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
Happiness is impossible for longer than 15 minutes. We are the descendants of creatures who, above all else, worried.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness is fleeting, as our natural tendency is to worry.
In this quote, Alain De Botton reflects on the transient nature of happiness, suggesting that it can rarely be sustained for long periods, particularly because humans are predisposed to worry. This speaks to the underlying anxiety and concerns that often overshadow moments of joy, highlighting a fundamental aspect of human psychology where happiness is often fleeting and worries take precedence.
Themes
HappinessWorryFleetingHuman NatureAnxiety
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about embracing lifeβs brief moments of joy.
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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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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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