--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is it not enough that we cannot make one…" description: "\"Is it not enough that we cannot make one another happy, must we also rob one another of the pleasures that any heart may permit itself now and then? An..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_aggravated_is-it-not-enough-that-we-cannot-make-one_1978384.jpg" --- # Is it not enough that we cannot make one another happy… ![“Is it not enough that we cannot make one another happy, must we also rob one another of the pleasures that any heart may permit itself now and then? And name me a person who in a bad mood will be decent enough to hide it, to bear it alone, without destroying the joy around him. Is it not rather an…” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_aggravated_is-it-not-enough-that-we-cannot-make-one_1978384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_aggravated_is-it-not-enough-that-we-cannot-make-one_1978384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_aggravated_is-it-not-enough-that-we-cannot-make-one_1978384.jpg) > “Is it not enough that we cannot make one another happy, must we also rob one another of the pleasures that any heart may permit itself now and then? And name me a person who in a bad mood will be decent enough to hide it, to bear it alone, without destroying the joy around him. Is it not rather an inner dissatisfaction with our own unworthiness, a dislike of ourselves that is always associated with envy aggravated by foolish conceit? We see people happy and not made happy by us, and that is unbearable.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage questions why we not only fail to bring happiness to others but also deprive them of fleeting joys, reflecting inner unworthiness and envy. **In simple terms:** We hurt others when we feel unworthy and envious. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑acceptance to stop harming others. Themes self‑worth envy happiness human relations Mood reflective somber thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - mental health counseling - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What inner beliefs cause you to diminish others' joy? - How can you transform envy into compassion? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can obscure genuine empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-mood/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [“To be envied, admired, is not a feeling. Nor is fame it feeling. There are feelings associated with fame, but few of them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-be-envied-admired-is-not-a-feeling-nor-is-fame-it-feeling-there/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Ill-humor is nothing more than an inward feeling of our own want of merit, a dissatisfaction with ourselves which is always united with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/ill-humor-is-nothing-more-than-an-inward-feeling-of-our-own-want-of/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A ghost is someone who hasn't made it - in other words, who died, and they don't know they're dead. So they keep walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/a-ghost-is-someone-who-hasn-t-made-it-in-other-words-who-died-and/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [For a detective or street police, the only real satisfaction is the work itself; when a cop spends more and more time getting aggravated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/for-a-detective-or-street-police-the-only-real-satisfaction-is-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [all daughters, even when most aggravated by their mothers, have a secret respect for them. They believe perhaps that they can do everything better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/all-daughters-even-when-most-aggravated-by-their-mothers-have-a/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [Our lives are led, and our decisions made, within a network of needs and wants, some natural, some arising from the acts of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-cohen/our-lives-are-led-and-our-decisions-made-within-a-network-of-needs/) Carl Cohen > [The police and other law enforcements agencies are going to concentrate their efforts on organised crime, especially organised aggravated robbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nqakula/the-police-and-other-law-enforcements-agencies-are-going-to/) Charles Nqakula > [Called on the people of New Hampshire . . . to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-bartlett/called-on-the-people-of-new-hampshire-to-confess-before-god-their/) [Josiah Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-bartlett/) > [Courage enlarges, cowardice diminishes resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/courage-enlarges-cowardice-diminishes-resources/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Animals are just pure, uncomplicated entities of creation from God. They live like the Maasai do in Kenya-for each day is forever to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/animals-are-just-pure-uncomplicated-entities-of-creation-from-god/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [ I take life for what it has to offer me. I don't get aggravated about \[getting older\]. The wrinkles on my face are a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-take-life-for-what-it-has-to-offer-me-i-don-t-get-aggravated-about/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [I honestly really don't get aggravated at all. I just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-honestly-really-don-t-get-aggravated-at-all-i-just-go-with-the-flow/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [When I tell a child something the first time, I'm nice. The 15th time, I start to get aggravated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-lee-miller/when-i-tell-a-child-something-the-first-time-i-m-nice-the-15th-time-i/) [Abby Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-lee-miller/) > [My dad told me at the very beginning of my career, basically, "If you're gonna have a megaphone, you're gonna need to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-feldman/my-dad-told-me-at-the-very-beginning-of-my-career-basically-if-you-re/) [Ben Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-feldman/) > [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More Aggravated quotes > [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [My dad told me at the very beginning of my career, basically, "If you're gonna have a megaphone, you're gonna need to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-feldman/my-dad-told-me-at-the-very-beginning-of-my-career-basically-if-you-re/) [Ben Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-feldman/) > [When I tell a child something the first time, I'm nice. The 15th time, I start to get aggravated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-lee-miller/when-i-tell-a-child-something-the-first-time-i-m-nice-the-15th-time-i/) [Abby Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-lee-miller/) > [I honestly really don't get aggravated at all. I just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-honestly-really-don-t-get-aggravated-at-all-i-just-go-with-the-flow/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [ I take life for what it has to offer me. I don't get aggravated about \[getting older\]. The wrinkles on my face are a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-take-life-for-what-it-has-to-offer-me-i-don-t-get-aggravated-about/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [Animals are just pure, uncomplicated entities of creation from God. They live like the Maasai do in Kenya-for each day is forever to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/animals-are-just-pure-uncomplicated-entities-of-creation-from-god/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [Courage enlarges, cowardice diminishes resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/courage-enlarges-cowardice-diminishes-resources/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Called on the people of New Hampshire . . . to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-bartlett/called-on-the-people-of-new-hampshire-to-confess-before-god-their/) [Josiah Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-bartlett/) > [The police and other law enforcements agencies are going to concentrate their efforts on organised crime, especially organised aggravated robbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-nqakula/the-police-and-other-law-enforcements-agencies-are-going-to/) Charles Nqakula > [Our lives are led, and our decisions made, within a network of needs and wants, some natural, some arising from the acts of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-cohen/our-lives-are-led-and-our-decisions-made-within-a-network-of-needs/) Carl Cohen > [all daughters, even when most aggravated by their mothers, have a secret respect for them. They believe perhaps that they can do everything better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/all-daughters-even-when-most-aggravated-by-their-mothers-have-a/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [For a detective or street police, the only real satisfaction is the work itself; when a cop spends more and more time getting aggravated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/for-a-detective-or-street-police-the-only-real-satisfaction-is-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [A ghost is someone who hasn't made it - in other words, who died, and they don't know they're dead. So they keep walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/a-ghost-is-someone-who-hasn-t-made-it-in-other-words-who-died-and/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [You really don’t want to take that tone with me. (Varyk) Well, I do have several others we can choose from. Contemptuous. Angry. Snide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-really-don-t-want-to-take-that-tone-with-me-varyk-well-i-do-have/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [It is the beginning of wisdom when you recognize that the best you can do is choose which rules you want to live by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/it-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom-when-you-recognize-that-the-best-you/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) Browse all 44 Aggravated quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Is it not enough that we cannot make one another happy, must we also rob one another of the pleasures that any heart may permit itself now and then? And name me a person who in a bad mood will be decent enough to hide it, to bear it alone, without destroying the joy around him. 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