When we are not too anxious about happiness and unhappiness, but devot — Happiness

"“Does your work make you happy?” he asked. “I don’t know what happy means anymore. I thought I was happy with Chuck and he was cheating on me. Isn’t happy just our capacity for self-deception?”"

"I think one of the best ways to face this problem of self-centeredness is to discover some cause and some purpose, some loyalty outside of yourself and give yourself to that something. The best way to handle it is not to suppress the ego but to extend the ego into objectively meaningful channels. And so many people are unhappy because they aren’t doing anything. They’re self-centered because they aren’t doing anything. They haven’t given themselves to anything and they just move around in their little circles."

"Three ounces are necessary, first of Patience, Then, of Repose & Peace; of Conscience A pound entire is needful; of Pastimes of all sorts, too, Should be gathered as much as the hand can hold; Of Pleasant Memory & of Hope three good drachms There must be at least. But they should moistened be With a liquor made from True Pleasures which rejoice the heart. Then of Loves Magic Drops, a few— But use them sparingly, for they may bring a flame Which naught but tears can drown, Grind the whole and mix therewith of Merriment, an ounce To even. Yet all this may not bring happiness Except in your Orisons you lift your voice To Him who holds the gift of health."

"I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honours, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to Fourteen: - O man! place not thy confidence in this present world!"

"Oh happiness! our beings end and aim! Good, Pleasure, Ease, Content! whateer thy name; That something still which prompts th eternal sigh, For which we bear to live, or dare to die."

"There are only two roads that lead to something like human happiness. They are marked by the words: love and achievement…. In order to be happy oneself it is necessary to make at least one other person happy…. The secret of human happiness is not in self-seeking but in self-forgetting."