Without pleasure man would live like a fool and soon die.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
We must learn that to enjoy happiness we must conscientiously and continuously seek to spread happiness. Selfishness is suicidal to happiness.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.
—Hyman Judah Schachtel (1907–90) American Jewish Religious Leader
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
To live we must conquer incessantly, we must have the courage to be happy.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Few rich men own their own property. Their property owns them.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Atheist Politician, Orator, Social Critic, Essayist
Those who take up any subject with an open mind, willing to learn anything that will contribute to their advancement, comfort and happiness, are wise.
—Roger McDonald (b.1941) Australian Novelist, Poet, Screenwriter, Writer
So long as we can lose any happiness, we possess some.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
On the whole, the happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
A happy man or woman is a better thing to find than a five-pound note. He or she is a radiating focus of goodwill; and their entrance into a room is as though another candle had been lighted.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Every period of life is obliged to borrow its happiness from time to come.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
All mankind are happier for having been happy, so that if you make them happy new, you make them happy twenty years hence by the memory of it.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Anglican Writer, Critic
The principle of happiness should be like the principle of virtue: it should not be dependent of things, but be a part of personality (and character).
—William Lyon Phelps (1865–1943) American Author, Critic, Scholar
Real success is not on the stage, but off the stage as a human being, and how you get along with your fellow man.
—Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–90) American Singer, Musician, Dancer, Actor
The worst sin — perhaps the only sin — passion can commit is to be joyless.
—Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist, Translator, Poet
The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid.
—J. D. Salinger (1919–2010) American Actor
Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.
—Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canada Journalist, Playwright, Academic, Critic, Novelist
We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found; and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable.
—Leo Rosten (1908–97) Russian-born American Humorist, Teacher, Academic, Short Story Writer
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
To live and let live, without clamor for distinction or recognition; to wait on divine Love; to write truth first on the tablet of one’s own heart–this is the sanity and perfection of living, and my human ideal.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Logician, Mathematician, Historian, Social Critic
The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of oneself to others.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Priest, Paleontologist, Geologist
Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The world is full of people looking for spectacular happiness while they snub contentment.
—Doug Larson
Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste.
—Emily Bronte (1818–48) English Novelist, Poet
Life finds its purpose and fulfillment in the expansion of happiness.
—Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1914–2008) Indian Hindu Religious Leader
We must laugh before we are happy, for fear of dying without having laughed at all.
—Jean de La Bruyere
Happiness seems to require a modicum of external prosperity.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Man’s real life is happy, chiefly because he is ever expecting that it soon will be so.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
True happiness must arise from well-regulated affections, and an affection includes a duty.
—Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97) British Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Philosopher, Civil Rights Advocate
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
I am more and more convinced that our happiness or our unhappiness depends far more on the way we meet the events of life than on the nature of those events themselves.
—Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German Philosopher, Diplomat, Educator, Public Administrator
The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist, Author
You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again. & great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Loved for ourselves. & even loved in spite of ourselves.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The habit of being uniformly considerate toward others will bring increased happiness to you.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.
—J. D. Salinger (1919–2010) American Actor
I am still determined to be cheerful and happy,
in whatever situation I may be; for I have also
learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness
or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.
—Martha Washington (1731–1802) American First Lady
First health, then wealth, then pleasure, and do not owe anything to anybody.
—Catherine II of Russia (1729–96) Russian Empress
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.
—Chinese Proverb
The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances. We carry the seeds of the one or the other about with us in our minds wherever we go.
—Martha Washington (1731–1802) American First Lady
The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it, put your whole soul into it — every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.
—John D. Rockefeller III (1906–78) American Philanthropist
In theory there is a possibility of perfect happiness: To believe in the indestructible element within one, and not to strive towards it.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Columnist, Journalist, Author
Money is human happiness in the abstract; and so the man who is no longer capable of enjoying such happiness in the concrete, sets his whole heart on money.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
If you are not happy here and now, you never will be.
—Taisen Deshimaru (1914–82) Japanese Buddhist Teacher
Pleasure is a reciprocal; no one feels it who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please.
—Earl of Chesterfield
When unhappy, one doubts everything; when happy, one doubts nothing.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
Happiness is good health and a bad memory.
—Ingrid Bergman (1915–82) Swedish Actor
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
—Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121–80)
Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
There is this difference between happiness and wisdom, that he that thinks himself the happiest man really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.
—Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) English Angelic Priest, Writer, Collector
Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens.
—Andy Rooney (b.1919) American Writer, Humorist, TV Personality
To be of use in the world is the only way to happiness.
—Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) Danish Author, Poet, Short Story Writer
The happy have whole days,|and those they choose.|The unhappy have but hours,|and those they lose.
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757) English Playwright, Poet, Actor
Being happy is something you have to learn. I often surprise myself by Saying, “Wow, this is it. I guess I’m happy. I’ve got a home that I love. A career that I love. I’m even feeling more and more at peace with myself”. If there’s something else to happiness, let me know. I’m ambitious for that, too.
—Harrison Ford (b.1942) American Actor
Do not worry; eat three square meals a day; say your prayers; be courteous to your creditors; keep your digestion good; exercise; go slow and easy. Maybe there are other things your special case requires to make you happy, but my friend, these I reckon will give you a good lift.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit; to become delightful, happiness must be tainted with poison.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Philosopher, Writer
How bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man