Happiness

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Hapiness and Ocupation of Mind (11)

Whether we are in a pleasant or a painful state depends, ultimately, upon the kind of matter that pervades and engrosses our consciousness. In this respect, purely intellectual occupation, for the mi...

Greatness of Soul (12)

A man who has once perceived, however temporarily and however briefly, what makes greatness of soul, can no longer be happy if he allows himself to be petty, self-seeking, troubled by trivial misfort...

Busy Minds (13)

The movements of exaltation which belong to genius are egotistic by their very nature. A calm, clear mind, not subject to the spasms and crises which are so often met with in creative or intensely pe...

Happy as a Pig (14)

(Written in old age) I have never belonged wholeheartedly to a country, a state, nor to a circle of friends, nor even to my own family. When I was still a rather precocious young man, I already reali...

Limitations Always Make for Happiness (15)

We are happy in proportion as our range of vision, our sphere of work, our points of contact with the world, are restricted and circumscribed. We are more likely to feel worried and anxious if these ...

Consistent Happiness (16)

One's true happiness depends more upon one's own judgement of one's self, or a consciousness of rectitude in action and intention, and the approbation of those few, who judge impartially, than upon t...

Hapiness is Always Elsewhere (17)

Happiness is the test of all rules of conduct and the end of life. But... this end was only to be attained by not making it the direct end. Those only are happy, I thought, who have their minds fixed...

Happiness does not Demand Many Possessions (18)

Care should be taken not to build the happiness of life upon a broad foundation - not to require a great many things in order to be happy. For happiness on such a foundation is the most easily underm...
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
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On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
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On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
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