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About this quote

What does it mean?
Aim to serve the world by increasing happiness and virtue for all people.
In plain terms
Strive to help the world by making people happier and better.
What can you take from it?
Choose to help others and increase happiness.

Where it applies

  • career choices
  • charity
  • daily actions

Putting it to work

  • helping others
  • charitable work
  • ethical living

Questions to consider

  • What service can you offer?
  • How do you define good work?

Another view

Individual efforts may seem small compared to global problems.

More from Henry van Dyke

  1. Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time…

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  2. Use what talent you possess - the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.

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  3. There is only one way to get ready for immortality, and that is to love this life and live it as bravely and faithfully and cheerfully as we can.

    Permalink to quote #49

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