--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's rare when there's something we can…" description: "\"“It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.”\" — John Irving" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png" --- # It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves… ![“It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png) > ““It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.”” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rarely do personal actions both satisfy self‑interest and benefit others. **In simple terms:** Self‑fulfillment often aligns with helping others. Key Takeaway Seek mutually beneficial actions. Themes altruism self‑interest interdependence Mood thoughtful inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - collaborative projects - ethical decision making Key Concepts mutual benefit ethical living Questions to Reflect On - When have you helped someone and felt personally enriched? - Can self‑interest and altruism coexist? A Different Perspective May ignore selfish motivations that can be healthy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pleases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleases/) [Rare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare/) [Rare Pleases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-pleases-939945/) ## Related quotes > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but can- not please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-can-not-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Prejudice, which sees what it pleases, cannot see what is plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/prejudice-which-sees-what-it-pleases-cannot-see-what-is-plain/) [Aubrey Thomas de Vere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/) > [It pleases me that people can be interactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-pleases-me-that-people-can-be-interactive/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“If it pleases me, then it is good and I want more; If it displeases me, then it must be destroyed as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/if-it-pleases-me-then-it-is-good-and-i-want-more-if-it-displeases-me/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [What is good only because it pleases cannot be pronounced good till it has been found to please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-is-good-only-because-it-pleases-cannot-be-pronounced-good-till/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more one pleases everybody, the less one pleases profoundly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-one-pleases-everybody-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact pleases You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-i-believe-that-the-desire-to-please-you-does-in-fact-pleases-you/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The more one pleases generally, the less one pleases profoundly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krister-stendahl/the-more-one-pleases-generally-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Krister Stendahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krister-stendahl/) > [“I highly recommend cleanliness. It pleases women and annoys men, which are two excellent ways to get on in society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ross/i-highly-recommend-cleanliness-it-pleases-women-and-annoys-men-which/) [Kate Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ross/) > [Whatever pleases You is a pure action of karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/whatever-pleases-you-is-a-pure-action-of-karma/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [I abhor crime novels in which the main character can behave however he or she pleases, or do things that normal people do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-abhor-crime-novels-in-which-the-main-character-can-behave-however/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I count something as successful if it pleases the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/i-count-something-as-successful-if-it-pleases-the-audience/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-cannot-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [“Indeed, to know is something that pleases talkers and boasters, but to do is that which pleases God. Not”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/indeed-to-know-is-something-that-pleases-talkers-and-boasters-but-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Pleases quotes > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-cannot-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [I count something as successful if it pleases the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/i-count-something-as-successful-if-it-pleases-the-audience/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [I abhor crime novels in which the main character can behave however he or she pleases, or do things that normal people do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-abhor-crime-novels-in-which-the-main-character-can-behave-however/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whatever pleases You is a pure action of karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/whatever-pleases-you-is-a-pure-action-of-karma/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [“I highly recommend cleanliness. It pleases women and annoys men, which are two excellent ways to get on in society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ross/i-highly-recommend-cleanliness-it-pleases-women-and-annoys-men-which/) [Kate Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ross/) > [“The more one pleases generally, the less one pleases profoundly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krister-stendahl/the-more-one-pleases-generally-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Krister Stendahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krister-stendahl/) > [“But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact pleases You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-i-believe-that-the-desire-to-please-you-does-in-fact-pleases-you/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The more one pleases everybody, the less one pleases profoundly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-one-pleases-everybody-the-less-one-pleases-profoundly/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [What is good only because it pleases cannot be pronounced good till it has been found to please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/what-is-good-only-because-it-pleases-cannot-be-pronounced-good-till/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“If it pleases me, then it is good and I want more; If it displeases me, then it must be destroyed as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/if-it-pleases-me-then-it-is-good-and-i-want-more-if-it-displeases-me/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [It pleases me that people can be interactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-pleases-me-that-people-can-be-interactive/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Prejudice, which sees what it pleases, cannot see what is plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/prejudice-which-sees-what-it-pleases-cannot-see-what-is-plain/) [Aubrey Thomas de Vere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-thomas-de-vere/) > [ He \[Moliere\] pleases all the world, but can- not please himself. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/he-moliere-pleases-all-the-world-but-can-not-please-himself/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [“Indeed, to know is something that pleases talkers and boasters, but to do is that which pleases God. Not”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/indeed-to-know-is-something-that-pleases-talkers-and-boasters-but-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) [Browse all 69 Pleases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can-do-for-ourselves-which-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pleases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can-do-for-ourselves-which-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4c/john-irving-337_pleases_it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can_869768.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.” — John Irving", "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": "John Irving", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's rare when there's something we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can-do-for-ourselves-which-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-s-rare-when-there-s-something-we-can-do-for-ourselves-which-also/#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 } } ] } ```