Recent months especially have been filled with “happy” greetings to inspire a sense of contentment, whatever it may be for the New Year. “Happy” quotes are featured in holiday cards, daily emails, social media and all over the internet.
Here are a dozen quotes of many sent our way, reflections from the past out of the history books. Perhaps consider at least one thoughtful message to embrace every month in 2024.
“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.” —Martin Luther King Jr. / Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader / (1929-1968) / Remember MLK Day is Mon., Jan. 15, 2024.
“We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” —Bob Ross / American Painter known for “Happy Accidents” / (1942-1995)
“Many people think excitement is happiness … But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” —Thích Nhất Hạnh / Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk / (1926-2022)
“Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.” —Benjamin Franklin / Founding American statesman, philosopher, publisher and polymath. / (1706-1790) / Ben Franklin was born Jan. 17, 1706.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson / Poet, lecturer, and philosopher. / (1803-1882)
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” —Mahatma Gandhi / Revered Indian leader and advocate of nonviolent resistance / (1869-1948)
“There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path.” —Buddah / Spiritual teacher in Nepal and founder of Buddhism during the 6th century B.C.
“I have chosen to be happy because it’s good for my health.” —Voltaire / François-Marie d’Arouet, famously known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French writer and public activist. / (1694-1778)
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.” —Aristotle / Greek philosopher and polymath. / (384-322 B.C.)
“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.” —Dalai Lama XIV / Spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet. Author of The Art of Happiness in 1998. / Born July 6, 1935
“Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. Paradoxically, the one sure way not to be happy is deliberately to map out a way of life in which one would please oneself completely and exclusively.” —Eleanor Roosevelt / First Lady during the Great Depression and World War II, civil rights activist and writer. / (1894-1962)
“Don’t worry. Be happy.” —Bobby McFerrin / American Jazz Singer & Songwriter. / Born March 11, 1950.
