--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doing nothing for others is the undoing…" description: "\"Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg" --- # Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We… ![“Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself, gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.” quote by Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg) > “Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself, gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.” [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑sacrifice enriches the giver; kindness expands inner joy and purpose. **In simple terms:** Helping others makes you happier. Key Takeaway Be kind and generous. Themes kindness self‑growth purpose inner peace Mood warm inspired Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - teamwork - family support - community service Key Concepts Altruism psychology of happiness ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How does giving shape your identity? - What small acts of kindness can you start today? A Different Perspective May neglecting others lead to personal emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helping others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-others/) [Inner life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-life/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Purposely Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposely-kind-630752/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Purposely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-purposely-5257261/) [Undoing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undoing/) [Undoing Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undoing-self-5257262/) ## Related quotes > [We must be purposely kind and generous or we miss the best part of life's existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/we-must-be-purposely-kind-and-generous-or-we-miss-the-best-part-of/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing-of-ourselves/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/we-do-ourselves-the-most-good-doing-something-for-others/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [“Work is the undoing of nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-majkut/work-is-the-undoing-of-nature/) [Paul Majkut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-majkut/) > [But I pine in Solitude. Solitude is my undoing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-i-pine-in-solitude-solitude-is-my-undoing/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I think it’s safe to say that the entire abortion industry is based on a lie…. I am dedicated to spending the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-mccorvey/i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-the-entire-abortion-industry-is-based/) [Norma McCorvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-mccorvey/) > [After an error you need not only to remove the causes but also to correct the error itself: after a sin you must not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-an-error-you-need-not-only-to-remove-the-causes-but-also-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once for each thing. Just once; no more. And we too, just once. And never again. But to have been this once, completely, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/once-for-each-thing-just-once-no-more-and-we-too-just-once-and-never/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [That glittering hope is immemorial and beckons many men to their undoing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/that-glittering-hope-is-immemorial-and-beckons-many-men-to-their/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [What's a domestic partnership? Domestic partnership is not even a marriage, and there's a contract that involves, potentially, sexual and financial commitments to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-kellerman/what-s-a-domestic-partnership-domestic-partnership-is-not-even-a/) [Max Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-kellerman/) > [If the minority is able to successfully undo the Affordable Care Act by blackmail, it will be the undoing of the democratic nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/if-the-minority-is-able-to-successfully-undo-the-affordable-care-act/) [Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/) > [Man's destiny was to conquer and rule the world, and this is what he's done.. almost. He hasn't quite made it, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/man-s-destiny-was-to-conquer-and-rule-the-world-and-this-is-what-he-s/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [The beast is the modern world that we live in! The material world. The physical world. The world of illusion that we think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-beast-is-the-modern-world-that-we-live-in-the-material-world-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Live or die: mere consequences of what you have built. What matters is building well. So here we are I've assigned myself a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/live-or-die-mere-consequences-of-what-you-have-built-what-matters-is/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/) [Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/) ## More by Horace Mann > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The earth endured Christ's ministry only three years;--not three weeks after his real character and purposes were generally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-earth-endured-christ-s-ministry-only-three-years-not-three-weeks/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [If evil is inevitable, how are the wicked accountable? Nay, why do we call men wicked at all? Evil is inevitable, but is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-evil-is-inevitable-how-are-the-wicked-accountable-nay-why-do-we/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [On entering this world our starting-point is ignorance. None, however, but idiots remain there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/on-entering-this-world-our-starting-point-is-ignorance-none-however/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [So, in the infinitely nobler battle in which you are engaged against error and wrong, if ever repulsed or stricken down, may you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/so-in-the-infinitely-nobler-battle-in-which-you-are-engaged-against/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [We conceive of immortality as having a beginning, but no end; but we conceive of eternity as having neither beginning nor end. Hence it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/we-conceive-of-immortality-as-having-a-beginning-but-no-end-but-we/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [In our country and in our times no man is worthy the honored name of statesman who does not include the highest practicable education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/in-our-country-and-in-our-times-no-man-is-worthy-the-honored-name-of/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Genius may conceive but patient labor must consummate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/genius-may-conceive-but-patient-labor-must-consummate/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Even the choicest literature should be taken as the condiment, and not as the sustenance of life. It should be neither the warp nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/even-the-choicest-literature-should-be-taken-as-the-condiment-and-not/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Of all "rights" which command attention at the present time among us, woman's rights seem to take precedence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/of-all-rights-which-command-attention-at-the-present-time-among-us/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [After a child has arrived at the legal age for attending school,-whether he be the child of noble or of peasant,-the only two absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/after-a-child-has-arrived-at-the-legal-age-for-attending-school/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Let the Common School be expanded to its capabilities, let it be worked with the efficiency of which it is susceptible, and nine tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/let-the-common-school-be-expanded-to-its-capabilities-let-it-be/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Resistance to improvement contradicts the noblest instincts of the race. It begets its opposite. The fanaticism of reform is only the raging of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/resistance-to-improvement-contradicts-the-noblest-instincts-of-the/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Explore all 191 Horace Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## More Doing nothing quotes > [Doing nothing gives me great pleasure. And believe me, I succeed wonderfully in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-nothing-gives-me-great-pleasure-and-believe-me-i-succeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But out there are many, many more people who are addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/you-are-going-to-kill-me-and-that-will-protect-society-from-me-but/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. I strongly oppose feminism because it's nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-women-i-hate-feminism-hate-may-be-an-accurate-word-but-too/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/retirement-is-wonderful-it-s-doing-nothing-without-worrying-about/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [If you can't be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-can-t-be-remarkable-perhaps-you-should-consider-doing-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The problem with lethargy is that doing nothing validates the fear that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/the-problem-with-lethargy-is-that-doing-nothing-validates-the-fear/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/talk-to-the-guys-that-ain-t-doing-nothing-don-t-talk-to-me-i-just/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Never go into business purely to make money. If that's the motive you're better off doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/never-go-into-business-purely-to-make-money-if-that-s-the-motive-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Music is my life. I love doing it, so I just do it nonstop all day. And with dancing, I wanted to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/music-is-my-life-i-love-doing-it-so-i-just-do-it-nonstop-all-day-and/) [Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) [Browse all 361 Doing nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself, gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Horace Mann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing-of-one-s-self-we-must-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing nothing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing-of-one-s-self-we-must-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81d/horace-mann-2022_doing-nothing_doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing_1457638.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one's self. We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss…” — Horace Mann", "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": "Horace Mann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Doing nothing for others is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing-of-one-s-self-we-must-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/doing-nothing-for-others-is-the-undoing-of-one-s-self-we-must-be/#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 } } ] } ```