“We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh.”

— William James

Variant: I don't sing because I'm happy. I'm happy because I sing.

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh." by William James?

William James 246

American philosopher, psychologist, and pragmatist 1842–1910

Related quotes

“We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.”

Rick Warren (1954) Christian religious leader

Source: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I Here for?

“We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all.”

Jean de La Bruyère book Les Caractères

Il faut rire avant que d'être heureux, de peur de mourir sans avoir ri.
Aphorism 63; Variant translation: We should laugh before being happy, for fear of dying without having laughed.
Les Caractères (1688), Du Coeur

“We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all.”

Jean De La Fontaine (1621–1695) French poet, fabulist and writer.

Jean de La Bruyère, in Du Coeur
Misattributed

“Certainly there are times in all of our lives when bad things happen, or things don’t turn out as we had hoped. But that’s when we we must a decision that we’re going to be happy inspite of our circumstances.”

Joel Osteen (1963) American televangelist and author

Source: Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

“At its heart, the libertarian message is an American message. We love our country, we care for our neighbors, and we want everyone to be happy, healthy and prosperous. We want people to be free to raise their children in peace. We’re only different because we’re not afraid to stand by the principles upon which our nation was founded. We’re only different because we believe, as our Founding Fathers did, that individual initiative and creativity, and voluntary cooperation and mutual assistance among people is best way to solve any problem or overcome any difficulty we face.”

R. Lee Wrights (1958–2017) American gubernatorial candidate

" Libertarians Can Make a Difference by Being Different http://www.libertyforall.net/?p=7323," Liberty For All (8 February 2012, retrieved 25 February 2012).
Republished http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/02/lee-wrights-libertarians-can-make-a-difference-by-being-different/ by Independent Political Report (18 February 2012).
2012

“I know why we laugh. We laugh because it hurts, and it's the only thing to make it stop hurting.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Stranger in a Strange Land

Variant: I've found out why people laugh. They laugh because it hurts so much... because it's the only thing that'll make it stop hurting.
Source: Stranger in a Strange Land