“The noblest art is that of making others happy”

—  P.T. Barnum

The quote "The noblest art is that of making others happy" is famous quote attributed to P.T. Barnum (1810–1891), American showman and businessman.

Last update Aug. 1, 2025. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

P.T. Barnum photo
P.T. Barnum 17
American showman and businessman 1810–1891
P.T. Barnum quote: “The noblest art is that of making others happy”

Related quotes

Joyce Carol Oates photo

“The ideal art, the noblest of art: working with the complexities of life, refusing to simplify, to "overcome" doubt.”

Joyce Carol Oates (1938) American author

Source: The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982

Gretchen Rubin photo

“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.”

Gretchen Rubin (1966) American writer

Source: The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

Simone Weil photo

“Art is the symbol of the two noblest human efforts: to construct and to refrain from destruction.”

Simone Weil (1909–1943) French philosopher, Christian mystic, and social activist

The Pre-War Notebook (1933-1939), published in First and Last Notebooks (1970) edited by Richard Rees

Evelyn Waugh photo

“Art is the symbol of the two noblest human efforts: to construct and to refrain from destruction.”

Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966) British writer

Simone Weil, The Pre-War Notebook (1933-1939), published in First and Last Notebooks (1970) edited by Richard Rees
Misattributed

Anne Frank photo

“Whoever is happy will make others happy.”

Anne Frank (1929–1945) victim of the Holocaust and author of a diary

Source: The Diary of a Young Girl

Kakuzo Okakura photo

“Tea is a work of art and needs a master hand to bring out its noblest qualities.”

Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea (1906), Ch. II.

Mark Twain photo

“Whoever is happy will make others happy too.”

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American author and humorist
Saul Bellow photo
Epictetus photo

“Choose the life that is noblest, for custom can make it sweet to thee.”

Epictetus (50–138) philosopher from Ancient Greece

Fragment xx.
Golden Sayings of Epictetus, Fragments

Isocrates photo

Related topics