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Quotes about happiness

248 quotes from 159 people

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Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us.
Benjamin Franklin1706–1790“On True Happiness”, Pennsylvania Gazette (20 November 1735).
- Motivation & Goals
Human Felicity is produc’d not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day.
Benjamin Franklin1706–1790The Autobiography (1818), Part III, p. 108
One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be “happy” is not included in the plan of “Creation.”
Sigmund Freud1856–1939Civilization and Its Discontents (1929), Ch. 2, as translated by James Strachey, p.53
Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.
Robert Frost1874–1963A Witness Tree (1942), Title of poem
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
Robert Frost1874–1963Birches (1915)In context
- Nature
The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.
Neil Gaimanborn 1960“Gunpowder treason and plot” Blog entry (5 Nov 2004)
- Art
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Kahlil Gibran1883–1931The Prophet (1923), On Joy and SorrowIn context
- Emotion
The only way to maintain a moderate sum of happiness in this life, is not to worry about the future or regret the past too much.
Mel Gibsonborn 1956
- Time
We call “happiness” a certain set of circumstances that makes joy possible. But we call joy that state of mind and emotions that needs nothing to feel happy.
André Gide1869–1951“An Unprejudiced Mind,” p. 326
Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832
Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others,
And in their pleasure takes joy, even as though ‘twere his own.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832“Distichs” in The Poems of Goethe (1853) as translated in the original metres by Edgar Alfred Bowring
A thinking man’s greatest happiness is to have fathomed what can be fathomed and to revere in silence what cannot be fathomed.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832Maxims and Reflections (1833), Maxim 1207, trans. Stopp (p153)
- Thinking
When thus I hail the Moment flying:
“Ah, still delay⁠—thou art so fair!”
Then bind me in thy bonds undying,
My final ruin then declare!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe1749–1832Faust (1808), Scene IV, spoken by FaustIn context
- Time
Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.
RGRoy Goodman1930–2014
Always leave something to wish for; otherwise you will be miserable from your very happiness.
Baltasar Gracián1601–1658