--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That action is best which provides the…" description: "\"That action is best which provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number\" — Francis Hutcheson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg" --- # That action is best which provides the greatest happiness… ![“That action is best which provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number” quote by Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg) > “That action is best which provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number” [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The best action is one that maximizes overall happiness for the most people. **In simple terms:** Seek greatest happiness for most. Key Takeaway Aim for greatest happiness for many. Themes ethics utilitarianism happiness decision making Mood analytical reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - personal choices Key Concepts consequentialism social welfare collective good Questions to Reflect On - Is maximizing happiness always fair? - How to balance majority welfare with minority rights? A Different Perspective May overlook minority rights or individual suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Greatest number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-number/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [The action is best that secures the greatest happiness for the greatest number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dean-howells/the-action-is-best-that-secures-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/) [William Dean Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dean-howells/) > [The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-said-truth-is-that-it-is-the-greatest-happiness-of-the-greatest/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [That action is best which procures the greatest happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-procures-the-greatest-happiness/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [That action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-procures-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [Love alone is the only reasonable activity or pursuit of humankind…Fo r Love not only annihilates our fear of meaninglessness but empowers us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/love-alone-is-the-only-reasonable-activity-or-pursuit-of-humankind-fo/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Looking at you from a far, all I see is happiness, getting closer, I see greatness, be by your side I feel the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jibril-bello/looking-at-you-from-a-far-all-i-see-is-happiness-getting-closer-i-see/) Jibril Bello > [The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-greatest-happiness-of-the-greatest-number-is-the-foundation-of/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [Voting has not been tough for me, for the most part, because there's guideposts about what will bring about the greatest amount of happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/voting-has-not-been-tough-for-me-for-the-most-part-because-there-s/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [“At the end of the eighteenth century the British philosopher Jeremy Bentham declared that the supreme good is ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/at-the-end-of-the-eighteenth-century-the-british-philosopher-jeremy/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Taking action is the best source of inspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/taking-action-is-the-best-source-of-inspiration/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-is-common-to-the-greatest-number-has-the-least-care-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The secret to success is to offend the greatest number of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-secret-to-success-is-to-offend-the-greatest-number-of-people/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [To live the greatest number of good hours is wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-live-the-greatest-number-of-good-hours-is-wisdom/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I do not care about the greatest good for the greatest number . . . Most people are poop-heads I do not care about them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-alan-gardner/i-do-not-care-about-the-greatest-good-for-the-greatest-number-most/) [James Alan Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-alan-gardner/) > [“Strive to be more than number one—strive to be the greatest number one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/strive-to-be-more-than-number-one-strive-to-be-the-greatest-number-one/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Francis Hutcheson > [Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/wisdom-denotes-the-pursuing-of-the-best-ends-by-the-best-means/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [The ultimate notion of right is that which tends to the universal good; and when one's acting in a certain manner has this tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/the-ultimate-notion-of-right-is-that-which-tends-to-the-universal/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [Many are really virtuous who cannot explain what virtue is . . . But the powers themselves in reality perform their several operations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/many-are-really-virtuous-who-cannot-explain-what-virtue-is-but-the/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [Unalienable rights are essential limitations to all governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/unalienable-rights-are-essential-limitations-to-all-governments/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [That action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-procures-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) > [That action is best which procures the greatest happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-procures-the-greatest-happiness/) [Francis Hutcheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) [Explore all 7 Francis Hutcheson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That action is best which provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Hutcheson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/francis-hutcheson-50299_action_that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-g_991202.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That action is best which provides the greatest happiness for the greatest number” — Francis Hutcheson", "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": "Francis Hutcheson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-hutcheson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That action is best which provides...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-hutcheson/that-action-is-best-which-provides-the-greatest-happiness-for-the/#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 } } ] } ```