--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How wonderful that it's possible to…" description: "\"“How wonderful that it's possible to ensure our own happiness of another. Is it our job to make a beloved happy? It is not. The other person always has..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/jan-karon-2637_generosity_how-wonderful-that-it-s-possible-to-ensu_1217535.png" --- # How wonderful that it's possible to ensure our own… ![“How wonderful that it's possible to ensure our own happiness of another. Is it our job to make a beloved happy? It is not. The other person always has a choice. It is our job to generously outdo, no matter what, and discover that the prize in this contest of generosity is more love.” quote by Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/jan-karon-2637_generosity_how-wonderful-that-it-s-possible-to-ensu_1217535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/jan-karon-2637_generosity_how-wonderful-that-it-s-possible-to-ensu_1217535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/jan-karon-2637_generosity_how-wonderful-that-it-s-possible-to-ensu_1217535.png) > ““How wonderful that it's possible to ensure our own happiness of another. Is it our job to make a beloved happy? It is not. The other person always has a choice. It is our job to generously outdo, no matter what, and discover that the prize in this contest of generosity is more love.”” [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) ## 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 giving, not demanding love; generosity is its own reward. **In simple terms:** Give to receive love, not the reverse. Key Takeaway Focus on generous actions. Themes generosity love selflessness Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - volunteering - family gatherings Key Concepts reciprocity emotional fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How can you give without expecting anything? - What limits your generosity? A Different Perspective Generosity can be exploited if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“sincere love that makes her beloved one happy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pipit-di/sincere-love-that-makes-her-beloved-one-happy/) Pipit Di > [I've never felt like I was in the cookie business. I've always been in a feel good feeling business. My job is to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/i-ve-never-felt-like-i-was-in-the-cookie-business-i-ve-always-been-in/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“Have a GOAL to keep the following 5-‘H’ OUT of your life H – Harass H – Hamper H – Hurt H – Harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujit-lalwani/have-a-goal-to-keep-the-following-5-h-out-of-your-life-h-harass-h/) [Sujit Lalwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujit-lalwani/) > [Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/health-learning-and-virtue-will-ensure-your-happiness-they-will-give/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [“I would always ensure his happiness. I would always defend him, regardless of what it would cost me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-rathbone/i-would-always-ensure-his-happiness-i-would-always-defend-him/) [Gideon Rathbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-rathbone/) > [Show kindness to your near and dear ones, first. Help them. Ensure their happiness. Only then set out to wipe the tears from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/show-kindness-to-your-near-and-dear-ones-first-help-them-ensure-their/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/health-learning-and-virtue-will-ensure-your-happiness-they-will-give-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [So often we want happiness, but the very way we pursue it is so clumsy and unskillful that it brings only more sorrow. Usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/so-often-we-want-happiness-but-the-very-way-we-pursue-it-is-so-clumsy/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [Let us forget with generosity those who cannot love us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/let-us-forget-with-generosity-those-who-cannot-love-us/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Every single human being on this earth make a difference on this planet earth but each one of us make a different contribution and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/every-single-human-being-on-this-earth-make-a-difference-on-this/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [Goodness, generosity, or love does not come into being save through the search for reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/goodness-generosity-or-love-does-not-come-into-being-save-through-the/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Generosity, love, compassion, or devotion do not depend on a high IQ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goldstein/generosity-love-compassion-or-devotion-do-not-depend-on-a-high-iq/) [Joseph Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goldstein/) > [The Lord has placed next to me many people, who, with generosity and love for God and the church, have helped me and been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-lord-has-placed-next-to-me-many-people-who-with-generosity-and/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Lord, help us to live the virtue of generosity, to love without limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/lord-help-us-to-live-the-virtue-of-generosity-to-love-without-limits/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Jan Karon > [“In every way, un-forgiveness makes us the victim—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/in-every-way-un-forgiveness-makes-us-the-victim/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [In Ireland there’s no such thing as bad weather ~~~ only the wrong clothes. (In the Company of Others)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/in-ireland-there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather-only-the-wrong/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“Sorrow and joy, he thought, so inextricably entwined that he could scarcely tell where one left off and the other began.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/sorrow-and-joy-he-thought-so-inextricably-entwined-that-he-could/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“Maybe the best way to honor the deceased was to laugh with the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/maybe-the-best-way-to-honor-the-deceased-was-to-laugh-with-the-living/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [Paul said in the second epistle...the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine...they will accumulate for themselves teachers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/paul-said-in-the-second-epistle-the-time-is-coming-when-people-will/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [This is a gift that God has given me. I'm not smart enough to write for everybody, but it's the love in these books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/this-is-a-gift-that-god-has-given-me-i-m-not-smart-enough-to-write/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [Publishing is, by its nature, about deadlines, and deadlines are toxic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/publishing-is-by-its-nature-about-deadlines-and-deadlines-are-toxic/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [The firefly only shines when on the wing, So it is with us--when we stop, we darken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/the-firefly-only-shines-when-on-the-wing-so-it-is-with-us-when-we/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“Thank you, God, for second chances,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/thank-you-god-for-second-chances/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“Fear is one of the Enemy’s deadliest strategies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/fear-is-one-of-the-enemy-s-deadliest-strategies/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“For one thing, telling a lie is like eating peanuts. One leads to another. In no time at all, you’ve gone through a bagful.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/for-one-thing-telling-a-lie-is-like-eating-peanuts-one-leads-to/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“And so I enjoyed the warm feelings, the stuff of the heart, when it was present between us, as it sometimes was, even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/and-so-i-enjoyed-the-warm-feelings-the-stuff-of-the-heart-when-it-was/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“One of the things that makes a dead leaf fall to the ground is the bud of the new leaf that pushes it off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/one-of-the-things-that-makes-a-dead-leaf-fall-to-the-ground-is-the/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“He’d been amped for a long time; actually, everybody he knew was amped. He would like to spend the rest of his life de-amping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/he-d-been-amped-for-a-long-time-actually-everybody-he-knew-was-amped/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“All people are children when they sleep. There’s no war in them then . . . They . . . open their hands halfway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/all-people-are-children-when-they-sleep-there-s-no-war-in-them-then/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) [Explore all 156 Jan Karon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I think more and more people are becoming much more sensitive to what they do with their money when they die, especially if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-think-more-and-more-people-are-becoming-much-more-sensitive-to-what/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-must-early-learn-the-the-beauty-of-generosity-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. My thinking was definitely about looking at the levers in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-was-always-clear-that-i-didn-t-want-to-just-do-pure-charity-my/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Browse all 3,867 Generosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How wonderful that it's possible to ensure our own happiness of another. Is it our job to make a beloved happy? It is not. The other person always has a choice. 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