--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Successful is the person who has lived…" description: "\"Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg" --- # Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often… ![“Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth's beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg) > “Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth's beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defines success as living well, laughing, loving, earning respect, improving the world, appreciating nature, and seeking the best in others. **In simple terms:** Success is living well, loving, and improving the world. Key Takeaway Pursue holistic well‑being and generosity. Themes success well‑being generosity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal development - community service - environmental stewardship Key Concepts humanism ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal success? - What actions foster respect? A Different Perspective Ideal may be hard to achieve fully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-person/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I have great respect for children. And I have great respect for their ability as writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-have-great-respect-for-children-and-i-have-great-respect-for-their/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [Western parents try to respect their children’s individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/western-parents-try-to-respect-their-children-s-individuality/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [Our children ... are not treated with sufficient respect as human beings, and yet from the moment they are born they have this right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/our-children-are-not-treated-with-sufficient-respect-as-human-beings/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Children who are respected learn respect. Children who are cared for learn to care for those weaker than themselves. Children who are loved for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/children-who-are-respected-learn-respect-children-who-are-cared-for/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [There can be no global security without respect for children. We have to be more than just observers of children's suffering, we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-pearson/there-can-be-no-global-security-without-respect-for-children-we-have/) Landon Pearson > [We respect that children are smart, sophisticated and can handle things that adults typically don't think they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-knight/we-respect-that-children-are-smart-sophisticated-and-can-handle/) [Travis Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-knight/) > [Respect children because they're human beings and they deserve respect, and they'll grow up to be better people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/respect-children-because-they-re-human-beings-and-they-deserve/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [I don't care about the respect of the press or the public or anybody. Whose respect every day I'm trying to garner is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-trudeau/i-don-t-care-about-the-respect-of-the-press-or-the-public-or-anybody/) [Margaret Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-trudeau/) > [In the home the child should honour his father and mother and the parents should respect the children.The parents' duty is to teach the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiristianity/in-the-home-the-child-should-honour-his-father-and-mother-and-the/) Chiristianity > [What I do as best I can is out of a deep respect for children, for how difficult their world is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/what-i-do-as-best-i-can-is-out-of-a-deep-respect-for-children-for-how/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Good parents, who are able to maintain the affection and respect of their children and whose offspring admire them and value their good opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/good-parents-who-are-able-to-maintain-the-affection-and-respect-of/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The best security for old age: respect your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholem-asch/the-best-security-for-old-age-respect-your-children/) [Sholem Asch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholem-asch/) > [You must learn to look at people who are angry with you straight in the eye without getting angry back. When children see their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-masters/you-must-learn-to-look-at-people-who-are-angry-with-you-straight-in/) [Roy Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-masters/) > [I have a deep love and respect for children and I cannot imagine photographic life without them playing a major part. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-geddes/i-have-a-deep-love-and-respect-for-children-and-i-cannot-imagine/) [Anne Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-geddes/) > [Parents have too little respect for their children, just as the children have too much for the parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/parents-have-too-little-respect-for-their-children-just-as-the/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Appreciation quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/appreciation-is-the-purest-vibration-that-exists-on-the-planet-today/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“My thank-yous always come out rather labored. I often don't give them at all. People do what they're supposed to do and then wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-thank-yous-always-come-out-rather-labored-i-often-don-t-give-them/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“Like gratitude, authentic appreciation in the workplace is a realisation that can be nurtured and accessed with daily mindful practice. By and large, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/like-gratitude-authentic-appreciation-in-the-workplace-is-a/) [Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/) Cesar Nikko Caharian III > [Men, when it comes to women, value diamonds and put no stock into copper. Diamonds are rare. You can find copper anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/men-when-it-comes-to-women-value-diamonds-and-put-no-stock-into/) Enhance Dreams > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Browse all 2,528 Appreciation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth's beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-well-laughed-often-and-loved/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appreciation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-well-laughed-often-and-loved/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96c/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_appreciation_successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-w_1806144.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Successful is the person who has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-well-laughed-often-and-loved/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/successful-is-the-person-who-has-lived-well-laughed-often-and-loved/#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 } } ] } ```