to map out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-product-paradoxically-the-one-sure/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. Paradoxically, the one sure way not to be happy is deliberately to map out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-by-product-paradoxically-the-one-sure-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Happiness is not a goal. It's a by-product of a life well lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-s-a-by-product-of-a-life-well-lived/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I get a lot of pleasure and satisfaction out of giving pleasure to people through my singing; that's fantastic, but it's only entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-westenra/i-get-a-lot-of-pleasure-and-satisfaction-out-of-giving-pleasure-to/) Hayley Westenra > [Happiness is not a goal¦its a by-product of a life well lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/happiness-is-not-a-goal-its-a-by-product-of-a-life-well-lived/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“Happiness is not a goal…it’s a by-product of a life well lived. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/happiness-is-not-a-goal-it-s-a-by-product-of-a-life-well-lived-2/) Various > [Happiness is not a goal; its the by-product of a life well lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirgha/happiness-is-not-a-goal-its-the-by-product-of-a-life-well-lived/) [Dirgha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirgha/) > [Happiness isn't a goal. It's a by-product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/happiness-isn-t-a-goal-it-s-a-by-product/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/simplicity-is-not-the-goal-it-is-the-by-product-of-a-good-idea-and/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [She knew that when she played she was giving pleasure only to herself; but this was no new sensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/she-knew-that-when-she-played-she-was-giving-pleasure-only-to-herself/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Real love...is when you get as much pleasure from giving pleasure as you do from receiving it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/real-love-is-when-you-get-as-much-pleasure-from-giving-pleasure-as/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-butler/the-joy-of-giving-is-indeed-a-pleasure-especially-when-you-get-rid-of/) [Frank Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-butler/) > [“The essence of all art is having pleasure giving pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/the-essence-of-all-art-is-having-pleasure-giving-pleasure/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [“There can be as much joy of giving pleasure as to receive it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-can-be-as-much-joy-of-giving-pleasure-as-to-receive-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/madam-you-have-between-your-legs-an-instrument-capable-of-giving/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) ## More by Eleanor Roosevelt > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. 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