Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,161,747 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Happiness
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“[If evolution had been guided, the Earth would have become] the abode of a vast diversity of creatures dwelling in concord (instead of) a place of mixed character, where beauty and ugliness, peace and fear, happiness and horror, mingle together in the most perplexing contrasts.”
Alexander Skutch (1904–2004) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Imperative Call", American Birds, Vol. 47, Iss. 1 (Spring 1993), p. 32
“Single-minded rememberance of Allah is the supreme source of felicity and happiness.”
Meher Ali Shah (1859–1937) said by 1937 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Rather than attempting to solve every problem by growing the economy, we need to focus instead on meeting real human and ecological needs. This is what we mean by the economics of happiness... The world is at a tipping point - culturally, socially and economically. We urgently need to reclaim our sense of community and our connection to place.”
Helena Norberg-Hodge (born 1946) first seen 2018 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in An economics of happiness, Marianne Brooker, The Ecologist (8th October 2018)
“The first step is to connect with like-minded people, and then collectively start questioning the dominant assumptions. Part of that is to listen to what really makes your heart sing. Where were you and what were you doing when you experienced moments of deep contentment and happiness? Listen to the answer and use it as a guide.”
Helena Norberg-Hodge (born 1946) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in On Radical Cultural Change, A conversation with political thinker and activist Helena Norberg-Hodge, William Powers, Earth Island Journal, (Spring 2020)
“What is the aim of science?” “What?” “Man’s happiness. If science doesn’t make men happier, what good is it? Knowledge is power, a weapon, and if the scientist doesn’t care where it’s aimed, what makes him different from a mercenary soldier?”
Dmitri Bilenkin (1933–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ah what's asleep in this large city night is the shadow of a single blue cat the shadow of a cat that speaks of the sad history of mankind the blue shadow of the happiness I never stop longing for.”
Sakutarō Hagiwara (1886–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Where is our happiness? The more we dig the sand in the mud the deeper the fountain of sorrow becomes, doesn't it? The spring wavering in curtains' shadow has gone away into the distance, rocking on a rickshaw.”
Sakutarō Hagiwara (1886–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Hirose River flows white. Time passes and all illusions must fade away. Wanting to catch my life, one day in the past I cast my line in the river, but ah that happiness was too far away and I didn't see tiny fish even in a flash.”
Sakutarō Hagiwara (1886–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happiness is the proof that time can accommodate eternity.”
Byung-Chul Han (born 1959) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We offset the pursuit of our well-being with notions of altruism, and temper our happiness with feelings of guilt. In the vernacular of pop psychology, we speak of being ‘self-alienated’ people who have learned to reject our very selves. Whatever other advantages flow to us from our institutionalized world, the personal disadvantages carry a prohibitive price tag.”
Butler D. Shaffer (1935–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“After all, it is not the pursuit of happiness but the enlargement of freedom which is socialism's aim.”
Richard Crossman (1907–1974) first seen 1952 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Introduction", New Fabian Essays (1952), p. 29
“A genuine era of happiness is only possible when we aren’t clouded by the uncertainties of aging and when bearing and raising children is truly considered a blessing. No citizen should be left to fear that he or she might not be able to meet the basic requirements of life.”
Park Geun-hye (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happiness can only flourish when people feel comfortable and secure. I pledge to you today that I will not tolerate any action that threatens the lives of our people and the security of our nation.”
Park Geun-hye (born 1952) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ageing brings a lot of happiness. You get fatter and more wrinkles, and that’s not so good, but there is a freedom that comes with it. The freedom is: I better do what I want to do now, because I’ll be dead soon. So this is my last chance. Also, there’s a serenity that comes – I had the career I had, good or bad, I did the best I could, and now I continue pursuing what is interesting to me.”
Isabella Rossellini (born 1952) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On feeling the freedom now to pursue her own passions in “Isabella Rossellini: ‘Ageing brings a lot of happiness. You get fatter – but there is freedom’” in The Guardian (2020 Oct 13)
“The beginning of human happiness, and even of human sanity, is to begin to know God . . . Goodness draws the human soul as a tide is drawn by light.”
Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) said by 1954 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Our true Happiness will be when humanity begins to recognise the rights we owe to one another, when hatred turns to love.”
Mirza Masroor Ahmad (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I knew everything and received everything. But real happiness, is giving. 1”
Alain Delon (1935–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A person whose intentions are to serve others will be rewarded with worldly happiness; and the one who has intentions to hurt will be punished with worldly unhappiness. However, the Self cannot be attained through serving others. Until one attains the Self, one should maintain an obliging nature.”
Dada Bhagwan (1908–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Accept each other's fault; then, your married life will be full of happiness.”
Dada Bhagwan (1908–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Rouse to some work of high and holy love, And thou an angel's happiness shall know.”
Carlos Wilcox (1794–1827) said by 1827 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I would desire that every man would lay his hand on his heart, and consider seriously whether the beginning of the people's happiness should be written in letters of blood.”
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593–1641) first seen 1641 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 12 May 1641, At his execution on Tower Hill, also quoted in Dictionary of Quotations, p. 826
“Life is a treacherous quicksand with no guarantee of safety anywhere. We can only try to grab what happiness we can before we are swept off into oblivion.”
Bessie Head (1937–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Peace.” Gerbert rolled the word on his tongue. “Is that what it is? I’d been calling it happiness.”
Judith Tarr (born 1955) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I wanna look like what I am but I don’t know what someone like me looks like. I mean when people look at me I want them to think– there’s one of those people that reasons, that is a philosopher, that has their own interpretation of happiness– that’s what I am.”
Lou Sullivan (1951–1991) first seen 1966 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: June 20, 1966
“I realized that I can only stand if they throw a ball at me. I reach out and parry. Now I teach the kids how to do it, they go home and say that Dasaev is a good teacher. This is what I wanted from me, this is happiness.”
Rinat Dasayev (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[About her debut in Japan] "Life is too short not to follow your dreams and find happiness”
Sasha Banks (born 1992) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated (February 16, 2023)
“If you pray and love, behold, this is the happiness of man on earth.”
John Vianney (1786–1859) said by 1859 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Go from continent to continent, from kingdom to kingdom, from wealth to wealth, from pleasure to pleasure: you will not find the happiness you seek. The earth and what it contains cannot satisfy an immortal soul any more than a pinch of flour, in the mouth of a hungry man, can satisfy him.”
John Vianney (1786–1859) said by 1859 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Hey, comrades! Why are you looking so sad? Be brave, fight, beat the Germans, burn, wipe them out! I'm not afraid to die, comrades. It is happiness to die for one's people!”
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya (1923–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The sentiment to which [the utilitarian] appeals is generalized benevolence, that is, the disposition to seek happiness, or...good consequences, for all mankind, or perhaps for all sentient beings.”
J. J. C. Smart (1920–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Please tell my family that I was not able to say goodbye, but that I died with my true friends around me… Pray to God for the good fortune of our country. Continue with your work to attain the happiness and freedom of our beloved country.”
Marcelo H. del Pilar (1850–1896) first seen 1896 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Marcelo H. del Pilar's last words to Mariano Ponce (4 July 1896)
“The day of happiness will be the memorable day of the emancipation of the people, and the day of emancipation will be the one when the great are put down and the small raised up; when there are neither masters nor slaves; bosses nor subordinates; powerful nor weak; oppressors nor oppressed; but when the vast Brazil is called the common homeland of Brazilian citizens or United States of Brazil.”
Luís Gama (1830–1882) first seen 1867 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Correio Paulistano, January 29, 1867. Source: Defendeu escravizados: O inestimável legado do jornalista Luiz Gama.
“I never thought I had a right to sacrifice another being to my own good or pleasure; but whatever else ensued you would be placed in circumstances infinitely more favourable to happiness than before.”
Thomas Day (writer) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In a letter to Sabrina Sidney, whom Day attempted to groom into the "perfect wife", explaining his behaviour towards her; as quoted in How to Create the Perfect Wife: The True Story of One Gentleman, Two Orphans and an …
“Government alone cannot succeed. It is through efforts such as these that many dreams can be realised. I cannot express my happiness at the success of such a tournament because it does not only bring people together but it also helps expose the talent that we have.”
Gladys Kokorwe (1947–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We have sacrificed the old immaterial Gods and now we are occupying the temple of the market god. This god organizes our economy, our politics, our habits, our lives and even provides us with rates and credit cards and gives us the appearance of happiness.”
José Mujica (1935–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“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 (born 1954) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Law curbing public assembly takes effect in Thailand" (13 August 2015)
“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 (born 1954) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: PM to shorten 'Return to happiness' speeches but in the end happiness is never come true (31 March 2015)
“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 (born 1952) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 'I shall reign with righteousness': Thailand crowns king in ornate ceremonies" in Reuters (3 May 2019)
“Knowledge, understanding and cooperation will lead the country to happiness, security and progress.”
Vajiralongkorn (born 1952) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: His Majesty presents televised end of year message" in Thaiger (1 January 2021)
“When confronted with mixed signals from the face (such as happiness cues along with anxiety signals or pleasure behaviors seen alongside displeasure displays), or if the nonverbal facial messages are not in agreement, always side with the negative emotion as the more honest of the two. The negative sentiment will almost always be the more accurate and genuine of the person's feelings and emotions.”
Joe Navarro (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“All lives deserve to be respected, and all beings need to be loved. It ought to be easy for us to feel the pain experienced by the bodies other than our own and grant happiness to those who are but strangers. (p. 3)”
“I pray you to reach a certain level of happiness! The one in which you need no validation. Just casually living your life, knowing tomorrow isn’t promised.”
“In some grocery stores there is an expressive sign that says: Today I don't trust, tomorrow I do. I have some desire to compare that sign the promises of happiness that life gives us.”
Daniel Salamanca (1869–1935) said by 1935 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happiness is important, but I wouldn't say it is the main purpose of human existence.”
Helon Habila (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“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 (born 1960) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Naruhito: Japan’s emperor formally proclaims enthronement in centuries-old ceremony" in CNN (22 October 2019)
“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 (born 1960) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Emperor Naruhito delivers address at U.N. meeting on water and disasters" in The Japan Times (26 June 2021)
“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 (born 1960) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Emperor Naruhito Makes Reference to Pandemic in First Speech in Half-Year" in Nippon (1 October 2020)
“I am standing here today after the ceremonies marking my accession to the Throne. I am delighted and deeply grateful that you have come to celebrate. I wish for your health and happiness. And I sincerely hope that our country will develop further while working together with other countries to pursue global peace.”
Naruhito (born 1960) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Emperor Naruhito makes first speech to public" in NHK (3 May 2019)
“The novel captures the ongoing changes in Nigerian society where women strive for (economic) independence and personal happiness and growth rather than a life within the boundaries of an outdated tradition. In stressing the economic independence of women, Nwapa reminded me of Virginia Woolf and her essay “A Room Of One’s Own”.”
Flora Nwapa (1931–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You will find that there is little replacement to truly nourishing happiness in the form of investment in one’s mind, spirit, body, and environment”
Jeannette Kagame (born 1962) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: , the New Times (14 October 2022)