--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Getting enough of what you want without…" description: "\"Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone else is the ultimate act of selfishness and sanity.\" — Joy Browne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png" --- # Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone… ![“Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone else is the ultimate act of selfishness and sanity.” quote by Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png) > “Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone else is the ultimate act of selfishness and sanity.” [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing personal desire with fairness to others is both healthy and wise **In simple terms:** Fairness and self‑care are compatible Key Takeaway Practice equitable self‑interest Themes ethics self‑care balance Mood reflective balanced Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - resource allocation - decision making - conflict resolution Key Concepts altruism personal boundaries well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your needs don’t harm others? - When is it okay to prioritize yourself? A Different Perspective Too much self‑interest can become selfishness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanity/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [The desire of gratitude for helping others, taints the entire act with selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-jay-taylor/the-desire-of-gratitude-for-helping-others-taints-the-entire-act-with/) [T Jay Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-jay-taylor/) > [Suicide to them is an act of selfishness. Someone who is truly selfless does not think of himself often enough to desire death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/suicide-to-them-is-an-act-of-selfishness-someone-who-is-truly/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/being-sorry-is-the-highest-act-of-selfishness-seeing-value-only-after/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Deeds that seemed unimportant at the time would prove to have been momentous; a tiny act of selfishness and unkindness or, conversely, an unconsidered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/deeds-that-seemed-unimportant-at-the-time-would-prove-to-have-been/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Failing to hold someone accountable is ultimately an act of selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/failing-to-hold-someone-accountable-is-ultimately-an-act-of/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“He asked me not to kill myself - asked, not told. His wife had done that, he told me, and it was in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/he-asked-me-not-to-kill-myself-asked-not-told-his-wife-had-done-that/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Men now monopolize the upper levels... depriving women of their rightful share of opportunities for incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/men-now-monopolize-the-upper-levels-depriving-women-of-their-rightful/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [In the future, we will play games while floating naked in a tank of warm, sensory-depriving gelatin. Games will be distributed chemically, into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/in-the-future-we-will-play-games-while-floating-naked-in-a-tank-of/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) > [We are undermining a generation's happiness by depriving them of national identity, religious identity, and gender identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/we-are-undermining-a-generation-s-happiness-by-depriving-them-of/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [People say 'what do you mean' when you talk about 'bringing down civilization.' What I really mean is depriving the rich of the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/people-say-what-do-you-mean-when-you-talk-about-bringing-down/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Government can't give us anything without depriving us of something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/government-can-t-give-us-anything-without-depriving-us-of-something/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Watch yourself with all diligence, lest the enemy steals near and robs you, depriving you of this great treasure, which is inner peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-scupoli/watch-yourself-with-all-diligence-lest-the-enemy-steals-near-and-robs/) [Lorenzo Scupoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-scupoli/) ## More by Joy Browne > [Sex is meant to be, if not addictive, at least a very compelling behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/sex-is-meant-to-be-if-not-addictive-at-least-a-very-compelling/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [You're much more interesting when you're online - all of us are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/you-re-much-more-interesting-when-you-re-online-all-of-us-are/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [If we give up the notion that everybody’s life is perfect but ours, we would be a lot happier. Nobody’s life is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/if-we-give-up-the-notion-that-everybody-s-life-is-perfect-but-ours-we/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [How do you take something and make it special? The answer is a lot of hard work and a great deal of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/how-do-you-take-something-and-make-it-special-the-answer-is-a-lot-of/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [Once you become aware of what means the most to you, you're less likely to put off something that's really valuable for something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/once-you-become-aware-of-what-means-the-most-to-you-you-re-less/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [When a guy says, "Don't make a fuss over my birthday," he means "Don't make a fuss over my birthday". When we say "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/when-a-guy-says-don-t-make-a-fuss-over-my-birthday-he-means-don-t/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [You can certainly go to war about it, but to me it seems pointless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/you-can-certainly-go-to-war-about-it-but-to-me-it-seems-pointless/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [Just trying to do something - just being there, showing up - is how we get braver. Self-esteem is about doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/just-trying-to-do-something-just-being-there-showing-up-is-how-we-get/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [When in doubt, do the obvious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/when-in-doubt-do-the-obvious/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [We've turned into a nation of mothers to our men. I think it's a dreadful mistake that doesn't benefit anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/we-ve-turned-into-a-nation-of-mothers-to-our-men-i-think-it-s-a/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [The American notion of family is perhaps the most romanticized, deep-rooted, and misery-producing fantasy of the last hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/the-american-notion-of-family-is-perhaps-the-most-romanticized-deep/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [In its purest form, dating is auditioning for mating (and auditioning means we may or may not get the part).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/in-its-purest-form-dating-is-auditioning-for-mating-and-auditioning/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [Infidelity, cheating is the easiest, stupidest, dumbest thing you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/infidelity-cheating-is-the-easiest-stupidest-dumbest-thing-you-can-do/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [The thing about sex is not that you're naked physically, but if you do it right, that you're naked emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/the-thing-about-sex-is-not-that-you-re-naked-physically-but-if-you-do/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [Opposites attract - and then aggravate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/opposites-attract-and-then-aggravate/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) [Explore all 28 Joy Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) ## More Depriving quotes > [Watch yourself with all diligence, lest the enemy steals near and robs you, depriving you of this great treasure, which is inner peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-scupoli/watch-yourself-with-all-diligence-lest-the-enemy-steals-near-and-robs/) [Lorenzo Scupoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-scupoli/) > [Government can't give us anything without depriving us of something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/government-can-t-give-us-anything-without-depriving-us-of-something/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [People say 'what do you mean' when you talk about 'bringing down civilization.' What I really mean is depriving the rich of the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/people-say-what-do-you-mean-when-you-talk-about-bringing-down/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [We are undermining a generation's happiness by depriving them of national identity, religious identity, and gender identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/we-are-undermining-a-generation-s-happiness-by-depriving-them-of/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [In the future, we will play games while floating naked in a tank of warm, sensory-depriving gelatin. Games will be distributed chemically, into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/in-the-future-we-will-play-games-while-floating-naked-in-a-tank-of/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [Men now monopolize the upper levels... depriving women of their rightful share of opportunities for incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/men-now-monopolize-the-upper-levels-depriving-women-of-their-rightful/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [The ruin of the human heart is self-interest, which the American merchant calls self-service. We have become a self-service populace, and all our specious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ruin-of-the-human-heart-is-self-interest-which-the-american/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [There are some disabling myths about what art is, how to do it, what is good art, and what art is for, that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-london/there-are-some-disabling-myths-about-what-art-is-how-to-do-it-what-is/) [Peter London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-london/) > [Whenever you're going after something that belongs to you, anyone who's depriving you of the right to have it is a criminal. Understand that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/whenever-you-re-going-after-something-that-belongs-to-you-anyone-who/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I don't believe in depriving myself of any food or being imprisoned by a diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joely-fisher/i-don-t-believe-in-depriving-myself-of-any-food-or-being-imprisoned/) [Joely Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joely-fisher/) > [“Depriving someone of their freedom is the most despicable act imaginable. Anyone guilty of it should be BURIED so they can rot and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizuho-kusanagi/depriving-someone-of-their-freedom-is-the-most-despicable-act/) Mizuho Kusanagi > [I don't believe in depriving myself; it's an unhealthy state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-helen-bowers/i-don-t-believe-in-depriving-myself-it-s-an-unhealthy-state-of-mind/) [Mary Helen Bowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-helen-bowers/) Browse all 86 Depriving quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone else is the ultimate act of selfishness and sanity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joy Browne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without-depriving-anyone-else-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depriving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without-depriving-anyone-else-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/joy-browne-21825_depriving_getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without_571317.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Getting enough of what you want without depriving anyone else is the ultimate act of selfishness and sanity.” — Joy Browne", "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": "Joy Browne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Getting enough of what you want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without-depriving-anyone-else-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/getting-enough-of-what-you-want-without-depriving-anyone-else-is-the/#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 } } ] } ```