--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our happiest times are those in which we…" description: "\"Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/fulton-j-sheen-675_abdication_our-happiest-times-are-those-in-which-we_850994.png" --- # Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves… ![“Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true humility: the man who loses himself finds himself and finds his happiness.” quote by Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/fulton-j-sheen-675_abdication_our-happiest-times-are-those-in-which-we_850994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/fulton-j-sheen-675_abdication_our-happiest-times-are-those-in-which-we_850994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/fulton-j-sheen-675_abdication_our-happiest-times-are-those-in-which-we_850994.png) > “Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true humility: the man who loses himself finds himself and finds his happiness.” [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from selfless kindness, which paradoxically restores one's sense of self. **In simple terms:** Kindness brings joy and self‑discovery. Key Takeaway Practice selfless acts to find fulfillment. Themes humility kindness happiness Mood uplifting spiritual Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - volunteering - daily kindness - community service Key Concepts self‑abnegation spiritual fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt joy through helping others? - How does humility affect your self‑esteem? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abdication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdication/) [Finding yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-yourself/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Losing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-yourself/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-humility/) ## Related quotes > [“Stagnation is self-abdication.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-talbot/stagnation-is-self-abdication/) Ryan Talbot > [“People think that a liar gains a victory over his victim. What I've learned is that a lie is an act of self-abdication, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/people-think-that-a-liar-gains-a-victory-over-his-victim-what-i-ve-2/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/humility-is-to-make-a-right-estimate-of-oneself-it-is-no-humility-for/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“He created us through the long and complex process of Natural and Sexual Selection, which is none other than His ingenious device for instilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/he-created-us-through-the-long-and-complex-process-of-natural-and/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self. 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A string of such moments can change the course of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-germer/a-moment-of-self-compassion-can-change-your-entire-day-a-string-of-2/) Christopher K. Germer > [“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life. — CHRISTOPHER K. GERMER3”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/a-moment-of-self-compassion-can-change-your-entire-day-a-string-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the centre—wanting to be God, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-moment-you-have-a-self-at-all-there-is-a-possibility-of-putting/) [C.S. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [I would suggest to you that at this moment you are the only self that you have ever had; you've never had a childhood;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-would-suggest-to-you-that-at-this-moment-you-are-the-only-self-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“And there was the inner walking on the edge of darkness, the peering into black doorways...the unrevealed answer which must be somewhere, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-winslow-johnson/and-there-was-the-inner-walking-on-the-edge-of-darkness-the-peering/) [Josephine Winslow Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-winslow-johnson/) ## More by Fulton J. Sheen > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. 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Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [It is easy to find truth, though it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/it-is-easy-to-find-truth-though-it-is-hard-to-face-it-and-harder/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [One function of the angels is illumination, and the other function is that of being a guardian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/one-function-of-the-angels-is-illumination-and-the-other-function-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) [Explore all 414 Fulton J. Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More Abdication quotes > [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [ The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we \[journalists\], too often… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-bernstein/the-reality-is-that-the-media-are-probably-the-most-powerful-of-all/) [Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-bernstein/) > [It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/it-is-important-that-miers-not-be-confirmed-unless-in-her-61st-year/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Voter apathy is a civic abdication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-blow/voter-apathy-is-a-civic-abdication/) [Charles M. Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-blow/) > [Judge not, that ye be not judge"... is an abdication of moral responsibility: it is a moral blank check one gives to others in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/judge-not-that-ye-be-not-judge-is-an-abdication-of-moral/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The idea of God implies the abdication of human reason and justice; it is the most decisive negation of human liberty and necessarily ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/the-idea-of-god-implies-the-abdication-of-human-reason-and-justice-it/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [“Stagnation is self-abdication.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-talbot/stagnation-is-self-abdication/) Ryan Talbot > [“Soon after this meeting with the Morelands came the period of crisis leading up to the Abdication, one of those public events which occupied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/soon-after-this-meeting-with-the-morelands-came-the-period-of-crisis/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [The truly and deliberately evil men are a very small minority; it is the appeaser who unleashes them on mankind; it is the appeaser's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-truly-and-deliberately-evil-men-are-a-very-small-minority-it-is/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [People think that a liar gains a victory over his victim. What I’ve learned is that a lie is an act of self-abdication, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/people-think-that-a-liar-gains-a-victory-over-his-victim-what-i-ve/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Our 'normal' 'adjusted' state is too often the abdication of ecstasy, the betrayal of our true potentialities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-normal-adjusted-state-is-too-often-the-abdication-of-ecstasy-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ignorance is king. Many would not profit by his abdication. Many enrich themselves by means of his dark monarchy. They are his Court, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr/ignorance-is-king-many-would-not-profit-by-his-abdication-many-enrich/) [Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) > [A citizenship of wholesale delegation and abdication to public and private power systems, such as prevails now, makes such periodic checks as elections little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/a-citizenship-of-wholesale-delegation-and-abdication-to-public-and/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) [Browse all 43 Abdication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our happiest times are those in which we forget ourselves, usually in being kind to someone else. That tiny moment of self-abdication is an act of true humility: the man who loses himself finds himself and finds his happiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fulton J. 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