--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You do the right thing even if it makes…" description: "\"You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.\" — Tracy Kidder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/tracy-kidder-8859_feels_you-do-the-right-thing-even-if-it-makes_2104621.jpg" --- # You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The… ![“You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.” quote by Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/tracy-kidder-8859_feels_you-do-the-right-thing-even-if-it-makes_2104621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/tracy-kidder-8859_feels_you-do-the-right-thing-even-if-it-makes_2104621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/tracy-kidder-8859_feels_you-do-the-right-thing-even-if-it-makes_2104621.jpg) > “You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.” [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that doing what is right may be uncomfortable, and true purpose lies in being worthy of happiness, not merely feeling it. **In simple terms:** Right actions can feel bad; purpose is worthiness, not happiness. Key Takeaway Pursue worthiness over fleeting happiness. Themes ethics purpose worthiness happiness Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - ethical decisions - career choices - personal growth Key Concepts moral philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does being worthy of happiness mean to you? - How do you balance duty with personal well‑being? A Different Perspective Might cause personal sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-life/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [“The sight of a being who is not adorned with a single feature of a pure and good will, enjoying unbroken prosperity, can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-sight-of-a-being-who-is-not-adorned-with-a-single-feature-of-a/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [If the entire world sought to make itself worthy of happiness rather than make itself happy, then the entire world would be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/if-the-entire-world-sought-to-make-itself-worthy-of-happiness-rather/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/morality-is-not-properly-the-doctrine-of-how-we-may-make-ourselves/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [God favors men and women who delight in being made worthy of happiness before the happiness itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/god-favors-men-and-women-who-delight-in-being-made-worthy-of/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“There are no happy endings, he knew, because nothing ends; and if there were any being dispensed, a great many worthier people would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/there-are-no-happy-endings-he-knew-because-nothing-ends-and-if-there/) [Peter S. 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