--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So I…" description: "\"There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun, the music in others' ears my symphony, the smile on others' lips..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/helen-keller-429_ears_there-is-joy-in-self-forgetfulness-so-i_2837572.png" --- # There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So I try to make the… ![“There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun, the music in others' ears my symphony, the smile on others' lips my happiness.” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/helen-keller-429_ears_there-is-joy-in-self-forgetfulness-so-i_2837572.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/helen-keller-429_ears_there-is-joy-in-self-forgetfulness-so-i_2837572.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/helen-keller-429_ears_there-is-joy-in-self-forgetfulness-so-i_2837572.png) > “There is joy in self-forgetfulness. So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun, the music in others' ears my symphony, the smile on others' lips my happiness.” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding joy in self‑forgetfulness by making others’ happiness your own source of light and music. **In simple terms:** Make others’ joy your happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on uplifting others. Themes self‑lessness joy empathy Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - teaching - support groups Key Concepts interdependence inner fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance self‑care with helping others? - What practices nurture this mindset? A Different Perspective Self‑neglect can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetfulness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-forgetfulness/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, it is true, a sense of isolation enfolds me like a cold mist as I sit alone and wait at life’s shut gate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/sometimes-it-is-true-a-sense-of-isolation-enfolds-me-like-a-cold-mist/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Happiness lies outside yourself, is achieved through interacting with others. Self-forgetfulness should be one's goal, not self-absorption. The male, capable of only the latter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/happiness-lies-outside-yourself-is-achieved-through-interacting-with/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [Self-forgetfulness in creativity can lead to self-transcendence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ashton-warner/self-forgetfulness-in-creativity-can-lead-to-self-transcendence/) [Sylvia Ashton-Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ashton-warner/) > [By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbour actively and indefatigably. In as far as you advance in love you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-the-experience-of-active-love-strive-to-love-your-neighbour/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But what after all, behind appearances, is this seeming mystery? We can see that it is the Consciousness which had lost itself returning again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/but-what-after-all-behind-appearances-is-this-seeming-mystery-we-can/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [the self expands through acts of self forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-self-expands-through-acts-of-self-forgetfulness/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Humility is not an exaggeratedly low opinion of yourself. Humility is self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/humility-is-not-an-exaggeratedly-low-opinion-of-yourself-humility-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [But what after all, behind appearance, is the seeming mystery? 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S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [By means of Invocation, the being awakens, and awakening becomes fullness. By means of balancing, fullness becomes internal wholeness. By virtue of exteriorized attention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-truman/by-means-of-invocation-the-being-awakens-and-awakening-becomes/) [David Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-truman/) > [“Ignorance might be bliss. But self-forgetfulness is pure ecstasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/ignorance-might-be-bliss-but-self-forgetfulness-is-pure-ecstasy/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-really-wonderful-moments-of-joy-in-this-world-are-not-the-moments/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) ## More by Helen Keller > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. 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Why ... it is what everybody feels for everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/love-why-it-is-what-everybody-feels-for-everybody-else/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-simple-childlike-faith-in-a-divine-friend-solves-all-the-problems/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“A beam from the everlasting sun of God. Rude and unresponsive are the stones; Yet in them divine things lie concealed; I hear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-beam-from-the-everlasting-sun-of-god-rude-and-unresponsive-are-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I can see in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-can-see-in-what-you-call-the-dark-but-which-to-me-is-golden/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) [Explore all 568 Helen Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. 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