--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is the first principle of life…" description: "\"Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness basically means well-being. It is always good and always a choice... We need to make the choice to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/alexandra-stoddard-8141_always_happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life_229790.jpg" --- # Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness… ![“Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness basically means well-being. It is always good and always a choice... We need to make the choice to be happy in a particular situation, just as it is, and at a given moment.” quote by Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/alexandra-stoddard-8141_always_happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life_229790.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/alexandra-stoddard-8141_always_happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life_229790.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/alexandra-stoddard-8141_always_happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life_229790.jpg) > “Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness basically means well-being. It is always good and always a choice... We need to make the choice to be happy in a particular situation, just as it is, and at a given moment.” [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Posits happiness as a deliberate choice and foundational life principle, emphasizing well‑being. **In simple terms:** Happiness is a conscious choice and core to life. Key Takeaway Choose happiness in each moment. Themes happiness well‑being choice philosophy Mood optimistic reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily gratitude - mindful breathing - positive affirmations - stress management Key Concepts positive psychology mindset self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice choosing happiness? - What prevents you from feeling well‑being? A Different Perspective Ignoring external constraints can be unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) ## Related quotes > [My message is that happiness is the first principle of life. But you must choose it. We all have pain, but suffering is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/my-message-is-that-happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life-but-you/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“A sense of growth is so important to happiness that it’s often preferable to be progressing to the summit rather than to be at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/a-sense-of-growth-is-so-important-to-happiness-that-it-s-often/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Philosophers should consider the fact that the greatest happiness principle can easily be made an excuse for a benevolent dictatorship. We should replace it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/philosophers-should-consider-the-fact-that-the-greatest-happiness/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest-Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-creed-which-accepts-as-the-foundation-of-morals-utility-or-the/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The Church as a divine society possess an internal principle of life which is capable of assimilating the most diverse materials and imprinting her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/the-church-as-a-divine-society-possess-an-internal-principle-of-life/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [In Aristotle the mind, regarded as the principle of life, divides into nutrition, sensation, and faculty of thought, corresponding to the inner most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-wundt/in-aristotle-the-mind-regarded-as-the-principle-of-life-divides-into/) [Wilhelm Wundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-wundt/) > [“Ram became revered because he functioned on the basis of the principle that life was not just about pleasure and hoarding things: it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/ram-became-revered-because-he-functioned-on-the-basis-of-the/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) > [This I consider to be a valuable principle in life: Do no thing in excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/this-i-consider-to-be-a-valuable-principle-in-life-do-no-thing-in/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [To me this is the first principle of life, the foundational principle, and a lesson you can't learn at the feet of any wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/to-me-this-is-the-first-principle-of-life-the-foundational-principle/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The principle of life is that life responds by corresponding; your life becomes the thing you have decided it shall be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-charles-barker/the-principle-of-life-is-that-life-responds-by-corresponding-your/) [Raymond Charles Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-charles-barker/) > [Life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes terribly cruel. Each day should starts with yourself -- with you making up your mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtybear/life-is-a-journey-often-difficult-and-sometimes-terribly-cruel-each/) Curtybear > [It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/it-is-a-paradoxical-but-profoundly-true-and-important-principle-of/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [The only principle I can see in this life, is that one must forfeit the less for the greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-only-principle-i-can-see-in-this-life-is-that-one-must-forfeit/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“She's against it on principle, and life isn't run on principles but by adjustments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-s-against-it-on-principle-and-life-isn-t-run-on-principles-but-by/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Long ago made it a principle of my life to cultivate a positive frame of mind, to strive to project it and to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/long-ago-made-it-a-principle-of-my-life-to-cultivate-a-positive-frame/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) ## More by Alexandra Stoddard > [Unused rooms are such bad feng shui, really bad energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/unused-rooms-are-such-bad-feng-shui-really-bad-energy/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [I'm an interior designer from the soul. It's not about just putting things in a room. It's much deeper and broader. It's about self-discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/i-m-an-interior-designer-from-the-soul-it-s-not-about-just-putting/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Each of us must become impassioned, finding meaning and self-fulfillment in our own life's journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/each-of-us-must-become-impassioned-finding-meaning-and-self/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Colors are important. People are in clinical depression whether they are on medication or not. Neutrals are another form of medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/colors-are-important-people-are-in-clinical-depression-whether-they/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/what-we-do-today-right-now-will-have-an-accumulated-effect-on-all-our/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [A home should be an intimate autobiography of the things that you like. One of the things I'm so keen on expressing is that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/a-home-should-be-an-intimate-autobiography-of-the-things-that-you/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [I love people and care about them, and I felt I had a gift to cheer people up. If I could get into their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/i-love-people-and-care-about-them-and-i-felt-i-had-a-gift-to-cheer/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Being a mother and grandmother is the best of the best in my life. My grandchildren multiply the joy my daughters bring me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/being-a-mother-and-grandmother-is-the-best-of-the-best-in-my-life-my/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Don't feel you have to buy something to sit in or at. Buy something you are emotionally attached to and build your design around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/don-t-feel-you-have-to-buy-something-to-sit-in-or-at-buy-something/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Unhappy people make me feel like I've done something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/unhappy-people-make-me-feel-like-i-ve-done-something-wrong/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Put a picture of yourself as a child in view somewhere, to remind yourself to be playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/put-a-picture-of-yourself-as-a-child-in-view-somewhere-to-remind/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“The only life worth living is the one we take responsibility for choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/the-only-life-worth-living-is-the-one-we-take-responsibility-for/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [We have to establish time boundaries and learn how to say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/we-have-to-establish-time-boundaries-and-learn-how-to-say-no/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“An inspired letter can be as riveting as a stare. It can move us to tears, spur us to action, provoke us, uplift us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/an-inspired-letter-can-be-as-riveting-as-a-stare-it-can-move-us-to/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [The world is extremely interesting to a joyful soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/the-world-is-extremely-interesting-to-a-joyful-soul/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) [Explore all 84 Alexandra Stoddard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness basically means well-being. 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