“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else.”

yes, yes, yes

By giving someone freedom they don't appreciate it. Iraqis will never know freedom until they boot the US out of their country.

Tsk, tsk, magnanimity incarnate.

Real good 'realization' that our lack of happiness-freedom and peace of mind is precisely due to our 'preoccupation' with others' - either for denying or doling !!!!!

Freedom can only be shared with others of a like mind. Correspondingly, all interested parties need to jealously guard their "rights" to freedom, for themselves and for each other.

I don't know about the "crave most" but, I like the sentiment. Joe, in the vernacular of the statement, the giving does not necessarily intend an understanding of receiving. If I give a 'smile', provide some 'loving gesture' or perform some 'charitable act', there is no expectation of harmonization with an intended third party but, it is probably going to make me feel good. More often than not, one emits that which they are. If you are happy, free or have peace of mind, that is what will be naturally transmitted to others.

mythical??

I agree with" Mike, Norwalk: If you are happy, free or have peace.... that (is what) will be naturally transmitted to others". And while one cannot "make" another happy, I do believe one can CONTRIBUTE to another's happiness. Ergo if one is happy, free & at peace, those are DEFINITELY things to share! Kathryn of beautiful Arizona.

The law is not mythical — 'as you sow, so shall you reap' is eternal and self-evident.