--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man's abiding happiness is not in getting…" description: "\"Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself, to ideas which are larger than his individ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png" --- # Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in… ![“Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself, to ideas which are larger than his individual life, the idea of his country, of humanity, of God.” quote by Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png) > “Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself, to ideas which are larger than his individual life, the idea of his country, of humanity, of God.” [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from surrendering personal desire to larger ideals like nation, humanity, or the divine. **In simple terms:** Happiness is found in serving something greater. Key Takeaway Serve a cause beyond yourself. Themes selflessness purpose spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - public service - activism - community building Key Concepts Altruism collective identity transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What larger purpose inspires you? - How do you balance self-care with service? A Different Perspective Neglecting personal needs can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/) [Abiding Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding-happiness-1442564/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-god-627123/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man Abiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-abiding-2963002/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Abiding in Jesus isn't fixing our attention on Christ, but it is being one with Him... A man is abiding just as much when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/abiding-in-jesus-isn-t-fixing-our-attention-on-christ-but-it-is-being/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Abiding happiness is not simply a possibility, but a duty all may live above the troubles of life worry is a poison and happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newell-dwight-hillis/abiding-happiness-is-not-simply-a-possibility-but-a-duty-all-may-live/) [Newell Dwight Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newell-dwight-hillis/) > [There is no truer and more abiding happiness than the knowledge that one is free to go on doing, day by day, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-g-collingwood/there-is-no-truer-and-more-abiding-happiness-than-the-knowledge-that/) [Robin G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-g-collingwood/) > [Abiding happiness is not simply a possibility, but a duty; that all may live above the troubles of life; that worry is a poison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newell-dwight-hillis/abiding-happiness-is-not-simply-a-possibility-but-a-duty-that-all-may/) [Newell Dwight Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newell-dwight-hillis/) > [“The danger facing all of us--let me say it again, for one feels it tremendously--is not that we shall make an absolute failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-danger-facing-all-of-us-let-me-say-it-again-for-one-feels-it/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The meaning of the living words that come out of the experiences of great hearts can never be exhausted by any one system of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-meaning-of-the-living-words-that-come-out-of-the-experiences-of/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Only those of tranquil minds, and none else, can attain abiding joy, by realizing within their souls the Being who manifests one essence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/only-those-of-tranquil-minds-and-none-else-can-attain-abiding-joy-by/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop, while it laughs it dies. But sorrow is strong and abiding. Let sorrowful love wake in your eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/pleasure-is-frail-like-a-dewdrop-while-it-laughs-it-dies-but-sorrow/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Through humility, soul-searching, and prayerful contemplation we have gained a new understanding of certain dogmas. The church no longer believes in a literal hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/through-humility-soul-searching-and-prayerful-contemplation-we-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For Zen, man is the goal; man is the end unto himself. God is not something above humanity, God is something hidden within humanity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/for-zen-man-is-the-goal-man-is-the-end-unto-himself-god-is-not/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The creation of the world is not only a process which moves from God to humanity. God demands newness from humanity; God awaits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/the-creation-of-the-world-is-not-only-a-process-which-moves-from-god/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [Religion is the everlasting dialogue between humanity and God. Art is its soliloquy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-werfel/religion-is-the-everlasting-dialogue-between-humanity-and-god-art-is/) [Franz Werfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-werfel/) > [“If humanity can describe God in one word: LOVE♥ Then how can the world continue to hurt and destroy each other then believe they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/if-humanity-can-describe-god-in-one-word-love-then-how-can-the-world/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“I see in Jesus not only the supreme act of humility in God, but the supreme act of humanity in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-porcher-dubose/i-see-in-jesus-not-only-the-supreme-act-of-humility-in-god-but-the/) [William Porcher Dubose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-porcher-dubose/) > [The greatest thing anyone can give humanity is God consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/the-greatest-thing-anyone-can-give-humanity-is-god-consciousness/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) ## More by Rabindranath Tagore > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Set the bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in thesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/set-the-bird-s-wings-with-gold-and-it-will-never-again-soar-in-thesky/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The meaning of this is, that whomsoever we love, in him we find our own soul in the highest sense. The final truth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-meaning-of-this-is-that-whomsoever-we-love-in-him-we-find-our-own/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/if-you-shed-tears-when-you-miss-the-sun-you-also-miss-the-stars/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The best kind of wealth is to give up inordinate desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-best-kind-of-wealth-is-to-give-up-inordinate-desires/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Now it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/now-it-is-time-to-sit-quiet-face-to-face-with-thee-and-to-sing/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [If it is necessary to die in order to live like men, what harm in dying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/if-it-is-necessary-to-die-in-order-to-live-like-men-what-harm-in-dying/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Strong Mercy: My desires are many and my cry is pitiful, but ever didst thou save me by hard refusals; and this strong mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/strong-mercy-my-desires-are-many-and-my-cry-is-pitiful-but-ever-didst/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The weak can be terrible because they try furiously to appear strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-weak-can-be-terrible-because-they-try-furiously-to-appear-strong/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The movement of life has to rest in its own music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-movement-of-life-has-to-rest-in-its-own-music/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [It is the docile who achieve the most impossible things in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/it-is-the-docile-who-achieve-the-most-impossible-things-in-this-world/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“There, display and extravagance, in dress, in furniture, in costly entertainments, are startling. They seem to push you back into a corner, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/there-display-and-extravagance-in-dress-in-furniture-in-costly/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) [Explore all 596 Rabindranath Tagore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## More Abiding quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? We lose consciousness, lose control, things happen with no apparent logic and abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/why-is-it-my-shadow-striding-friend-that-we-don-t-fear-dreams-we-lose/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I think that there is just a deep and abiding sexism that's part of your life from the moment that you're conscious as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/i-think-that-there-is-just-a-deep-and-abiding-sexism-that-s-part-of/) [Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/) > [Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-baeck/faith-is-the-capacity-of-the-soul-to-perceive-the-abiding-the/) [Leo Baeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-baeck/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-aims-of-these-three-groups-are-entirely-irreconcilable-the-aim-of/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [After more than two decades of trying to destroy the firearms rights of more than 80 million law-abiding American gun owners - and statistically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gottlieb/after-more-than-two-decades-of-trying-to-destroy-the-firearms-rights/) [Alan Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gottlieb/) > [When you defile the pleasant streams, And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams, And cast your spittle in God's face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-drinkwater/when-you-defile-the-pleasant-streams-and-the-wild-bird-s-abiding/) [John Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-drinkwater/) > [How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/how-can-we-hope-to-retain-our-freedom-through-the-generations-if-we/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [Love and friendship, two of life's abiding rewards, are endangered species in Hollywood. People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I sometimes forget that life is fragile. The fact that I have more time to dream my dreams and take my ease is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/i-sometimes-forget-that-life-is-fragile-the-fact-that-i-have-more/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) [Browse all 387 Abiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself, to ideas which are larger than his individual life, the idea of his country, of humanity, of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rabindranath Tagore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-getting-anything-but-in-giving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abiding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-getting-anything-but-in-giving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/rabindranath-tagore-383_abiding_man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-gettin_1922903.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man's abiding happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself…” — Rabindranath Tagore", "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": "Rabindranath Tagore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man's abiding happiness is not in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-getting-anything-but-in-giving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/man-s-abiding-happiness-is-not-in-getting-anything-but-in-giving/#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 } } ] } ```