--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We could have been happy. I know that…" description: "\"We could have been happy. I know that, and it is perhaps the hardest thing to know.\" — Ally Condie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/ally-condie-434_happiness_we-could-have-been-happy-i-know-that-and_681053.jpg" --- # We could have been happy. I know that, and it is perhaps… ![“We could have been happy. I know that, and it is perhaps the hardest thing to know.” quote by Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/ally-condie-434_happiness_we-could-have-been-happy-i-know-that-and_681053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/ally-condie-434_happiness_we-could-have-been-happy-i-know-that-and_681053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/ally-condie-434_happiness_we-could-have-been-happy-i-know-that-and_681053.jpg) > “We could have been happy. I know that, and it is perhaps the hardest thing to know.” [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing that happiness was possible can be painful because it highlights what is missing, making acceptance difficult. **In simple terms:** Knowing happiness is possible can hurt. Key Takeaway Acknowledge past possibilities while moving forward. Themes regret hope self‑discovery Mood melancholic thoughtful Type literary emotional When to use this quote - breakups - career setbacks - lost opportunities - personal growth Key Concepts psychology nostalgia acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What does this realization teach you about your current choices? - How can you transform regret into motivation? A Different Perspective It may romanticize longing over actionable healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Happy Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-know-426714/) [Hardest thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest-thing/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-hardest-326316/) ## Related quotes > [Do you know what is the hardest thing in life? To make a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/do-you-know-what-is-the-hardest-thing-in-life-to-make-a-choice/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“Will I ever be happy again?” “Do we even know we’re happy when we’re happy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-ross/will-i-ever-be-happy-again-do-we-even-know-we-re-happy-when-we-re/) [Rodney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-ross/) > [You make me so happy & always know exactly what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-make-me-so-happy-always-know-exactly-what-to-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girls are the easiest to get to know but the hardest to forget! Cheers to that mis miamies!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-k/girls-are-the-easiest-to-get-to-know-but-the-hardest-to-forget-cheers/) [Sarah K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-k/) > [“The most successful people I know are also the hardest working people I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reese/the-most-successful-people-i-know-are-also-the-hardest-working-people/) [Brian Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reese/) > [We know that the hardest work is to keep yourself open to the world that technology hasn't tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-esquivel/we-know-that-the-hardest-work-is-to-keep-yourself-open-to-the-world/) [Laura Esquivel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-esquivel/) > [“If you must know anything, know that the hardest task is to live only once. That a woman on a sinking ship becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ocean-vuong/if-you-must-know-anything-know-that-the-hardest-task-is-to-live-only/) [Ocean Vuong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ocean-vuong/) > [I love you and you know but the hardest thing for me to face is that you are taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sencion/i-love-you-and-you-know-but-the-hardest-thing-for-me-to-face-is-that/) [Maria Sencion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sencion/) > [You know I'm the hardest. You know that my art is applauded" or "This is my fucked up life, don't try this at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/you-know-i-m-the-hardest-you-know-that-my-art-is-applauded-or-this-is/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [You want to know the hardest thing about being smart? What? I pretty much always know what's going to happen next; there's no suspense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/you-want-to-know-the-hardest-thing-about-being-smart-what-i-pretty/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [You know what the hardest thing is? What nobody wants to understand -- is me. People want their memories of me to be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/you-know-what-the-hardest-thing-is-what-nobody-wants-to-understand-is/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Let it go. Let it roll right off your shoulder. Don't you know the hardest part is over?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/let-it-go-let-it-roll-right-off-your-shoulder-don-t-you-know-the/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [You know the hardest part of this? The hardest part... is cleaning up afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shifu/you-know-the-hardest-part-of-this-the-hardest-part-is-cleaning-up/) [Shifu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shifu/) > [“Well, you know, sometimes we're hardest on the people we know we can count on not to ditch us no matter how lousy we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/well-you-know-sometimes-we-re-hardest-on-the-people-we-know-we-can/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [I have faith in the idea that there will be another hit, but I'm also totally happy if there's not, because I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gnash/i-have-faith-in-the-idea-that-there-will-be-another-hit-but-i-m-also/) [Gnash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gnash/) ## More by Ally Condie > [“But I also know we can’t plan on anyone else rescuing us. We have to do it ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/but-i-also-know-we-can-t-plan-on-anyone-else-rescuing-us-we-have-to/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Ever since the day of the mistake with my Match. I've never known which life is my true one. Even with the reassurances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/ever-since-the-day-of-the-mistake-with-my-match-i-ve-never-known/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She knows how things fit together and move, but so few people understand her. She’s the most solitary person I’ve ever known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-knows-how-things-fit-together-and-move-but-so-few-people/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“There are many of them in the world, I think, good men and women with their frail deeds. Wondering what might have been, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/there-are-many-of-them-in-the-world-i-think-good-men-and-women-with/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“You wouldn't think you can forget but sometimes you can—for a moment or two. I've never been able to decide if I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/you-wouldn-t-think-you-can-forget-but-sometimes-you-can-for-a-moment/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“It doesn't matter much anyway. I haven't slept well since he left. I can't dream. In some ways, that's the hardest part of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/it-doesn-t-matter-much-anyway-i-haven-t-slept-well-since-he-left-i/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She's right. We would compose poems about love and tell stories that have been heard in some form before. But it would be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-right-we-would-compose-poems-about-love-and-tell-stories-that/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“How we never, ever fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/how-we-never-ever-fight/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Perhaps it is because now I live in his story. Now I am a part of his, and he of mine, and the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/perhaps-it-is-because-now-i-live-in-his-story-now-i-am-a-part-of-his/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Of course, one person can be the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/of-course-one-person-can-be-the-world/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I wonder if they'll be able to resist. It's not exactly easy to save things for the future when the present is so uncertain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-wonder-if-they-ll-be-able-to-resist-it-s-not-exactly-easy-to-save/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I think of how many invisible injuries are possible. Ones scored on your heart, your brain, your bones. How do we all stand? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-think-of-how-many-invisible-injuries-are-possible-ones-scored-on/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I see a glint in her eye as she looks at me and it makes me smile. Hold our breath? she seems to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-see-a-glint-in-her-eye-as-she-looks-at-me-and-it-makes-me-smile/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“What is the point of having something lovely if you never share it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/what-is-the-point-of-having-something-lovely-if-you-never-share-it/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She’s trying to figure out the Plague on her own and not taking what the Rising says for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-trying-to-figure-out-the-plague-on-her-own-and-not-taking-what/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) [Explore all 526 Ally Condie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We could have been happy. 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