I almost once wanted to publish a self help book saying, 'How To Be Happy, by Stephen Fry: Guaranteed Success'. And people buy this huge book and it's all blank pages, and the first page would just say, 'Stop feeling sorry for yourself--and you will be happy.'
Interpretation
Happiness comes from taking action and not dwelling on negativity.
In this quote, Stephen Fry humorously suggests that the key to happiness is simply stopping self-pity and choosing to take control of one's outlook. Rather than needing a lengthy guide filled with complex solutions, Fry underscores the simplicity of mindset; a direct shift in attitude and perspective can lead to greater happiness.
In practice
During a motivational talk about mental well-being.
I used many times to touch my own chest and feel, under its asthmatic quiver, the engine of the heart and lungs and blood and feel amazed at what I sensed was the enormity of the power I possessed. Not magical power, but real power. The power simply to go on, the power to endure, that is power enough, but I felt I had also the power to create, to add, to delight, to amaze and to transform.
To be human and to be adult means constantly to be in the grip of opposing emotions, to have daily to reconcile apparently conflicting tensions. I want this, but need that. I cherish this, but I adore its opposite too.
There comes a time when the blankness of the future is just so extreme, it's like such a black wall of nothingness. Not of bad things like a cave full of monsters and so, you're afraid of entering it. It's just nothingness, the void, emptiness and it is just horrible. It's like contemplating a future-less future and so you just want to step out of it. The monstrosity of being alive overwhelms you.
As someone who worked hard for a Labour victory in the 90s, do I regret it? Not really. It was bound to happen. And it'll happen with the next government, and the one after it. Because all governments serve us. They serve the filth.
It's now very common to hear people say 'I'm rather offended by that'.
You can't just say there is a God because well, the world is beautiful. You have to account for bone cancer in children. You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits and say that means there is a God and ignore the true fact of what nature is.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.
Happiness is knowin' you've done a good job, whether it's professional or for another person.
Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life.
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
Only the highway of useful service leads to the city of happiness.
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