According to The Quote Investigator http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/04/17/butterfly/, "the earliest instance of this saying was crafted by the enigmatic “L” for “The Daily Crescent” newspaper in New Orleans [in June 1848]. ... The linkage to Henry David Thoreau is unsupported."
Misattributed
“If you chase happiness, it will only elude you. Align with the passion and purpose of your heart - then happiness will appear.”
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYHdhsqJcCY/
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