--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S…" description: "\"LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND BEING.\" — Kevin Kruse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg" --- # LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND… ![“LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND BEING.” quote by Kevin Kruse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg) > “LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND BEING.” [Kevin Kruse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/) This quote is also attributed to [Austin Vanpelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-vanpelt/) in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed. ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's purpose lies in contributing to others and authentic existence rather than material accumulation. **In simple terms:** Life is about giving and being, not owning. Key Takeaway Focus on contribution over possession. Themes purpose generosity authenticity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - team leadership - personal development - community building Key Concepts self‑actualization humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance giving with self‑care? - What does authentic being look like for you? A Different Perspective May overlook personal needs and boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Getting Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-having-2680739/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [Having Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-giving-2680738/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-isn/) ## Related quotes > [“Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being. –Kevin Kruse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being-kevin/) [Kevin Kruse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/) > [Life isnt about getting and having, its about giving and being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-vanpelt/life-isnt-about-getting-and-having-its-about-giving-and-being/) [Austin Vanpelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-vanpelt/) > [Getting something and having the wits to use it...those are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/getting-something-and-having-the-wits-to-use-it-those-are-two/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's sometimes unnerving to think of that, and I wish it were possible for all children in the world to have the good fortune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/it-s-sometimes-unnerving-to-think-of-that-and-i-wish-it-were-possible/) [James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/) > [Charity is the filthiest invention of the human mind: first you steal what belongs to everyone; then you use the law and various other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/charity-is-the-filthiest-invention-of-the-human-mind-first-you-steal/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/if-one-first-gives-himself-to-the-lord-all-other-giving-is-easy/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [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/) > [That which is called liberality is frequently nothing more than the vanity of giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/that-which-is-called-liberality-is-frequently-nothing-more-than-the/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [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/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Kevin Kruse > [. We must balance conspicuous consumption with conscious capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/we-must-balance-conspicuous-consumption-with-conscious-capitalism/) [Kevin Kruse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/) > [“Life isn’t about getting and having, it’s about giving and being. –Kevin Kruse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being-kevin/) [Kevin Kruse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/) [Explore all 3 Kevin Kruse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND BEING.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Kruse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generosity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/kevin-kruse-87204_generosity_life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s_275104.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S ABOUT GIVING AND BEING.” — Kevin Kruse", "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": "Kevin Kruse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kruse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "LIFE ISN'T ABOUT GETTING AND HAVING,IT'S...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kruse/life-isn-t-about-getting-and-having-it-s-about-giving-and-being/#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 } } ] } ```