It is in books, poems, paintings which often give us the confidence to take seriously feelings in ourselves that we might otherwise never have thought to acknowledge.
Alain De BottonRead
We are tempted to believe that certain achievements and possessions will give us enduring satisfaction. We are invited to imagine ourselves scaling the steep cliff face of happiness in order to reach a wide, high plateau on which we will live out the rest of our lives; we are not reminded that soon after gaining the summit, we will be called down again into fresh lowlands of anxiety and desire.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True happiness is not found in achievements or possessions but is rather a continual journey that involves ups and downs.
In this quote, Alain De Botton highlights the misconception that lasting happiness can be attained through external achievements or material possessions. He emphasizes that while we may feel temporary joy upon reaching a goal, we often find ourselves facing new challenges and desires, reminding us that happiness is not a final destination but a dynamic experience that requires ongoing awareness and effort.
Themes
HappinessSatisfactionAchievementsDesireJourney
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational seminar, this quote can be shared to emphasize the importance of valuing the journey of life over static achievements.
More from Alain De Botton
All quotes →Taking architecture seriously therefore makes some singular and strenuous demands upon us...It means conceding that we are inconveniently vulnerable to the colour of our wallpaper and that our sense of purpose may be derailed by an unfortunate bedspread
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The more closely we analyze what we consider 'sexy,' the more clearly we will understand that eroticism is the feeling of excitement we experience at finding another human being who shares our values and our sense of the meaning of existence.
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Good books put a finger on emotions that are deeply our own - but that we could never have described on our own.
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The challenge of modern relationships: how to prove more interesting than the other's smartphone.
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It is the most ambitious and driven among us who are the most sorely in need of having our reckless hopes dampened through immersive dousings in the darkness which religions have explored. This is a particular priority for secular Americans, perhaps the most anxious and disappointed people on earth, for their nation infuses them with the most extreme hopes about what they may be able to achieve in their working lives and relationships.
Alain De BottonRead
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