Friday, January 23, 2009

That's all

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Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.
- Robertson Davies
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15 comments:

Rachel said...

Great quote! I said something similar to someone else the other day:something to the effect that if you spend your life pursuing happiness, you'll never be happy with the life you have.

furiousBall said...

very good quote, most people fill themselves so full with a false sense of entitlement they completely lose the perspective of just what is good and already in their lives.

Dumdad said...

Good quote. Too many of us say, "I just want to be happy!" (myself sometimes, I admit) without considering what that means. Stuff happens and happiness happens and vice versa, so to speak.

Ian Lidster said...

I like that -- mainly because I agree with it.

david mcmahon said...

Happiness is always close at hand and sometimes it needs to be awakened.

kimber said...

J'adore Robertson Davies....

VioletSky said...

The best comedians are unhappy.

The best creations come from unhappy people.

So, he's right. (but he would be, he is Robertson Davies)

Anonymous said...

I'm going with the glandular explanation.

Anonymous said...

It's cool when you're able to say stuff and make it sound really profound. I'd be happy if I could do that. And make money at it. And invent something to reverse the aging process. Yup. Then I'd be really happy

That girl said...

Words to ponder...

Voyager said...

Which of Davies' books did that come from? I adore the Manticore.
V.

Jazz said...

Rachel - Happiness ain't at the end of the road; happiness is the road to quote a Marillion song.

Fuball - how true

Dumdad - and sometimes it's staring us in the face and we don't even realize it.

Ian - of course you agree, we're cosmic twins... or something.

David - indeed. sometimes a little push is all that's needed.

Kimber - moi aussi.

VioletSky - Davies was indeed brilliant.

Citizen - Who knows where it comes from. I'm just happy I'm one of the lucky ones with the "right" glands - now that I'm getting older at any rate.

XUP - maybe if we get together we can find a way to profoundly and happily reverse the aging process.

TG - indeed

Voyager - I have no clue. It just popped up on my Google page one day when I was feeling distinctly disgruntled and unhappy. Was it Karma kicking me in the ass?

lime said...

i think i very much needed to read this quote. thank you.

and thanks for stopping by my place. :)

imac said...

To be Happy, you have had to be sad.

Love your photos of rocks n trees ect, well captured.

Thanks for your visit and your comments.

Jazz said...

Lime - I'll be back. I'm definitely sold. Plus the fact that we frequent a lot of the same blogs... well I'm sure your place will be right up there with my faves now.

iMac - That's true. Without sadness you can't appreciate happiness I think. Thanks for stopping by and I'll definitely be back.