--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be happy: Don't do whatever you like…" description: "\"“To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you do.”\" — Mary Engelbreit" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png" --- # To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you… ![“To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you do.” quote by Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png) > ““To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you do.”” [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from loving what you do, not merely doing what you like. **In simple terms:** Love your actions to be happy. Key Takeaway Align passions with activities. Themes happiness choice alignment Mood optimistic encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choice - hobbies - volunteering Key Concepts authenticity purpose mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What activities do you love doing? - How can you integrate love into daily tasks? A Different Perspective People may lack opportunities to choose meaningful work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [“I’m more happy than not. Don’t forget me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/i-m-more-happy-than-not-don-t-forget-me/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [I don't like to be like nobody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/i-don-t-like-to-be-like-nobody-else/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [When you're happy, you don't count the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/when-you-re-happy-you-don-t-count-the-years/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [How great is it to just rest and be happy and not move when you don't have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/how-great-is-it-to-just-rest-and-be-happy-and-not-move-when-you-don-t/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm happy. I don't ever have to pay anything, and I don't ever have to wash the dishes, and I don't ever have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-m-happy-i-don-t-ever-have-to-pay-anything-and-i-don-t-ever-have-to/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [If she come, I be happy. If she don't, I be content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-come-i-be-happy-if-she-don-t-i-be-content/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You make me soooooo Happy... So Don't Leave...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-make-me-soooooo-happy-so-don-t-leave/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“At this moment, I am obscenely happy. Please don’t screw this up or dump me or cheat on me or divorce me.” “All right,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/at-this-moment-i-am-obscenely-happy-please-don-t-screw-this-up-or/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [Rainbows make everything seem happy...don't they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-hartman/rainbows-make-everything-seem-happy-don-t-they/) [Celeste Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-hartman/) > [“Babies are happy because they don’t know any better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/babies-are-happy-because-they-don-t-know-any-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're never happy when you don't get a victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-goossen/you-re-never-happy-when-you-don-t-get-a-victory/) Dan Goossen > [I'm in love and I'm happy. Don't you see it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/i-m-in-love-and-i-m-happy-don-t-you-see-it/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [I'm happy that I don't have to do covers anymore, because that's not what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-m-happy-that-i-don-t-have-to-do-covers-anymore-because-that-s-not/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [When you find the right person who makes you happy, don't let them go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kushrolled/when-you-find-the-right-person-who-makes-you-happy-don-t-let-them-go/) KushRolled > [Find something that makes you happy and don't let anyone take it away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/find-something-that-makes-you-happy-and-don-t-let-anyone-take-it-away/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) ## More by Mary Engelbreit > [Life is too short to leave your walls bare or colorless. Unless you like bare and colorless then it is fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/life-is-too-short-to-leave-your-walls-bare-or-colorless-unless-you/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [The golden opportunity you are seeking is within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/the-golden-opportunity-you-are-seeking-is-within-yourself/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [My best ideas come to me at unexpected moments, like when I'm reading children's books to my kids (the pictures inspire me), shopping, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/my-best-ideas-come-to-me-at-unexpected-moments-like-when-i-m-reading/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [When I come across writing that really moves me and inspires me, my reaction is twofold. I want to share it with others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/when-i-come-across-writing-that-really-moves-me-and-inspires-me-my/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [Life is too short to not tell every one you know about Jesus. I need to practice this more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/life-is-too-short-to-not-tell-every-one-you-know-about-jesus-i-need/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [Life is too short to be safe and sit still and do nothing. Unless of course that is what God has for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/life-is-too-short-to-be-safe-and-sit-still-and-do-nothing-unless-of/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [“Friend is a gift you give yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/friend-is-a-gift-you-give-yourself/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [“We don't care how they do it in New York.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/we-don-t-care-how-they-do-it-in-new-york/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [There's no better friend than a sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/there-s-no-better-friend-than-a-sister/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [I am extremely thankful for my family. I am very thankful for what God is allowing me to do artistically. What a dream come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/i-am-extremely-thankful-for-my-family-i-am-very-thankful-for-what-god/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [“Friendship needs no reason!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/friendship-needs-no-reason/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [When you go through a process of #1 praying daily and staying in God's word #2 obey Him in the small decisions every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/when-you-go-through-a-process-of-1-praying-daily-and-staying-in-god-s/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [Not what you do but how you do it, is the test of your capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/not-what-you-do-but-how-you-do-it-is-the-test-of-your-capacity/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [The world would be a vastly better place if people saw their need for God and accepted Him as Savior and Lord. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/the-world-would-be-a-vastly-better-place-if-people-saw-their-need-for/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) > [Anything good that we do is because of God. Whenever we get our eyes off of Him we crash and burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/anything-good-that-we-do-is-because-of-god-whenever-we-get-our-eyes/) [Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) [Explore all 50 Mary Engelbreit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you do.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Engelbreit" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-like-whatever-you-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-like-whatever-you-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/mary-engelbreit-13552_happiness_to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-l_1060987.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be happy: Don't do whatever you like; Like whatever you do.” — Mary Engelbreit", "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": "Mary Engelbreit", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To be happy: Don't do whatever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-like-whatever-you-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/to-be-happy-don-t-do-whatever-you-like-like-whatever-you-do/#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 } } ] } ```