--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that if, at the end of it all…" description: "\"“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make our..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/roger-ebert-655_happiness_i-believe-that-if-at-the-end-of-it-all-a_387648.jpg" --- # I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our… ![“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime…” quote by Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/roger-ebert-655_happiness_i-believe-that-if-at-the-end-of-it-all-a_387648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/roger-ebert-655_happiness_i-believe-that-if-at-the-end-of-it-all-a_387648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/roger-ebert-655_happiness_i-believe-that-if-at-the-end-of-it-all-a_387648.jpg) > ““I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try.”” [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that contributing joy to others and oneself is the highest moral aim, and causing unhappiness is a moral failing. **In simple terms:** Make others and yourself happier; avoid causing unhappiness. Key Takeaway Focus on spreading joy. Themes ethics happiness purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - customer service - teaching - family interactions - creative projects Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology of well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you bring small joy in daily interactions? - What prevents you from prioritizing happiness? A Different Perspective It may be unrealistic to always bring joy, especially during personal crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier/) [Happier Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier-best-1207005/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-crime-608095/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy to the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-to-the-world/) [Make happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-happy/) [Unhappy Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-crime-608094/) ## Related quotes > [To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. 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To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/to-make-others-less-happy-is-a-crime-to-make-ourselves-unhappy-is-3/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-believe-that-if-at-the-end-according-to-our-abilities-we-have-done/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [We must try to contribute joy to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/we-must-try-to-contribute-joy-to-the-world/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [We must try to contribute joy to the world. I didn't always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/we-must-try-to-contribute-joy-to-the-world-i-didn-t-always-know-this/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/we-must-try-to-contribute-joy-to-the-world-that-is-true-no-matter/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Women make me happy. 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Keep your nose to the joy trail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-sainte-marie/you-have-to-sniff-out-joy-keep-your-nose-to-the-joy-trail/) [Buffy Sainte-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-sainte-marie/) > [Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/happiness-lies-not-in-the-mere-possession-of-money-it-lies-in-the-joy-2/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sullivan/if-you-do-a-good-job-for-others-you-heal-yourself-at-the-same-time-2/) [Ed Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sullivan/) > [Joy is a sustained sense of well-being and internal peace - a connection to what matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/joy-is-a-sustained-sense-of-well-being-and-internal-peace-a/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More by Roger Ebert > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. 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It is about how it is about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-is-not-about-what-it-is-about-it-is-about-how-it-is-about-it/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [James Cameron's films have always been distinguished by ground-breaking technical excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/james-cameron-s-films-have-always-been-distinguished-by-ground/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Friends don't let Jackasses drink and drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/friends-don-t-let-jackasses-drink-and-drive/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I think we have to get beyond the idea that we have to categorize people. We can now have action movies with two stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-think-we-have-to-get-beyond-the-idea-that-we-have-to-categorize/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) [Explore all 427 Roger Ebert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## More Happier quotes > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Smile and show him that life is still going on and is happier without him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika/smile-and-show-him-that-life-is-still-going-on-and-is-happier-without/) [Bhumika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika/) > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. 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I’ve never seen him happier than he is now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiane-serruya/sophia-you-re-the-best-thing-that-could-have-happened-to-alistair-i/) [Cristiane Serruya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiane-serruya/) > [Low-cost gear can make restless people like myself feel marginally happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/low-cost-gear-can-make-restless-people-like-myself-feel-marginally/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) > [I'm certainly much happier when I feel that the work is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-diane-raphael/i-m-certainly-much-happier-when-i-feel-that-the-work-is-good/) [June Diane Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-diane-raphael/) > [We feel much happier and more secure when we think we know precisely what to do, no matter what happens, then when we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kingdon-clifford/we-feel-much-happier-and-more-secure-when-we-think-we-know-precisely/) [William Kingdon Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kingdon-clifford/) [Browse all 940 Happier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. 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