--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we could just figure out how to have…" description: "\"If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who seek after justice and mercy.\" — Robert Fulghum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png" --- # If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it… ![“If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who seek after justice and mercy.” quote by Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png) > “If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who seek after justice and mercy.” [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Making justice and mercy enjoyable could attract more participants. **In simple terms:** Fun can draw people to justice and mercy. Key Takeaway Find engaging ways to promote fairness and compassion. Themes justice mercy engagement Mood enthusiastic inspirational Type practical motivational When to use this quote - activism - education - volunteering - policy advocacy Key Concepts ethics community building Questions to Reflect On - What fun activities can teach justice? - How to balance seriousness with enjoyment? A Different Perspective Serious issues may resist trivialization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice and mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-and-mercy/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) ## Related quotes > [The living God is a God of justice and mercy and He will be satisfied with nothing less than a people in whom his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/the-living-god-is-a-god-of-justice-and-mercy-and-he-will-be-satisfied/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [Justice and mercy/ Are human dreams, they do not concern the birds nor the fish nor eternal God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/justice-and-mercy-are-human-dreams-they-do-not-concern-the-birds-nor/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Being a holy people included seeking justice. The Sabbath and Jubilee Year practices gave everyone equal rights, freedom, and second chances. Slaves would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-rikkers/being-a-holy-people-included-seeking-justice-the-sabbath-and-jubilee/) [Doris Rikkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-rikkers/) > [“Yet I returned to the central values of Christianity - sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness - because I found them so compelling. There is a tension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/yet-i-returned-to-the-central-values-of-christianity-sacrifice/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [By definition, the big difference between mercy and justice is that mercy is never ever obligatory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/by-definition-the-big-difference-between-mercy-and-justice-is-that/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [All human governments are intended by God to do justice and mercy - to look after, in particular, the needs of the poor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/all-human-governments-are-intended-by-god-to-do-justice-and-mercy-to/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [The point of justice and mercy anyway is not ‘they deserve it’ but ‘this is the way God’s world should be’, and we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/the-point-of-justice-and-mercy-anyway-is-not-they-deserve-it-but-this/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [“Suppose it should turn out that no such person as Christ ever lived. What harm would that do justice or mercy? Wouldn't the tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/suppose-it-should-turn-out-that-no-such-person-as-christ-ever-lived/) [Robert G. 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Not all people have developed an unshakable confidence to kick butt and conquer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/what-is-easy-for-one-person-may-be-terrifying-for-another-not-all/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [If any human being earnestly desire to push on to new discoveries instead of just retaining and using the old; to win victories over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/if-any-human-being-earnestly-desire-to-push-on-to-new-discoveries/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [History is littered with people who came up with great ideas and saw others profit from them. You need to make sure you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-reiman/history-is-littered-with-people-who-came-up-with-great-ideas-and-saw/) [Joey Reiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-reiman/) > [If you want to join the ranks of the people who changed the game, change yourself and the people around you as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe/if-you-want-to-join-the-ranks-of-the-people-who-changed-the-game/) Bebe > [I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-challenge-you-to-make-your-life-a-masterpiece-i-challenge-you-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## More by Robert Fulghum > [to understand our love they'd have to turn the world upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/to-understand-our-love-they-d-have-to-turn-the-world-upside-down/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/what-does-it-profit-a-man-if-he-gains-the-whole-world-and-loses-his/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Life is. I am. Anything might happen. And I believe I may invest my life with meaning. The uncertainty is a blessing in disguise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/life-is-i-am-anything-might-happen-and-i-believe-i-may-invest-my-life/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Weddings seem to be magnets for mishap and for whatever craziness lurks in family closets. In more ways than one, weddings bring out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/weddings-seem-to-be-magnets-for-mishap-and-for-whatever-craziness/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [I don't think there is a hidden purpose to the universe that you have to puzzle out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-hidden-purpose-to-the-universe-that-you-have/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [The name is not important anymore - it's the tone that counts. I feel like an old dog I know. He will come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/the-name-is-not-important-anymore-it-s-the-tone-that-counts-i-feel/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Nobody goes "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" when they sing it. Maybe because it puts the life adventure in such clear and simple terms. The small creature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/nobody-goes-aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhh-when-they-sing-it-maybe-because/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there at the sandpile at Sunday School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/wisdom-was-not-at-the-top-of-the-graduate-school-mountain-but-there/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You are free to give life meaning, whatever meaning you want to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-are-free-to-give-life-meaning-whatever-meaning-you-want-to-give-it/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Sometimes during the day, I consciously focus on some ordinary object and allow myself a momentary "paying-attention." This paying-attention gives meaning to my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sometimes-during-the-day-i-consciously-focus-on-some-ordinary-object/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten. Share everything ... Don't hit people ... Clean up your own mess ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/all-i-ever-needed-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten-share-everything/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [No. I was an only child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/no-i-was-an-only-child/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You feel like an ant contemplating Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-feel-like-an-ant-contemplating-chicago/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Life is. I am. Anything might happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/life-is-i-am-anything-might-happen/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) [Explore all 206 Robert Fulghum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who seek after justice and mercy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Fulghum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/robert-fulghum-1807_compassion_if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have_155214.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who…” — Robert Fulghum", "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": "Robert Fulghum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we could just figure out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/#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 } } ] } ```