"The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want"
About this Quote
The intent is to expose the bargain embedded in “selfless” acts. We like to imagine charity as pure virtue, but Butler points out the private incentives: relief, space, guilt reduction, the quiet thrill of being seen as good while also solving a minor personal problem. The subtext is less “people are hypocrites” than “virtue is often lubricated by convenience.” That’s why it lands. It doesn’t scold; it implicates you gently, because you’ve absolutely handed off an unwanted sweater and enjoyed the glow.
Contextually, it fits a modern economy of surplus where “giving” is frequently an off-ramp for excess. Think donation bins, holiday drives, corporate “clean-out” campaigns: the ritual of benevolence entwined with the maintenance of comfort. Butler’s joke also hints at a social asymmetry: the giver gets emotional satisfaction and practical benefit; the receiver gets whatever the giver couldn’t be bothered to keep. It’s a neat bit of cynicism that still leaves room for kindness, just not the kind that insists on its own purity.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Butler, Frank. (2026, January 16). The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-joy-of-giving-is-indeed-a-pleasure-especially-124817/
Chicago Style
Butler, Frank. "The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-joy-of-giving-is-indeed-a-pleasure-especially-124817/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-joy-of-giving-is-indeed-a-pleasure-especially-124817/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.












