--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That kind of life is most happy which…" description: "\"That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png" --- # That kind of life is most happy which affords us most… ![“That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png) > “That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A life that provides many chances to build self‑esteem is the happiest. **In simple terms:** Opportunities to earn self‑esteem bring happiness. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that boost self‑esteem. Themes self‑esteem happiness opportunity Mood optimistic encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - education - volunteering Key Concepts personal growth confidence building Questions to Reflect On - What activities most increase your confidence? - How can you create more growth opportunities? A Different Perspective May ignore external factors influencing well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-respect/) ## Related quotes > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Entrepreneurs, by disposition, are built to think big. When a role no longer affords those opportunities, it might be best to leave it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/entrepreneurs-by-disposition-are-built-to-think-big-when-a-role-no/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Our self-respect tracks our choices. Every time we act in harmony with our authentic self and our heart, we earn our respect. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-coppersmith/our-self-respect-tracks-our-choices-every-time-we-act-in-harmony-with/) Don Coppersmith > [I am my own heaven and hell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-am-my-own-heaven-and-hell/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [“Real self-worth comes from mastery, from getting good at something. It doesn't matter what. Then you don't have to worry about empty compliments. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-borris/real-self-worth-comes-from-mastery-from-getting-good-at-something-it/) [Albert Borris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-borris/) > [Seriously, I do not think I am fit for the Presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/seriously-i-do-not-think-i-am-fit-for-the-presidency/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Dare to love yourself as if you were a rainbow with gold at both ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dare-to-love-yourself-as-if-you-were-a-rainbow-with-gold-at-both-ends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't feel like my money or my success defines me. I've always been very happy just bein' me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/i-don-t-feel-like-my-money-or-my-success-defines-me-i-ve-always-been/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-esteem is made up primarily of two things: feeling lovable and feeling capable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/self-esteem-is-made-up-primarily-of-two-things-feeling-lovable-and/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Believe in yourself and what you feel. Your power will come from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/believe-in-yourself-and-what-you-feel-your-power-will-come-from-that/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-highest-in-god-s-esteem-are-the-lowest-in-their-own/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [There is no magic cure, no making it all go away forever. There are only small steps upward; an easier day, an unexpected laugh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/there-is-no-magic-cure-no-making-it-all-go-away-forever-there-are/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [I have always regarded myself as the pillar of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-always-regarded-myself-as-the-pillar-of-my-life/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Esteem quotes > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [You never exist quite so much as when you are not thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-never-exist-quite-so-much-as-when-you-are-not-thinking/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) > [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/when-one-is-a-stranger-to-oneself-then-one-is-estranged-from-others/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Browse all 1,681 Esteem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Esteem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/samuel-johnson-50_esteem_that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-af_280691.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That kind of life is most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities-2/#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 } } ] } ```