--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll give you an exact definition. When…" description: "\"I'll give you an exact definition. When the happiness of another person becomes as essential to yourself as your own, then the state of love exists.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/robert-a-heinlein-209_definitions_i-ll-give-you-an-exact-definition-when-t_423460.jpg" --- # I'll give you an exact definition. When the happiness of… ![“I'll give you an exact definition. When the happiness of another person becomes as essential to yourself as your own, then the state of love exists.” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/robert-a-heinlein-209_definitions_i-ll-give-you-an-exact-definition-when-t_423460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/robert-a-heinlein-209_definitions_i-ll-give-you-an-exact-definition-when-t_423460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/robert-a-heinlein-209_definitions_i-ll-give-you-an-exact-definition-when-t_423460.jpg) > “I'll give you an exact definition. When the happiness of another person becomes as essential to yourself as your own, then the state of love exists.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love exists when another’s happiness becomes as vital to you as your own. **In simple terms:** Love is shared essential happiness. Key Takeaway Prioritize others’ well‑being equally. Themes love selflessness interdependence Mood compassionate inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - community service - parenting Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain self‑care while caring for others? - What signs indicate healthy mutual happiness? A Different Perspective Love can become codependent if boundaries are ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [When the satisfaction or security of another person becomes as important to one as one's own, then a state of love exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-stack-sullivan/when-the-satisfaction-or-security-of-another-person-becomes-as/) [Harry Stack Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-stack-sullivan/) > [When the satisfaction or the security of another person becomes as significant to one as one's own satisfaction or security, then the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-stack-sullivan/when-the-satisfaction-or-the-security-of-another-person-becomes-as/) [Harry Stack Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-stack-sullivan/) > [In assuming any office besides its essential one, the State begins to lose the power of fulfilling its essential one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/in-assuming-any-office-besides-its-essential-one-the-state-begins-to/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [You are not merely the physical body that you identify with out of habit. Your essential state is a field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/you-are-not-merely-the-physical-body-that-you-identify-with-out-of/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-ancient-greek-definition-of-happiness-was-the-full-use-of-your/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“We kept each other's stare a long time, for we had each done a startling thing, dodged time for an instant - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/we-kept-each-other-s-stare-a-long-time-for-we-had-each-done-a/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [“We have come to see money as the key to pleasure, and pleasure as the key to happiness. This definition of happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/we-have-come-to-see-money-as-the-key-to-pleasure-and-pleasure-as-the/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [But this cheap-thrill version, this sort of ease definition, the feel-good definition of happiness is an empty promise. Unless we get wiser as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/but-this-cheap-thrill-version-this-sort-of-ease-definition-the-feel/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [The definition of happiness being very emotion-oriented - the problem is that there's too many quick and dirty ways to chase that in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/the-definition-of-happiness-being-very-emotion-oriented-the-problem/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [“Hence," goes on the professor, "definitions of happiness are interesting." I suppose the best thing to do with that is to let is pass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/hence-goes-on-the-professor-definitions-of-happiness-are-interesting/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness: Complete use of one's faculties along lines leading to excellence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/you-have-to-be-doing-something-you-enjoy-that-is-a-definition-of-2/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [Your a definition of happiness to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghassan-el-labadi/your-a-definition-of-happiness-to-me/) [Ghassan El-labadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghassan-el-labadi/) > [You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/you-have-to-be-doing-something-you-enjoy-that-is-a-definition-of/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [I heard a definition once: Happiness is health and a short memory! I wish I'd invented it, because it is very true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-heard-a-definition-once-happiness-is-health-and-a-short-memory-i/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [This is the definition of happiness: a whole day stretching out ahead of me, beautiful in its emptiness and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/this-is-the-definition-of-happiness-a-whole-day-stretching-out-ahead/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) ## More by Robert A. Heinlein > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“I tried to dig out of the computer a call directory for Luna. But it was still sulking. I could not get it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-tried-to-dig-out-of-the-computer-a-call-directory-for-luna-but-it/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“In Wilson's scale of evaluations breakfast rated just after life itself and ahead of the chance of immortality." ~ By His Bootstraps / Robert A. Heinlein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-wilson-s-scale-of-evaluations-breakfast-rated-just-after-life/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ignorance-is-curable-stupid-is-forever/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Explore all 888 Robert A. Heinlein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. 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