--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never will I pursue happiness, because it…" description: "\"Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in having or in getting, only in giving.\" — Og Ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg" --- # Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal… ![“Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in having or in getting, only in giving.” quote by Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg) > “Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in having or in getting, only in giving.” [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is not a target to chase but a side effect of selfless actions and generosity. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from giving, not chasing. Key Takeaway Focus on giving, not seeking happiness. Themes generosity selflessness inner peace Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - mentoring - community service - daily acts of kindness Key Concepts psychology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance giving with personal well‑being? - What small act of generosity can you start today? A Different Perspective If you only give, you may neglect self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/remember-that-there-is-no-happiness-in-having-or-in-getting-but-only-2/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/realize-that-true-happiness-lies-within-you-waste-no-time-and-effort/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I have a God-given right to pursue happiness, and happiness to me is killing things, skinning them, plucking them, and then having a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/i-have-a-god-given-right-to-pursue-happiness-and-happiness-to-me-is/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [It was probably a mistake to pursue happiness; much better to create happiness; still better to create happiness for others. The more happiness you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-c-douglas/it-was-probably-a-mistake-to-pursue-happiness-much-better-to-create/) [Lloyd C. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-c-douglas/) > [The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. A table, a chair, a bowl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-constitution-only-guarantees-the-american-people-the-right-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [If you pursue happiness you never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-snow/if-you-pursue-happiness-you-never-find-it/) [C.P. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-snow/) > [There is what we desire to do, and what we are able to do. When those two things don't coincide, which path should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sakurazaka/there-is-what-we-desire-to-do-and-what-we-are-able-to-do-when-those/) [Hiroshi Sakurazaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sakurazaka/) > [Could a government dare to set out with happiness as its goal? Now that there are accepted scientific proofs, it would be easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/could-a-government-dare-to-set-out-with-happiness-as-its-goal-now/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Everyone knows that (1) happiness is the goal of life, and (2) happiness is a chimera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/everyone-knows-that-1-happiness-is-the-goal-of-life-and-2-happiness/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Joy, rather than happiness, is the goal of life, for joy is the emotion which accompanies our fulfilling our natures as human beings. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/joy-rather-than-happiness-is-the-goal-of-life-for-joy-is-the-emotion/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“The goal of the practice is not happiness... the goal of the practice is freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stone/the-goal-of-the-practice-is-not-happiness-the-goal-of-the-practice-is/) [Michael Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stone/) > [The basic mistake people make is to think that happiness is the goal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/the-basic-mistake-people-make-is-to-think-that-happiness-is-the-goal/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [Evolution does not make happiness its goal; it aims simply at evolution and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/evolution-does-not-make-happiness-its-goal-it-aims-simply-at/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Anything that's expanding the mind and heart is happiness. But it's not a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/anything-that-s-expanding-the-mind-and-heart-is-happiness-but-it-s/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Life is the reward of virtue. And happiness is the goal and reward of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/life-is-the-reward-of-virtue-and-happiness-is-the-goal-and-reward-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Og Mandino > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-love-the-light-for-it-shows-me-the-way-yet-i-will-endure-the/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Never settle for the crumbs of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-settle-for-the-crumbs-of-life/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [The smallest task, well done, becomes a miracle of achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/the-smallest-task-well-done-becomes-a-miracle-of-achievement/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Laugh at yourself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/laugh-at-yourself-for-man-is-most-comical-when-he-takes-himself-too/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/obstacles-are-necessary-for-success-because-in-selling-as-in-all/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I will persist. I will always take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-persist-i-will-always-take-another-step-if-that-is-of-no-avail/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Do the very best that you can, in the things you do best, and you will know in thy soul, that you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/do-the-very-best-that-you-can-in-the-things-you-do-best-and-you-will/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-am-indeed-a-fortunate-man-and-today-s-hours-are-but-a-bonus/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [The person who knows one thing and does it better than anyone else, even if it only be the art of raising lentils, receives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/the-person-who-knows-one-thing-and-does-it-better-than-anyone-else/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/always-do-your-best-what-you-plant-now-you-will-harvest-later/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I will live this day as if it is my last. …I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday’s misfortunes, Yesterday’s defeats, yesterday’s aches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-live-this-day-as-if-it-is-my-last-i-will-waste-not-a-moment/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [To do anything truly worth doing, I must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in with gusto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/to-do-anything-truly-worth-doing-i-must-not-stand-back-shivering-and/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [What is past is past. You can do nothing about yesterday and last month and the failures of last year, but you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/what-is-past-is-past-you-can-do-nothing-about-yesterday-and-last/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) [Explore all 256 Og Mandino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in having or in getting, only in giving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Og Mandino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it-is-not-a-goal-just-a-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it-is-not-a-goal-just-a-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/og-mandino-1262_giving_never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it_658466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in…” — Og Mandino", "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": "Og Mandino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never will I pursue happiness, because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it-is-not-a-goal-just-a-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/never-will-i-pursue-happiness-because-it-is-not-a-goal-just-a-by/#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 } } ] } ```