Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. If anyone finds out he'll become happy at once.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often overlook their own happiness and fail to recognize it when it exists.
This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky suggests that individuals frequently remain unaware of their own happiness, leading to feelings of unhappiness. It implies that the realization of one's own contentment can lead to an immediate shift in perspective, transforming one's emotional state.
Themes
HappinessAwarenessContentmentPerspectiveEmotional State
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about mental well-being, one might reference this quote to illustrate the importance of recognizing personal happiness.
More from Fyodor Dostoevsky
All quotes βWhat if, when this fog scatters and flies upward, the whole rotten, slimey city goes with it, rises with the fog and vanishes like smoke.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Similar quotes
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
Victor HugoRead
When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things - not the great occasions - that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.
Bob HopeRead
I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.
Martha WashingtonRead
Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright
Bob MarleyRead
I think no matter what you look like, the key is to first of all be happy with yourself. And then you know if you want to try to improve things that you don't like about yourself, then do it after your appreciate yourself.
AdeleRead
Whether happiness may come or not, one should try and prepare one's self to do without it.
George EliotRead