I say, I can not identify that thing which is called…
““I say, I can not identify that thing which is called happiness, that thing whose token is a laugh, or a smile, or a silent serenity on the lip. I may have been happy, but it is not in my conscious memory now. Nor do I feel a longing for it, as though I had never had it; my spirit seeks different food from happiness, for I think I have a suspicion of what it is. I have suffered wretchedness, but not because of the absence of happiness, and without praying for happiness. I pray for peace -- for motionlessness -- for the feeling of myself, as of some plant, absorbing life without seeking it, and existing without individual sensation. I feel that there can be no perfect peace in individualness. Therefore, I hope one day to feel myself drank up into the pervading spirit animating all things. I feel I am an exile here. I still go straying.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He distinguishes happiness from deeper peace, seeking a timeless, selfless connection with the world rather than fleeting joy.
In simple terms: He wants peace, not just happiness.
Key Takeaway
Seek lasting inner peace over temporary joy.
Themes
spirituality
existentialism
contentment
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- meditation
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
inner peace
self-transcendence
philosophy of happiness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true peace feel like?
- Can happiness be achieved without peace?
A Different Perspective
Peace may be elusive in modern life.