--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is entirely wrong to think that we…" description: "\"It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can do, good to the world, or to think that we have helped such and such people. It is a foolish th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/swami-vivekananda-53_be-grateful_it-is-entirely-wrong-to-think-that-we-ha_866191.jpg" --- # It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can… ![“It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can do, good to the world, or to think that we have helped such and such people. It is a foolish thought, and all foolish thoughts bring misery. We think that we have helped some man and expect him to thank us, and because he does not…” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/swami-vivekananda-53_be-grateful_it-is-entirely-wrong-to-think-that-we-ha_866191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/swami-vivekananda-53_be-grateful_it-is-entirely-wrong-to-think-that-we-ha_866191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/swami-vivekananda-53_be-grateful_it-is-entirely-wrong-to-think-that-we-ha_866191.jpg) > “It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can do, good to the world, or to think that we have helped such and such people. It is a foolish thought, and all foolish thoughts bring misery. We think that we have helped some man and expect him to thank us, and because he does not, unhappiness comes to us. Why should we expect anything in return for what we do? Be grateful to the man you help, think of him as God. Is it not a great privilege to be allowed to worship God by helping our fellow men?” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## 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 warns against seeking personal gratification from altruism, urging selfless service and seeing others as divine, which leads to true fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Help others without expecting thanks; see them as divine. Key Takeaway Serve selflessly, see service as worship. Themes selflessness service spirituality Mood humble reflective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - volunteering - charity work - community support - personal growth Key Concepts karma ego gratitude Questions to Reflect On - Do you help for praise or love? - How can seeing others as divine change your actions? A Different Perspective Expecting gratitude can breed disappointment and ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Thank u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-u/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [Be Grateful to the Man you help, think of Him as God. Is it not a great privilege to be allowed to worship God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-grateful-to-the-man-you-help-think-of-him-as-god-is-it-not-a-great/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“how foolish I was ever to have thought that professors were intellectual giants. They’re people—and afraid the rest of the world will find out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/how-foolish-i-was-ever-to-have-thought-that-professors-were/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [“Something about the way his dark-blond hair curled around his ears made her want to touch it. Foolish thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/something-about-the-way-his-dark-blond-hair-curled-around-his-ears/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [The average man's opinions are much less foolish than they would be if he thought for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-average-man-s-opinions-are-much-less-foolish-than-they-would-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [These are people from everywhere, from Lawrence Livermore and JPL and Sandia National Labs, the FBI, all over the place, real scientists who see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/these-are-people-from-everywhere-from-lawrence-livermore-and-jpl-and/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [We create the government that screws you, and then you're supposed to thank us for protecting you from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-weber/we-create-the-government-that-screws-you-and-then-you-re-supposed-to/) Vin Weber > [Besides, our action on each other, good as well as evil, is so incidental and at random, that we can seldom hear the acknowledgments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/besides-our-action-on-each-other-good-as-well-as-evil-is-so/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence - neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/since-time-is-the-one-immaterial-object-which-we-cannot-influence-2/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Hey its ray ray from mindless behavior thank u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-ray/hey-its-ray-ray-from-mindless-behavior-thank-u/) Ray Ray > [The world may not applaud us for wiping running noses, driving in carpools, or talking with our teenager into the wee hours of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mahaney/the-world-may-not-applaud-us-for-wiping-running-noses-driving-in/) [Carolyn Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mahaney/) > [Normal people bring children into the world; we novelists bring books. We are condemned to put our whole lives into them, even though they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/normal-people-bring-children-into-the-world-we-novelists-bring-books/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Thank you to my family, my fans and fans of other teams for their support. The NFL is a fraternity of brothers and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-peterson/thank-you-to-my-family-my-fans-and-fans-of-other-teams-for-their/) [Adrian Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-peterson/) > [When someone comes along who genuinely thanks us, we will follow that person a very long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-loy-mcginnis/when-someone-comes-along-who-genuinely-thanks-us-we-will-follow-that/) [Alan Loy McGinnis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-loy-mcginnis/) > [For a small investment today we could be creating something that our grandchildren will thank us for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-smit/for-a-small-investment-today-we-could-be-creating-something-that-our/) Tim Smit > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Be grateful quotes > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another for there will always be others whose lives on the face of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/enjoy-your-own-life-without-comparing-it-with-that-of-another-for/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Speak what I have to be grateful for when I get up and when I lie down to sleep. Meditation and prayer. I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-taylor/speak-what-i-have-to-be-grateful-for-when-i-get-up-and-when-i-lie/) [Regina Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-taylor/) > [Be grateful for the love you have to share-share it, and it will return to you ten times over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/be-grateful-for-the-love-you-have-to-share-share-it-and-it-will/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Kids aint supposed to be grateful! They're supposed to eat your food, break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/kids-aint-supposed-to-be-grateful-they-re-supposed-to-eat-your-food/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) Browse all 602 Be grateful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can do, good to the world, or to think that we have helped such and such people. It is a foolish thought, and all foolish thoughts bring misery. We think that we have helped some man and expect him to thank us, and because he does not, unhappiness comes to us. 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