--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That you may please others you must be…" description: "\"That you may please others you must be forgetful of yourself.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png" --- # That you may please others you must be forgetful of… ![“That you may please others you must be forgetful of yourself.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png) > “That you may please others you must be forgetful of yourself.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To please others, one must forget oneself, suggesting self‑sacrifice for social approval. **In simple terms:** Forget yourself to please others. Key Takeaway Balance self‑care with caring for others. Themes self‑sacrifice social harmony identity Mood reflective thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - leadership - teamwork - personal boundaries Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology of conformity Questions to Reflect On - When is self‑neglect acceptable? - How can you serve others without losing yourself? A Different Perspective Self‑neglect can harm well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgetful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetful/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) ## Related quotes > [Towers in a modern town are a frill and a survival; they seem like the raised hands of the various churches, afraid of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/towers-in-a-modern-town-are-a-frill-and-a-survival-they-seem-like-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The human being is not a fallen being in need of redemption but rather a forgetful being who must be reminded of God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-b-lumbard/the-human-being-is-not-a-fallen-being-in-need-of-redemption-but/) [Joseph E. B. Lumbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-b-lumbard/) > [I valued the experience of making the recordings, and I value the performances contained therein, and I value so much of what they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/i-valued-the-experience-of-making-the-recordings-and-i-value-the/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [What passes for love is imperfect knowledge. Not knowing, initially, allows faithlessness to dress up as its opposite; casts the inarticulate as enigmatic, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/what-passes-for-love-is-imperfect-knowledge-not-knowing-initially/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [Genius in poverty is never feared, because nature, though liberal in her gifts in one instance, is forgetful in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/genius-in-poverty-is-never-feared-because-nature-though-liberal-in/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [Nowadays games immediately appear on the Internet and thus the life of novelties is measured in hours. Modern professionals do not have the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/nowadays-games-immediately-appear-on-the-internet-and-thus-the-life/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“What forgetful moron frantically looks for car keys that are in his pocket? Me, that’s who.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-forgetful-moron-frantically-looks-for-car-keys-that-are-in-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Bah, Alzheimer’s. Grandma wouldn’t be so forgetful if she didn’t always have dick on her mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/bah-alzheimer-s-grandma-wouldn-t-be-so-forgetful-if-she-didn-t-always/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget--lest we forget!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/lord-god-of-hosts-be-with-us-yet-lest-we-forget-lest-we-forget/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in work. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/there-is-a-perennial-nobleness-and-even-sacredness-in-work-were-he/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“When my children complain that I'm forgetful, I remind them that DAD is just ADD spelled sideways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-stanbrough/when-my-children-complain-that-i-m-forgetful-i-remind-them-that-dad/) [Harvey Stanbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-stanbrough/) > [Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-l-staheli/daily-fervent-prayers-seeking-forgiveness-and-special-help-and/) [Donald L. Staheli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-l-staheli/) > [“You can't not help people just because they're stupid or forgetful or unpleasant... If I don't help them, who will?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-not-help-people-just-because-they-re-stupid-or-forgetful-or/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Meek young men grow up in libraries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/meek-young-men-grow-up-in-libraries/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Forgetful quotes > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“You can't not help people just because they're stupid or forgetful or unpleasant... If I don't help them, who will?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-not-help-people-just-because-they-re-stupid-or-forgetful-or/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Towers in a modern town are a frill and a survival; they seem like the raised hands of the various churches, afraid of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/towers-in-a-modern-town-are-a-frill-and-a-survival-they-seem-like-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-l-staheli/daily-fervent-prayers-seeking-forgiveness-and-special-help-and/) [Donald L. Staheli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-l-staheli/) > [“When my children complain that I'm forgetful, I remind them that DAD is just ADD spelled sideways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-stanbrough/when-my-children-complain-that-i-m-forgetful-i-remind-them-that-dad/) [Harvey Stanbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-stanbrough/) > [There is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in work. Were he never so benighted, forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/there-is-a-perennial-nobleness-and-even-sacredness-in-work-were-he/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget--lest we forget!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/lord-god-of-hosts-be-with-us-yet-lest-we-forget-lest-we-forget/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Bah, Alzheimer’s. Grandma wouldn’t be so forgetful if she didn’t always have dick on her mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/bah-alzheimer-s-grandma-wouldn-t-be-so-forgetful-if-she-didn-t-always/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“What forgetful moron frantically looks for car keys that are in his pocket? Me, that’s who.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-forgetful-moron-frantically-looks-for-car-keys-that-are-in-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nowadays games immediately appear on the Internet and thus the life of novelties is measured in hours. Modern professionals do not have the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/nowadays-games-immediately-appear-on-the-internet-and-thus-the-life/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Genius in poverty is never feared, because nature, though liberal in her gifts in one instance, is forgetful in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/genius-in-poverty-is-never-feared-because-nature-though-liberal-in/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [What passes for love is imperfect knowledge. Not knowing, initially, allows faithlessness to dress up as its opposite; casts the inarticulate as enigmatic, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/what-passes-for-love-is-imperfect-knowledge-not-knowing-initially/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [I valued the experience of making the recordings, and I value the performances contained therein, and I value so much of what they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/i-valued-the-experience-of-making-the-recordings-and-i-value-the/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [The human being is not a fallen being in need of redemption but rather a forgetful being who must be reminded of God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-b-lumbard/the-human-being-is-not-a-fallen-being-in-need-of-redemption-but/) [Joseph E. B. Lumbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-e-b-lumbard/) > [Meek young men grow up in libraries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/meek-young-men-grow-up-in-libraries/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 98 Forgetful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That you may please others you must be forgetful of yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-forgetful-of-yourself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgetful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-forgetful-of-yourself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/ovid-276_forgetful_that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-f_2945012.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That you may please others you must be forgetful of yourself.” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That you may please others you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-forgetful-of-yourself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/that-you-may-please-others-you-must-be-forgetful-of-yourself/#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 } } ] } ```