"No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks."
"The strongest argument against totalitarianism may be a recognition of a universal human nature; that all humans have innate desires for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The doctrine of the blank slate... is a totalitarian's dream."
"Objects we ardently pursue bring little happiness when gained; most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources."
"Happiness is a sunbeam which may pass through a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray; nay, when it strikes on a kindred heart, like the converged light on a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. It is not perfected till it is shared."
"The true basis of morality is utility; that is, the adaptation of our actions to the promotion of the general welfare and happiness; the endeavour so to rule our lives that we may serve and bless mankind."
"It is a lie that our anger justifies our impulse to hurt or ignore our antagonists. We are to forgive to be forgiven. To wait for them to repent before we forgive and repent is to allow them to choose for us a delay which could cost us happiness here and hereafter."
"My idea of perfect happiness is a healthy family, peace between nations, and all the critics die."
"One must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness."
"I just want to say to women, 'Be yourself - it's the inner beauty that counts. You are your own best friend, the key to your own happiness, and as soon as you understand that - and it takes a few heartbreaks - you can be happy.'"
"Happiness is a critical factor for work, and work is a critical factor for happiness. In one of those life-isn't-fair results, it turns out that the happy outperform the less happy. Happy people work more hours each week - and they work more in their free time, too."
"The applause was so loud and insistent that I had to respond with several encores. I was numb with happiness, when it was over, I knew that this alone must be my life and my world."
"Happiness is making your dreams come true."
"True refuge is that which allows us to be at home, at peace, to discover true happiness. The only thing that can give us true refuge is the awareness and love that is intrinsic to who we are. Ultimately, it's our own true nature."
"Now an infinite happiness cannot be purchased by any price less than that which is infinite in value; and infinity of merit can only result from a nature that is infinitely divine or perfect."
"Happiness is the bomb cosmetic! When I'm smiling, sometimes I'm giving thanks for all the things I have rather than worrying about the things I don't."
"Man is never always happy, and very often only a brief period of happiness is granted him in this world; so why escape from this dream which cannot last long?"
"I think success is finding happiness! Everyone certainly has different goals in life, and things that are important to them, and also things that are not important to them."
"My grandmother had six kids - one died as an infant - and she was dirt-poor, and all her kids got an education. And my mom grew up poor. And they both worked so hard and cultivated so much of their own happiness. I wanted to have that like an amulet. Not like armor, but like a magic feather. Like Dumbo's magic feather."
"No one has a right to consume happiness without producing it."
"No matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right."
"Don't wish me happiness - I don't expect to be happy it's gotten beyond that, somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor - I will need them all."
"The happiness of this life depends less on what befalls you than the way in which you take it."
"If my life has had a theme, I suppose it has been a typical American theme in that, for most of it, I have been looking for happiness and success."
"Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops."
"Action may not bring happiness but there is no happiness without action."
"I always was a rich person because money's not related to happiness."
"Happiness is a hard master, particularly other people's happiness."
"Contempt for happiness is usually contempt for other people's happiness, and is an elegant disguise for hatred of the human race."
"Wisdom allows nothing to be good that will not be so forever; no man to be happy but he that needs no other happiness than what he has within himself; no man to be great or powerful that is not master of himself."
"The Dalai Lama. He is a very wise man of great inner peace who believes that happiness is the purpose of our lives. Through his teachings and leadership, he continues to make this world a better place in which to live."