--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For success, like happiness, cannot be…" description: "\"“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cau..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/viktor-e-frankl-668_happiness_for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pur_1451277.jpg" --- # For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must… ![“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/viktor-e-frankl-668_happiness_for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pur_1451277.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/viktor-e-frankl-668_happiness_for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pur_1451277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/viktor-e-frankl-668_happiness_for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pur_1451277.jpg) > ““For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.”” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment arises not from chasing outcomes but from committing to a purpose beyond self‑interest, allowing success and happiness to follow naturally. **In simple terms:** Purpose leads to success and happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on a cause larger than yourself. Themes purpose meaning self‑transcendence success happiness Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - career choice - creative projects - leadership - personal development Key Concepts Existential psychology logotherapy intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What cause inspires you beyond personal gain? - How can you align daily actions with that larger purpose? A Different Perspective If the cause is misguided, dedication may cause harm or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue-and-it-3/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's person dedication to a cause greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue-and-it-only-does-so-as-the/) Pacifiersucker > [“...success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue...as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a course greater than oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue-as-the/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“Messages “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/messages-for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Success, like happiness, is the unexpected side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/success-like-happiness-is-the-unexpected-side-effect-of-one-s/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Don’t aim at success—the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the-6/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Don’t aim at success—the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the-5/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-success-like-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue-and-it-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the-3/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Don't aim at success---the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/don-t-aim-at-success-the-more-you-aim-at-it-and-make-it-a-target-the-7/) [viktor frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Happiness cannot be attained by wanting to be happy - it must come as the unintended consequence of working for a goal greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/happiness-cannot-be-attained-by-wanting-to-be-happy-it-must-come-as/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [To the European, it is a characteristic of the American culture that, again and again, one is commanded and ordered to 'be happy.' But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/to-the-european-it-is-a-characteristic-of-the-american-culture-that-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. 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Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. 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But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. 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