--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The very first condition of lasting…" description: "\"The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.\" — Hugo Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png" --- # The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a… ![“The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.” quote by Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png) > “The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.” [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lasting happiness requires purpose directed beyond oneself, suggesting altruistic aims bring fulfillment **In simple terms:** Purpose beyond self leads to happiness Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond self Themes philosophy ethics well‑being Mood reflective inspirational Type maxilosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - career choice - community service Key Concepts altruism meaning self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What purpose aligns with your values? - How to balance self‑care and altruism? A Different Perspective Purpose may conflict with personal needs ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Lasting happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting-happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-purpose/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first. The very first condition of lasting happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/it-is-the-paradox-of-life-that-the-way-to-miss-pleasure-is-to-seek-it-2/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-black/it-is-the-paradox-of-life-that-the-way-to-miss-pleasure-is-to-seek-it/) [Hugh Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-black/) > [It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first. The very first condition of lasting happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-black/it-is-the-paradox-of-life-that-the-way-to-miss-pleasure-is-to-seek-it-3/) [Hugh Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-black/) > [Lasting happiness comes from steadily working to accomplish your goals and advancing in the direction of your life's purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/lasting-happiness-comes-from-steadily-working-to-accomplish-your/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Happiness has nothing to do with your life's circumstances, its based on your ability to accept the things you are experiencing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-has-nothing-to-do-with-your-life-s-circumstances-its-based/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The divine pattern is your life purpose. It is a story about your divine self and it is written within—your heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-yaovi-m-dagba/the-divine-pattern-is-your-life-purpose-it-is-a-story-about-your/) [Alain Yaovi M. Dagba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-yaovi-m-dagba/) > [I think it's a mistake to ever look for hope outside of one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-ever-look-for-hope-outside-of-one-s-self/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [We appear to be programmed with the idea that there are 'things' outside of our self, and some are conscious, and some are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-appear-to-be-programmed-with-the-idea-that-there-are-things/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [My inside self and my outside self used to match. A compass needle pointed true north. Now the needle spins around and around indicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/my-inside-self-and-my-outside-self-used-to-match-a-compass-needle/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [ “\[...\] this observing self often kills and withers anything that is under its scrutiny. The individual has now a persecuting observer in the very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-observing-self-often-kills-and-withers-anything-that-is-under/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you remember nothing else, remember this: Inspiration from outside one's self is like the heat in an oven. It makes passable Bath buns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/if-you-remember-nothing-else-remember-this-inspiration-from-outside/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [“The more you depend on forces outside your self, the more you are dominated by them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-sherman/the-more-you-depend-on-forces-outside-your-self-the-more-you-are/) [Harold Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-sherman/) > [The roots of addiction can be seen in our search for happiness in something outside of our self, be it drugs, relationships, material possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-l-jampolsky/the-roots-of-addiction-can-be-seen-in-our-search-for-happiness-in/) [Lee L Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-l-jampolsky/) > [The most important thing in life is human affection. Without it one cannot achieve genuine happiness. And if we want a happier life, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-most-important-thing-in-life-is-human-affection-without-it-one/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Truly lasting happiness is ours when we have the self awareness to choose the criteria in our mind and change it at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/truly-lasting-happiness-is-ours-when-we-have-the-self-awareness-to/) Senoraroy ## More by Hugo Black > [Our Constitution was not written in the sands to be washed away by each wave of new judges blown in by each successive political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/our-constitution-was-not-written-in-the-sands-to-be-washed-away-by/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom to speak and write about public questions is as important to the life of our government as is the heart to the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-to-speak-and-write-about-public-questions-is-as-important-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [From the very beginning, our state and national constitutions and laws have laid great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/from-the-very-beginning-our-state-and-national-constitutions-and-laws/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The flagrant disregard in the courtroom of elementary standards of proper conduct should not and cannot be tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-flagrant-disregard-in-the-courtroom-of-elementary-standards-of/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/a-union-of-government-and-religion-tends-to-destroy-government-and-to/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The lesson which wars and depressions have taught is that if we want peace, prosperity and happiness at home we must help to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-lesson-which-wars-and-depressions-have-taught-is-that-if-we-want/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-public-welfare-demands-that-constitutional-cases-must-be-decided/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to bare the secrets of government and inform the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-founding-fathers-gave-the-free-press-the-protection-it-must-have/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have, or the views they express, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/freedom-of-speech-means-that-you-shall-not-do-something-to-people/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Words uttered under coercion are proof of loyalty to nothing but self-interest. Love of country must spring from willing hearts and free minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/words-uttered-under-coercion-are-proof-of-loyalty-to-nothing-but-self/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [In my view, far from deserving condemnation for their courageous reporting, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other newspapers should be commended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/in-my-view-far-from-deserving-condemnation-for-their-courageous/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Loyalty must arise spontaneously from the hearts of people who love their country and respect their government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/loyalty-must-arise-spontaneously-from-the-hearts-of-people-who-love/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [The word 'security' is a broad, vague generality whose contours should not be invoked to abrogate the fundamental law embodied in the First Amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-word-security-is-a-broad-vague-generality-whose-contours-should/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/among-religions-in-this-country-which-do-not-teach-what-would/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) > [That Amendment requires the state to be a neutral in its relations with groups of religious believers and nonbelievers; it does not require the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/that-amendment-requires-the-state-to-be-a-neutral-in-its-relations/) [Hugo Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) [Explore all 66 Hugo Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/) ## More Conditions quotes > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [History is, in its essentials, the science of change. It knows and it teaches that it is impossible to find two events that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bloch/history-is-in-its-essentials-the-science-of-change-it-knows-and-it/) [Marc Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bloch/) > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [It clearly follows that to make men moral it is necessary to make their social environment moral. And that can be done in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/it-clearly-follows-that-to-make-men-moral-it-is-necessary-to-make/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A social group can, indeed must, already exercise 'leadership' before winning governmental power (this is indeed one of the principal conditions for the winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/a-social-group-can-indeed-must-already-exercise-leadership-before/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) Browse all 4,249 Conditions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugo Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happiness-is-that-a-life-should/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conditions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happiness-is-that-a-life-should/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/hugo-black-10272_conditions_the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happ_2535494.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something…” — Hugo Black", "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": "Hugo Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The very first condition of lasting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happiness-is-that-a-life-should/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-black/the-very-first-condition-of-lasting-happiness-is-that-a-life-should/#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 } } ] } ```