--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do what you need to do and enjoy life as…" description: "\"Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens.\" — John Scalzi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png" --- # Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens. ![“Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens.” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png) > “Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens.” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live responsibly while appreciating each moment as it arrives. **In simple terms:** Do what you must, enjoy life. Key Takeaway Balance duty with present enjoyment. Themes responsibility mindfulness joy balance Mood thoughtful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - daily routines - travel experiences Key Concepts ethics presentism life philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize tasks without losing joy? - What practices help you stay present? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on enjoyment may neglect long‑term goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enjoy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I can do anything - but that doesn't mean I should do that. I need to enjoy what I do. I enjoy making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-weintraub/i-can-do-anything-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-should-do-that-i-need-to/) [Jerry Weintraub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-weintraub/) > [Such a cruel world, we need to enjoy life as much as we can!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/such-a-cruel-world-we-need-to-enjoy-life-as-much-as-we-can/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [You only live once and you need to enjoy life, to go out and achieve whatever you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/you-only-live-once-and-you-need-to-enjoy-life-to-go-out-and-achieve/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [You need to enjoy what you're doing in order to do something good. You can't force it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/you-need-to-enjoy-what-you-re-doing-in-order-to-do-something-good-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Need nothing. Enjoy everything. Love all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/need-nothing-enjoy-everything-love-all/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I have everything I need to enjoy my here and now - unless I am letting my consciousness be dominated by demands and expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-everything-i-need-to-enjoy-my-here-and-now-unless-i-am-letting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be an agreeable guest one need only enjoy oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/to-be-an-agreeable-guest-one-need-only-enjoy-oneself/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [When you get a walk-off homer, you get to do whatever you want. You need to be excited about it. You don't get too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/when-you-get-a-walk-off-homer-you-get-to-do-whatever-you-want-you/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) > [In Heaven there is no need for sex because there is no need for a shadow or illustration-just a need to enjoy it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/in-heaven-there-is-no-need-for-sex-because-there-is-no-need-for-a/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [I need to enjoy being engaged. With our schedules, it's so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan-tatum/i-need-to-enjoy-being-engaged-with-our-schedules-it-s-so-hard/) [Jenna Dewan Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan-tatum/) > [Football is a game. So you need to enjoy your football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riyad-mahrez/football-is-a-game-so-you-need-to-enjoy-your-football/) [Riyad Mahrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riyad-mahrez/) > [Life only happens one day at a time. So there is no need to rush greatness. Have fun and enjoy the life you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/life-only-happens-one-day-at-a-time-so-there-is-no-need-to-rush/) Enhance Dreams > [Failure is just part of life; it happens to everyone. Yet, it doesn't have to be crippling if you don't let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anthony-dale/failure-is-just-part-of-life-it-happens-to-everyone-yet-it-doesn-t/) [Ian Anthony Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anthony-dale/) > [Finally, if life happened by chance on this earth and evolved upward, then it could seemingly happen elsewhere in the universe. But if, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hunt/finally-if-life-happened-by-chance-on-this-earth-and-evolved-upward/) [Dave Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hunt/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. I already want to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-both-love-and-am-terrified-by-greg-van-eekhout-s-vision-of-los/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [There's always been a little bit of tension between the writers of science fiction literature and then science-fiction televised shows or movies, partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/there-s-always-been-a-little-bit-of-tension-between-the-writers-of/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I mean that you and I know that in this universe, God is a hack," he said. "He's a writer on an awful science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-mean-that-you-and-i-know-that-in-this-universe-god-is-a-hack-he/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“The diagnostics and modifications screens. Ugly and utilitarian, just like they have been since the very beginnings of visual user interface. They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Enjoy quotes > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/) [Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [The Germans will make a few scattered attacks, then go away. The Romans will enjoy a fine September.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-badoglio/the-germans-will-make-a-few-scattered-attacks-then-go-away-the-romans/) Pietro Badoglio > [I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua/i-don-t-enjoy-killing-but-when-done-righteously-it-s-just-a-chore/) [Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua/) > [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I really enjoy hosting, not necessarily because it provides more airtime, but because it allows me to be a part of more substantive discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-really-enjoy-hosting-not-necessarily-because-it-provides-more/) [Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) Browse all 13,068 Enjoy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Scalzi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as-it-happens/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enjoy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as-it-happens/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/john-scalzi-2071_enjoy_do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as_2181275.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do what you need to do and enjoy life as it happens.” — John Scalzi", "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 Scalzi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do what you need to do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as-it-happens/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/do-what-you-need-to-do-and-enjoy-life-as-it-happens/#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 } } ] } ```