Quotes about happiness
page 53

Leopold I of Belgium photo

“My heart knows of no other ambition than that of seeing you happy.”

Leopold I of Belgium (1790–1865) German prince who became the first King of the Belgians

Foreign Relations of the United States, Translation of the speech from the throne. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1866p2/d57 On ascending the throne, Leopold I to the Belgians.

Brigitte Lin photo

“Whatever the director asks me to do, I will do and make him happy. I’m a fool.”

Brigitte Lin (1954) Taiwanese actress

As quoted in "Brigitte Lin: ‘In All My Movies, There Is Something of Myself’" in Film Doo (21 May 2018) https://www.fareastfilm.com/eng/archive/catalogue/2018/intervista-con-brigitte-lin/?IDLYT=31711

Frithjof Schuon photo
Frithjof Schuon photo
Frithjof Schuon photo

“Beauty is a reflection of divine beatitude; and since God is Truth, the reflection of His beatitude will be that blend of happiness and truth found in all beauty.”

Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) Swiss philosopher

[2007, Spiritual Perspectives and Human Facts, World Wisdom, 24, 978-1-933316-42-0]
God, Beauty

Christian Friedrich Hebbel photo

“Which do you pay dearer for, lies or the truth?
The former costs you yourself, the latter at most your happiness.”

Christian Friedrich Hebbel (1813–1863) German poet and dramatist

"Epigrams" in Sämtliche Werke, volume 6, page 365
Original: (de) Was du teurer bezahlst, die Lüge oder die Wahrheit?
Jene kostet dein Ich, diese doch höchstens dein Glück.

Louisa May Alcott photo

“I had a pleasant time with my mind, for it was happy.”

Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) American novelist

Early Diary kept at Fruitlands, 1843. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38049/38049-h/38049-h.htm
Life, Letters, and Journals. (1898)

Lana Condor photo

“I truly believe the reason why there is a demand for rom-coms is because humans, whether its conscious or subconscious, have a need to feel happy and to see love.”

Lana Condor (1997) Vietnamese-American actress

As quoted in "Lana Condor is just a girl, starring in a Netflix hit, asking you to love the rom-com revival" in Think Progress (18 September 2018) https://archive.thinkprogress.org/lana-condor-to-all-the-boys-netflix-1be6a8d818aa/

Joshua Greene photo
Aubrey Thomas de Vere photo

“Softly, O midnight hours!
Move softly o'er the bowers
Where lies in happy sleep a girl so fair:
For ye have power, men say,
Our hearts in sleep to sway
And cage cold fancies in a moonlight snare.”

Aubrey Thomas de Vere (1814–1902) Irish poet and critic

Song. Softly, O Midnight Hours; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 721.

Amit Ray photo
Ingrid Bergman photo

“What is happiness? It depends on two assets, which fortunately I have. They are good health and a short memory.”

Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982) Film actress from Sweden

Source: The Real and the Unreal (1961) by Bill Davidson, p. 174

Baba Hari Dass photo

“How are peace and happiness related? Is peace the only real happiness? When happiness moves beyond the mind, that is happiness.”

Baba Hari Dass (1923–2018) master yogi, author, builder, commentator of Indian spiritual tradition

Mount Madonna Messenger, March 26, 2016

Vajiralongkorn photo

“Knowledge, understanding and cooperation will lead the country to happiness, security and progress.”

Vajiralongkorn (1952) King of Thailand

Source: "His Majesty presents televised end of year message" in Thaiger https://thethaiger.com/news/national/his-majesty-presents-televised-end-of-year-message (1 January 2021)

Vajiralongkorn photo

“I invite everyone here and all Thai people to share my determination and work together, each according to his status and duty, with the nation’s prosperity and the people’s happiness as the ultimate goals.”

Vajiralongkorn (1952) King of Thailand

Source: "'I shall reign with righteousness': Thailand crowns king in ornate ceremonies" in Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-king-coronation/i-shall-reign-with-righteousness-thailand-crowns-king-in-ornate-ceremonies-idUSKCN1S924H (3 May 2019)

Robert A. Heinlein photo
Epifanio de los Santos photo
Michael Moorcock photo

“Better the myth of happiness, than the myth of despair.”

The Cornelius Quartet, The Condition of Muzak (1977)
Source: The Mirror; or, Harlequin Everywhere (p. 786)

HoYeon Jung photo

“I was just so happy that I got a role and could give a performance. I still feel nervous at the thought of meeting an audience through the screen. I never dreamed that the show would become such a global sensation.”

HoYeon Jung (1994) South Korean model, actress

Source: "Exclusive: How Squid Game’s Hoyeon Jung Went from Model to Star of Netflix’s Biggest Hit" in Vogue https://www.vogue.com/article/squid-game-star-hoyeon-jung-interview (7 October 2021)

Liu Wen (model) photo

“Career has given me a lot of happiness and I’ve fallen in love with it. Of course, there is joy in fame, but there are plenty of difficult periods to endure as well. It’s not unusual to feel down or stressed, but I use those as motivators to remain steadfast and look ahead.”

Liu Wen (model) (1988) Chinese model

Source: "Liu Wen opens up about fame, responsibility and finding meaning in her career" in Vogue https://vogue.sg/liu-wen-cover-vogue-singapore-leslie-zhang/ (1 March 2021)

Liu Wen (model) photo

“My parents are very supportive of me, I’m their only child, of course, so I always have to call them before I leave and when I arrive somewhere. Sometimes I still don’t think they really understand what I’m doing! I think they’re just happy that I’m happy and I love my job.”

Liu Wen (model) (1988) Chinese model

Source: "Liu Wen Talks Style, Diversity And What It Means To Be China’s First Supermodel" in Marie Claire https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion-news/liu-wen-interview-china-s-first-supermodel-talks-style-diversity-and-her-mango-campaign-15375 (3 March 2016)

Thomas Aquinas photo

“Perfect happiness can consist in nothing else than the vision of the Divine Essence.”

Source: Summa Theologica (1265–1274), I–II, q. 3, art. 8 co

Cheng Yen photo

“A happy person creates a happy home, and from that is able to contribute to his country and finally the world.”

Cheng Yen (1937) Taiwanese Buddhist nun

Source: Master of Love and Mercy: Cheng Yen, p. 18

Cheng Yen photo
Cyrus the Great photo

“Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth — these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”

Cyrus the Great (-600–-530 BC) King and founder of the Achaemenid Empire

Source: In Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War https://books.google.com/books?id=w-WNO_TOgOQC&dq=Xenophon%27s%20Cyrus%20the%20Great%3A%20The%20Arts%20of%20Leadership%20and%20War&hl=fr&source=gbs_book_other_versions (2006) p. 116, also quoted in "9 Timeless Leadership Lessons from Cyrus the Great" http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/04/19/9-timeless-leadership-lessons-from-cyrus-the-great/ at Forbes.com (19 April 2012)

Cyrus the Great photo

“You cannot be buried in obscurity: you are exposed upon a grand theater to the view of the world. If your actions are upright and benevolent, be assured they will augment your power and happiness.”

Cyrus the Great (-600–-530 BC) King and founder of the Achaemenid Empire

Source: As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts : Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tyron Edwards, p. 290

Charles Stross photo

“Don't promise when you're happy, Don't reply when you're angry and don't decide when you're sad.”

Ziad K Abdelnour (1960) Lebanese-born American investment banker, financier, activist and author

Source: Economic Warfare Quotes

J. Howard Moore photo
J. Howard Moore photo
Ayrton Senna photo

“I won and I'm happy and that is it.”

Ayrton Senna (1960–1994) Brazilian racing driver

Source: 1991 Monaco Grand Prix

Helen Kane photo

“I'm so happy to be a part of this ... era of wonderful nonsense.”

Helen Kane (1904–1966) American actress

Source: Interview (1959)

“My name, as you may have guessed, is Theodore. I come from a strange stock. The members of my family were mostly epileptics, vegetarians, stutterers, triplets, nailbiters. But we've always been happy.”

Brother Theodore (1906–2001) German-American monologuist and comedian

[David Lefkowitz, https://www.playbill.com/article/stand-up-tragedy-brother-theodore-gottlieb-dead-at-94-com-95915, Stand-Up Tragedy: 'Brother' Theodore Gottlieb Dead at 94, Playbill, April 6, 2001, February 3, 2021]

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde photo

“Success is when God is happy with you, when the closest people around you are happy and when your soul is at peace with you.”

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (1978) Nigerian actress and singer

https://fabwoman.ng/omotola-jalade-inspirational-quotes-for-women-fabwoman/ Omotola Jalade Ekehinde speaking at FIDWOMEN.

Prayut Chan-o-cha photo

“I'm tired of speaking for hours, so from now on, I will reduce the duration of my 'Returning Happiness to People' speech ever [sic] Friday and will have my ministers who oversee each topic to speak in the programme.”

Prayut Chan-o-cha (1954) Thai military officer, junta chief, and politician

"Returning happiness to the people" speeches
Source: PM to shorten 'Return to happiness' speeches but in the end happiness is never come true http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-to-shorten-Return-to-happiness-speeches-30257143.html (31 March 2015)

Prayut Chan-o-cha photo

“This law will be strictly enforced to prevent the type of nuisance and violence that happened in the past...It's not possible to have it all—happiness, equality, democracy—without giving us the tools.”

Prayut Chan-o-cha (1954) Thai military officer, junta chief, and politician

Law curbing public assembly takes effect in Thailand (13 August 2015)
Source: [Law curbing public assembly takes effect in Thailand, https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/law-curbing-public-assembly-takes-effect-in-thailand/, 14 August 2015, The Seattle Times, Associated Press, 13 August 2015, https://web.archive.org/web/20201128115005/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/law-curbing-public-assembly-takes-effect-in-thailand/, 28 November 2020, live]

Alfred Clifton Hughes photo
Mirza Masroor Ahmad photo
Ben Aaronovitch photo
Naruhito photo

“While we are currently confronted with the unprecedented difficulties caused by the spread of the coronavirus disease. . . I sincerely hope that we all work together hand in hand to overcome this difficult situation and continue to seek happiness of the people and world peace.”

Naruhito (1960) Emperor of Japan since 2019

Source: "Emperor Naruhito Makes Reference to Pandemic in First Speech in Half-Year" in Nippon https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00612/ (1 October 2020)

Naruhito photo

“As we pass on the memories of disasters and pandemics to our posterity, we can improve our preparedness for forthcoming catastrophes. In this way, we can help to build a society in which everyone, with no one left behind, will be able to enjoy daily lives filled with health and happiness.”

Naruhito (1960) Emperor of Japan since 2019

Source: "Emperor Naruhito delivers address at U.N. meeting on water and disasters" in The Japan Times https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/06/26/national/emperor-naruhito-delivers-address-at-u-n-meeting-on-water-and-disasters/ (26 June 2021)

Naruhito photo

“I pledge hereby that I shall act according to the Constitution and fulfill my responsibility as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people of Japan, while always wishing for the happiness of the people and the peace of the world, turning my thoughts to the people and standing by them.”

Naruhito (1960) Emperor of Japan since 2019

Source: "Naruhito: Japan’s emperor formally proclaims enthronement in centuries-old ceremony" in CNN https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/21/asia/japan-enthronement-emperor-intl-hnk/index.html (22 October 2019)

Wu Chun photo

“Life is short, be grateful, be kind, be happy. Forgive and forget ... Love and peace.”

Wu Chun (1979) Bruneian actor and singer

Source: Wu Chun (2021) cited in " Singer-actor Wu Chun apologises after old photo of him and his wife sparks criticism, allegations https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/singer-actor-wu-chun-apologises-after-old-photo-of-him-and-his-wife-sparks" on The Straits Times, 9 March 2020.

Vladimir Putin photo
Kate Bush photo

“As an artist, you're never happy with anything you do. It's part of the process. You're never really happy. I'm certainly not. That's a good thing. It means you're always striving to do better. You hope the next piece will be better.”

Kate Bush (1958) British recording artist; singer, songwriter, musician and record producer

Source: As quoted in "In conversation with Kate Bush" by Elio Iannacci in MacLeans (28 November 2016) https://www.macleans.ca/culture/arts/in-conversation-with-kate-bush/

Linus Torvalds photo

“Please, as you emerge from your holiday-induced food coma, do give it a quick test so that we can all be happy about the final release next weekend.”

Linus Torvalds (1969) Finnish-American software engineer and hacker

Torvalds, Linus, 2022-01-02, <nowiki>Linux 5.16-rc8</nowiki>, 2022-01-06 https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/CAHk-=wg=3dEpPGhz8YvJUDWhFW_GUeASBGmqyw3aPQRfB3ki9w@mail.gmail.com/,
2010s, 2022

Abigail Thorn photo

“I look inside myself and I ask, "Do I feel like a man or a woman?" And the answer is... I feel happy.”

Abigail Thorn (1993) British actress and YouTuber

Source: Identity: A Trans Coming Out Story: Philosophy Tube ★ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AITRzvm0Xtg, 30.01.2021

Doina Ruști photo

“The love is happiness to be only a rotting cloth in the wound of a stranger.”

Doina Ruști (1957) Romanian Writer

Source: The Phanariot Manuscript https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuscrisul_fanariot

Prevale photo

“Being happy, a state of mind of inner well-being that terribly disturbs those who are not.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) L'esser felice, uno stato d'animo di benessere interiore che disturba terribilmente chi non lo è.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“In life, those who want to be happy make mistakes.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Nella vita, chi vuole essere felice commette errori.
Source: prevale.net

Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“When the evening is over,
put your head upon my shoulder
and I'll tell you something I believe is true:
happiness is me and you.
In a world so distorted,
where the worst is best reported
love may be something that will see us through
Happiness is me and you.”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Happiness is Me and You" (song)
Song lyrics
Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Happiness is Me and You" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otmtVnf_aGk (song on YouTube)

Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“You say you got a big house out in the country
with a ruddy great swimming pool.
You say you got a lot of things I never had. That's true.
But are you happy?
Are you happy?
Are you happy?
When you get right down to the nitty-gritty,
are you happy? You?”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Are You Happy?" (song)
Song lyrics
Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Are You Happy?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLBSdzsybWw (song on YouTube)

Jiddu Krishnamurti photo
Gilbert O'Sullivan photo
Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“Once upon a time I drank a little wine,
was as happy as could be, happy as could be,
Now I'm just like a cat on a hot tin roof,
Baby, what do you think you're doing to me?
Told you once before
and I won't tell you no more,
so get down, get down, get down
You're a bad dog, Baby
but I still want you around, around
I still want you around
Hey hey hey”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Get Down" (song)
Song lyrics
Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Get Down" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXl5P2xO9-o (song on YouTube)
Source: (+ Duet with Lulu. On YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlqoiBV6ETs

Gilbert Murray photo
Nitin Pujari photo

“The pandemic has been a lesson for all of us. It taught us what really matters. Our priority should be to find happiness in every little thing instead of materialism. Materialistic things should not matter more than this. Face the challenges instead of running away.”

Nitin Pujari (1990) Indian spiritual leader , Pujari at Salasar Bala ji Rajasthan

During the pandemic in India
Source: https://www.5darianews.com/news/359376-Nitin-Pujari-The-power-of-positivity-gratitude-and-prayer-during-the-pandemic

George III of the United Kingdom photo

“I am happy enough to think I have the present the real love of my subjects, and lay it down for certain that if I do not show them that I will not permit Ministers to trample on me, that my subjects will in time come to esteem me unworthy of the Crown I wear.”

George III of the United Kingdom (1738–1820) King of Great Britain and King of Ireland

Source: Letter to the Earl of Bute (November 1760), quoted in Letters from George III to Lord Bute, 1756–1766, ed. Romney Sedgwick (1939), p. 50

Lucile Randon photo

“It made me very, very, very, very happy, because I met all those I love and I thank the heavens for giving them to me. I thank God for the trouble they went to.”

Lucile Randon (1904–2023) French supercentenarian; world's second oldest living person

COVID-defying nun toasts 117th birthday with wine and prayer https://apnews.com/article/117-nun-covid-second-oldest-french-ff9f0b6be7f4db0ce0917824e740ecd5 (11 February 2021)

Paulo Coelho photo

“Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy.”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Source: Unsourced

Susan Cain photo

“Being able to exist in a place where light and dark meet is actually not a recipe for unhappiness. It is a recipe for a deeper kind of happiness.”

Bastian, Jonathan (host). "Bittersweet: Susan Cain on the joy of sweet sorrow". KCRW.com (Los Angeles). May 21, 2022.

Swami Sivananda photo
Mao Zedong photo

“I like rightists, I am comparatively happy when these people on the right come into power.”

Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Excerpt of meeting with Nixon 1972, quoted in The Road to War: Presidential Commitments Honored and Betrayed https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Road_to_War/SDb3PSD__KwC?hl=en&gbpv=0 (May 9, 2013) by Marvin Kalb. Also quoted in "Nixon Asserts That Western Rightists Pleased Mao" https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/02/archives/nixon-asserts-that-western-rightists-pleased-mao-secret-kissinger.html, The New York Times. (May 2, 1978)
1970s

Ron English photo

“It’s better to be happy than in pursuit of it.”

Ron English (1959) American artist

Ron English's Fauxlosophy: Volume 2 (2022)

Ron English photo

“Happiness isn’t having something for yourself but wanting it for everyone.”

Ron English (1959) American artist

Ron English's Fauxlosophy: Volume 2 (2022)

Karl Popper photo

“Besides, we should never attempt to balance anybody's misery against somebody else's happiness.”

Source: Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge (1963), pp. 486-487

“It was his hope and ambition to cause many deaths. He was an arms salesman by choice, calm and even a little happy to see his products in such demand, capable of trying to clinch a sale at the bedside of a fresh corpse.”

Source: The Jagged Orbit (1969), Chapter 51, “If Your Number Comes Up Then Your Number Comes Up and That’s All There Is to It So What’s the Use of Worrying That’s What I Always Say” (p. 163)

Daniel Salamanca photo
Larry Niven photo

“It was a light, brief kiss, but it was less an ending than a promise, and he was happy.”

Source: Dream Park (1981), Chapter 31, “Departures” (p. 429)

Maximilien Robespierre photo
J.C. Ryle photo

“The only way to be really happy in such a world as this, is to be ever casting all our cares on God.”

J.C. Ryle (1816–1900) Anglican bishop

Source: A Call to Prayer (1867), p. 35

Vladimir Zhirinovsky photo

“All of humanity knows me. My name is in encyclopedias, in registers and databases. Books have been written; films recorded. I’m happy, I’m satisfied.”

Vladimir Zhirinovsky (1946–2022) Russian politician and political activist

"Aging Rebel: Vladimir Zhirinovsky Is Enjoying Another Moment" in The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2016/09/02/aging-rebel-vladimir-zhirinovsky-is-enjoying-another-moment-a55177 (2 September 2016)

Viktor Yanukovych photo

“Be as happy as the sea of Monaco, as the spoil tips of Donbas!”

Viktor Yanukovych (1950) Ukrainian politician who was the President of Ukraine

Source: [2011-09-14, Янукович: я був у Монте-Карло – Донбас круче! - Укрaїнa - ТСН.ua, https://web.archive.org/web/20110914001604/http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/yanukovich-ya-buv-u-monte-karlo-donbas-kruche.html, 2022-06-12, web.archive.org]

Sophocles photo

“Happy are they who know not the taste of evil.”

Sophocles (-496–-406 BC) ancient Greek tragedian

Source: Antigone, Line 583 (Ode II)

Aristotle photo

“Now men seem, not unreasonably, to form their notions of the supreme good and of happiness from the lives of men.”

Aristotle (-384–-321 BC) Classical Greek philosopher, student of Plato and founder of Western philosophy

The Ethics Of Aristotle (Vol. I)

Kim Stanley Robinson photo

“Politics in its most common form: complaint. No one wanted to do it but everyone was happy to complain about it.”

Kim Stanley Robinson (1952) American science fiction writer

Source: Blue Mars (1996), Chapter 9, “Natural History” (p. 433)

Kim Stanley Robinson photo

“Beauty was the promise of happiness, not happiness itself; and the anticipated world was often more rich than anything real.”

Kim Stanley Robinson (1952) American science fiction writer

Source: Red Mars (1992), Chapter 2, “The Voyage Out” (p. 85)

Ernst Jünger photo
Ernst Jünger photo
Prevale photo

“Every day, choose what makes you happy.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Ogni giorno, scegli ciò che ti rende felice.
Source: prevale.net

Leo Tolstoy photo

“There is only one enduring happiness in life—to live for others.”

Part 1, chapter 2 http://books.google.com/books?id=eWU4AAAAYAAJ&q=%22there+is+only+one+enduring+happiness+in+life+to+live+for+others%22&pg=PA22#v=onepage
Family Happiness (1859)

Zafar Mirzo photo
Zafar Mirzo photo
Teal Swan photo
Teal Swan photo
Prevale photo

“In a love story, always make your significant other happy and create a world, capable of lasting a lifetime.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: In una storia d'amore, rendi sempre felice la tua dolce metà e crea un mondo, capace di durare una vita.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“Every woman, from becoming and feeling like a real mother, fights every day like a warrior in the name of love for her child with strength, courage and making great sacrifices; so that she always manages to give him serenity, happiness, security and will to live.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Ogni donna, dal diventare e sentirsi una vera madre, lotta ogni giorno come una guerriera nel nome dell'amore per il proprio figlio con forza, coraggio e facendo grandi sacrifici; affinché riesca sempre a donargli serenità, felicità, sicurezza e voglia di vivere.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“Women are stars, a gift from heaven. And, when they are happy, they shine with their own light, intense and vital.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Le donne sono stelle, un dono del cielo. E, quando sono felici, brillano di una luce propria, intensa e vitale.
Source: prevale.net