Quotes on Happiness

Human beings are not intrinsically selfish, which isolates us from others. We are essentially social animals who depend on others to meet our needs. We achieve happiness, prosperity and progress through social interaction. Therefore, having a kind and helpful attitude contributes to our own and others' happiness.

I'm trying to broaden the scope of positive psychology well beyond the smiley face. Happiness is just one-fifth of what human beings choose to do.

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.

Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life.

Material objects give rise to physical happiness, while spiritual development gives rise to mental happiness. Since we experience both physical and mental happiness, we need both material and spiritual development. This is why, for our own good and that of society we need to balance material progress with inner development.

A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change.

Associate with the noblest people you can find; read the best books; live with the mighty; but learn to be happy alone.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Those influences which really make and mar human happiness and greatness are beyond the reach of the law. The law can keep neighbors from trespassing, but it cannot put neighborly courtesy and good-will into their relations.

One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy and only useful as he contributes his influences for the finer callings in life.

If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.

Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can't be God's will? The God who made giraffes, a baby's fingernails, a puppy's tail, a crooknecked squash, the bobwhite's call, and a young girl's giggle, has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that.

It is wrong to assume that men of immense wealth are always happy.

They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in the winter woods

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle.

I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black: it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.

The perfection of wisdom, and the end of true philosophy is to proportion our wants to our possessions, our ambitions to our capacities, we will then be a happy and a virtuous people.

It is the pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness.

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.