Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.
Interpretation
Happiness is often pursued but can be found in the simple moments of life.
In this quote, Bertolt Brecht highlights the irony of the human pursuit of happiness. Many people actively search for happiness, fixating on distant goals or ideals, all the while overlooking the fact that true happiness is often found in the present moment and in the small, everyday occurrences around them.
In practice
In a motivational speech about finding joy in everyday life.
The shrill voices of those who give orders Are full of fear like the squeakings of Piglets awaiting the butcher's knife, as their fat arses Sweat with anxiety in their office chairs.... Fear rules not only those who are ruled, but The rulers too.
We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.
We attacked a foreign people and treated them like rebels. As you know, it's all right to treat barbarians barbarically. It's the desire to be barbaric that makes governments call their enemies barbarians.
War is like love, it always finds a way.
Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.
Recently my fingers have developed a prejudice against comparatives. They all follow this pattern: a squirrel is smaller than a tree; a bird is more musical than a tree. Each of us is the strongest one in his or her own skin. Characteristics should take off their hats to one another, instead of spitting in each other's faces.
If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.
When we determine to dwell on the good and excellent things in life, we will be so full of those things that they will tend to swallow our problems.
At my age, any day above ground and vertical is a good day.
Our rural ancestors, with little blest, Patient of labor when the end was rest, Indulged the day that housed their annual grain, With feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain.
Embrace your life, count your blessings, and donβt complain about what you donβt have.
One could be happy not only without love, but despite it.
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