Happiness depends, as Nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
We are no longer happy so soon as we wish to be happier.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Writer
Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
If a man has no humaneness what can his propriety be like? If a man has no humaneness what can his happiness be like?
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Happy is he that chastens himself.
—Unknown
The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. Your have to catch up with it yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
No pleasure without pain.
—Unknown
We always have enough to be happy if we are enjoying what we do have—and not worrying about what we don’t have.
—Ken Keyes Jr. (1921–95) American Personal Growth Author
Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
How would you know what happy is if you’ve never been otherwise.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
You can make yourself happy or miserable – it’s the same amount of effort.
—Ray Bradbury (b.1920) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
It seldom happens that any felicity comes so pure as not to be tempered and allayed by some mixture of sorrow.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
—Robert Brault
Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work, a life-purpose… Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what real happiness is… Even in the meanest sorts of labor, the whole soul of a man is composed into a kind of real harmony the instant he sets himself to work.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
The habit of being uniformly considerate toward others will bring increased happiness to you.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
To be busy is man’s only happiness.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
God is a father, happiness is a stepfather.
—Yiddish Proverb
There is a courage of happiness as well as a courage of sorrow.
—Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–1949) Belgian Poet, Playwright, Essayist
Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of unhappiness.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Happiness consumes itself like a flame. It cannot burn for ever, it must go out, and the presentiment of its end destroys it at its very peak.
—August Strindberg (1849–1912) Swedish Playwright, Novelist, Essayist
He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
If you would be pungent, be brief, for it is with words as with sunbeams—the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Every now and then, when the world sits just right, a gentle breath of heaven fills my soul with delight … .
—Hazelmarie ‘Mattie’ Elliott
Suspicion of happiness is in our blood.
—E. V. Lucas (1868–1938) English Author, Historian
I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Life begins on the other side of despair.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Happiness is action.
—R. David Thomas (1932–2002) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist