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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“Seek within. All power dwells in you, infinite power for good. Realise your real nature and be perennially happy and peaceful.”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“She's private to herself and best of knowledge Whom she'll make so happy as to sigh for.”
Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) first seen 1607 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Knight of the Burning Pestle (c. 1607; published 1613), Act I, scene 1.
“A happy soul, that all the way To heaven hath a summer’s day.”
Richard Crashaw (1612–1649) said by 1649 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In Praise of Lessius’s Rule of Health, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
Also quoted by: Sir John Denham
“It wasn't really a chat show, it was a magazine show. I looked at it as a summer job. As long as no one makes me interview a celeb again, I'll be happy. It wasn't what I signed up for but, of course, nowadays everyone likes celebs. I'm pretty bored of them, though. I wasn't interested and couldn't be bothered to pretend I was.”
Nigella Lawson (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happy the man with a book-length grievance — and rare. Each of these books contains one possible magazine article surrounded by more padding than an offensive lineman: every little indignity that ever happened to them, and every two-bit feud, magnified to a Horrible Example to justify a larger printing.”
Wilfrid Sheed (1930–2011) first seen 1971 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Unnecessary Roughness" (1971), p. 150
“England, a happy land we know, Where follies naturally grow.”
Charles Churchill (satirist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“God Almighty, dear God, good to me, gave me a sweet tongue, and these sad and lonely folk will hear me and they shall be happy.”
John Fante (1909–1983) said by 1983 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If in your own experience you haven't yet learned the truth of the deception of feelings, then you just have to go on believing and thinking, having faith in the past and hope in the future, being happy today and unhappy tomorrow, but never being in command of your own life for long.”
Barry Long (1926–2003) said by 2003 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I didn’t have much, but I was always happy to share what I did have. It seemed like every African that came to New York City would show up at my apartment door at dinnertime, and I couldn’t turn them away. I wasn’t much older than any of them, but they started calling me ‘Mama Africa’ and the name stuck.”
Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Poet, J. (11 February 2009)
“Belafonte sent his people to pick me up and I went back and shook his hand, then went back to my little flat. I was very happy to have met a president of the United States - little me!”
Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Denselow, Robin (16 May 2008)
“What thing so good which not some harm may bring? Even to be happy is a dangerous thing.”
William Alexander (1567–1640) said by 1640 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happy the heart that keeps its twilight hour, And, in the depths of heavenly peace reclined. Loves to commune with thoughts of tender power; Thoughts that ascend, like angels beautiful, A shining Jacob's ladder of the mind.”
Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830–1886) said by 1886 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Life ain’t all beer and skittles, and more’s the pity; but what’s the odds, so long as you’re happy?”
George du Maurier (1834–1896) first seen 1894 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Trilby (1894).
“The music of the scythes that glide and leap, The young men whistling as their great arms sweep, And all the perfume and sweet sense of sleep,The weary butterflies that droop their wings, The dreamy nightingale that hardly sings, And all the lassitude of happy things,Is mingling with the warm and pulsing blood That gushes through my veins a languid flood, And feeds my spirit as the sap a bud.”
Edmund Gosse (1849–1928) said by 1928 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The happy children! full of frank surprise, And sudden whims and innocent ecstasies; What godhead sparkles from their liquid eyes!”
Edmund Gosse (1849–1928) said by 1928 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is not within our power not to desire to be happy.”
Nicolas Malebranche (1638–1715) said by 1715 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We want to keep the company healthy and its employees happy, and we want to keep them on the job and productive.”
Akio Morita (1921–1999) said by 1999 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“..I believe it is a big mistake to think that money is the only way to compensate a person for his work. People need money, but they also want to be happy in their work and proud of it.”
Akio Morita (1921–1999) said by 1999 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For it stirs the blood in an old man’s heart, And makes his pulses fly, To catch the thrill of a happy voice, And the light of a pleasant eye.”
Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–1867) first seen 1848 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Saturday Afternoon", in Poems of Early and After Years (Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1848), p. 120.
Also quoted by: Nathaniel P. Willis
“I'm happy with my shape. It's getting to a stage of acceptance and understanding how to dress to reproportion yourself.”
Trinny Woodall (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We've created a range of clothing which is almost like a prescription from the doctor. Our clothes do the same thing. If you're not happy with your bum, then there's a coat that's going to hide it. If you want to create a waist, there's a dress that's going to do that for you too. We've designed it very much around the female body.”
Susannah Constantine (born 1962) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Long as you been living, you ain't NEVER heard of a mother-fucker overdosin' on marijuana. You might-a thought that nigga was dead. He ain't dead. He gonna wake up in 30 minutes hungry enough to eat up everything in your house. That's the side effects: hungry, happy, sleepy." That's it.”
Katt Williams (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What does he plant who plants a tree? He plants the friend of sun and sky; He plants the flag of breezes free; The shaft of beauty, towering high; He plants a home to heaven anigh For song and mother-croon of bird In hushed and happy twilight heard— The treble of heaven's harmony— These things he plants who plants a tree.”
Henry Cuyler Bunner (1855–1896) said by 1896 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Heart of the Tree. An Arbor-Day Song", stanza 1, in The Poems of H. C. Bunner, new edition (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1899), p. 249.
“Oh, happy kings, Whose thrones are raised in their subjects' hearts.”
John Ford (dramatist) first seen 1629 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Perkin Warbeck, Act III, sc. i. (c. 1629-34)
“He is a noble gentleman; withal Happy in his endeavours: the general voice Sounds him for courtesy, behaviour, language, And every fair demeanour, an example: Titles of honour add not to his worth; Who is himself an honour to his title.”
John Ford (dramatist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But I do not remember ever having seen a newspaper in the house; and, most certainly, that privation did not render us less industrious, happy, or free.”
William Cobbett (1763–1835) said by 1835 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight — "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Family, my wife and children, that's my reason for being. Everything is done with them in mind, so perhaps that's the reason this new album is up-tempo. It does feel like a celebration of life. I am finally in a content and happy place to the point where I feel like I need to sing about it. It's made me want to address things that are close to home.”
Seal (musician) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On his album System, as quoted in "Seal" profile at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (CBS) (4 December 2007)
“Myself and the people close to me are all part of a social system, and we were being conditioned to accept the status quo. But on this album, I'm saying it's time for us to take charge. We can change it. We can take control of our emotional system and be happy. My point is don't just sit there and allow life to happen to you. Go out and take charge if you want change, but it begins closer to home.”
Seal (musician) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Seal" profile at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (CBS) (4 December 2007)
“I was born to be an explorer. There never was any decision to make. I coudn't be anything else and be happy,the desire to see new places, to discover new facts- the curiosity of life always has been a resistless driving force to me.”
Roy Chapman Andrews (1884–1960) first seen 1935 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 'This Business of Exploring' pub, 1935
“Christians, awake! salute the happy morn, Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born.”
John Byrom (1692–1763) first seen 1750 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Hymn for Christmas Day (1750)
“I like the material, which makes it easy to sort of delve into it, and then also I was too tired to be nervous. I was just happy. The anxiety, the anxious energy was not there, because I was too exhausted.”
St. Vincent (musician) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the first public performances of some of the music from her album Actor in an interview for Billboard magazine (20 March 2009)
“Hail, Columbia! happy land! Hail, ye heroes! heaven-born band! Who fought and bled in Freedom’s cause, Who fought and bled in Freedom’s cause, And when the storm of war was gone, Enjoyed the peace your valor won. Let independence be our boast, Ever mindful what it cost; Ever grateful for the prize, Let its altar reach the skies!”
Joseph Hopkinson (1770–1842) first seen 1798 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Hail, Columbia! (1798).
“I’m very happy with my life and I wouldn’t take back any mistake I’ve made because it’s made me who I am today. I don’t walk around pretending that I’m perfect, so I don’t think that anyone else should hold me to that and not expect me to fuck up occasionally. Because I do, and you do, too.”
Nicole Richie (born 1981) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don't care about weight things, but it's more important to me that I'm happy and I feel good. What happens to my body is going to happen and people have to live with that or I'll quit this job.”
Suvi Koponen (born 1988) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Missä he ovat nyt? Mallikoulun Suvi - documentary (January 2008)
“I have learned that the people probably angriest at Wikipedia are Hindus... I am happy to point out the obvious, namely, that Wikipedia is biased... What you *would* accomplish, however, is to persuasively expose the anti-Hindu bias on Wikipedia.”
Larry Sanger (born 1968) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Larry Sanger. Tweet on Twitter (September 3, 2020). I have learned that the people probably angriest at Wikipedia are Hindus
“What good are all these books to you? You can't eat them! How can they make you happy?”
Peter Greenaway (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What do you mean -- Happy anniversary? It's not my birthday.”
Peter Greenaway (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I laugh, for hope hath happy place with me; If my bark sinks, 'tis to another sea.”
William Ellery Channing (poet) first seen 1843 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Poet's Hope", Poems (1843) p. 100
“I love tea. Mmmm. I know I'm getting old because I'm startin' get excited about tea. Just sitting in the loungeroom bored ya no. Somebody goes "You want a cup of tea?" and I go "Oar he hor." Start feeling a little bit depressed when it gets to the bottom, I think to myself I'll just make myself another cup, I can feel happy again.”
Carl Barron (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every child's birthright is a happy home.”
Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (1838–1912) said by 1912 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He went to Los Angeles to do the work even though he hated the city; it was full of happy homogeneous people without structure or direction. While on the bus to work, it seemed to him Los Angeles went on long after it had already made its point.”
Gregory Benford (born 1941) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: White Creatures, p. 170 (Originally published in New Dimensions 5, edited by Robert Silverberg), 1975
“I would not say that they were happy. They knew what was going to happen to them. Of course, they were told what was going to happen to them, and they were resigned to their fate, and that is the strange thing about these people in the East.”
Paul Blobel (1894–1951) said by 1951 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "The Eichmann Kommandos" - Page 162 - by Michael Angelo Musmanno - 1961.
“Someone who's on top of the world isn't much of an observer: happy people are poor psychologists. But someone who's troubled about something is on the alert. The perceived threat sharpens his senses - he takes in more than he usually does.”
Stefan Zweig (1881–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. … Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit; unicorns may go unrescued for a very long time, but not forever. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.”
Peter S. Beagle (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are no happy endings because nothing ends.”
Peter S. Beagle (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I stand in a land of roses, But I dream of a land of snow, Where you and I were happy, In the years of long ago.”
Fred Weatherly (1848–1929) said by 1929 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In order to be happy, man must have a center; now this center is above all the certitude of the One. The greatest calamity is the loss of the center and the abandonment of the soul to the caprices of the periphery. To be man is to be at the center; it is to be center.”
Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) said by 1998 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nature knows no tragedies or catastrophes. It knows no good or evil. It knows only creation and destruction. and one can never truly be happy and free, in the way we were as children before learning of our mortality, without at some point confronting our destruction. And all we can ask for, all we can hope for, all we can beseech God for, is to win a few battles in a war we will ultimately lose.”
Neil Strauss (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I woke up tomorrow morning and it was just a dream, it would be the best dream I've ever had, and I would be ― I would not be happy to be waking up! [laughter]”
Leona Lewis (born 1985) first seen 2006 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Xtra Factor: Winner's Story 2006