--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But no matter for that, you can be…" description: "\"But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy I am, or knowing anything about the matter,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg" --- # But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy… ![“But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy I am, or knowing anything about the matter,--- O! its quite beyond what you can understand.” quote by Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg) > “But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy I am, or knowing anything about the matter,--- O! its quite beyond what you can understand.” [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is elusive and difficult to quantify, suggesting that self‑assessment of joy is often beyond rational understanding. **In simple terms:** Happiness is hard to measure and understand. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in self‑evaluation. Themes happiness uncertainty self‑knowledge Mood introspective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - self‑reflection - mental health counseling - creative writing Key Concepts psychology existentialism literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge your own happiness? - What limits exist in measuring emotional states? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on quantifying emotions can lead to anxiety and self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guessing/) [Guessing Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guessing-happy-1847689/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-knowing-1727811/) [Happy Notwithstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-notwithstanding-1847691/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Notwithstanding Guessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notwithstanding-guessing-1847690/) [Tolerably Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerably-happy-1847688/) ## Related quotes > [“Could he ever be tolerably happy with Lucy Steele; could he, were his affection for herself out of the question, with his integrity, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/could-he-ever-be-tolerably-happy-with-lucy-steele-could-he-were-his/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [You can't be happy if you're not tolerably happy with yourself. The addition of friends adds immeasurably to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/you-can-t-be-happy-if-you-re-not-tolerably-happy-with-yourself-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Being happy is knowing how to be content with little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/being-happy-is-knowing-how-to-be-content-with-little/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [It's hard to be happy knowing you want nothing to do with me anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-3/it-s-hard-to-be-happy-knowing-you-want-nothing-to-do-with-me-anymore/) [Unknown<3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknown-3/) > [One idea I explore in my stand-up show is whether, if you try looking at the universe rationally and avoid coping mechanisms like mysticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/one-idea-i-explore-in-my-stand-up-show-is-whether-if-you-try-looking/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [You make me happy whether you know it or not I am so happy knowing you are the one that ill love for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-make-me-happy-whether-you-know-it-or-not-i-am-so-happy-knowing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There were days when she was very happy without knowing why. She was happy to be alive and breathing, when her whole being seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-chopin/there-were-days-when-she-was-very-happy-without-knowing-why-she-was/) [Kate Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-chopin/) > [It's good to be just plain happy, it's a little better to know that you're happy; but to understand that you're happy and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/it-s-good-to-be-just-plain-happy-it-s-a-little-better-to-know-that-2/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [I don't care what it says, I'm just happy knowing there's an old saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-don-t-care-what-it-says-i-m-just-happy-knowing-there-s-an-old-saying/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [“Do right for your own sake, and be happy in knowing that your neighbor will certainly share in the benefits resulting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/do-right-for-your-own-sake-and-be-happy-in-knowing-that-your-neighbor/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How can I ever be happy when knowing you're not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-can-i-ever-be-happy-when-knowing-you-re-not-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are men who are happy without knowing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/there-are-men-who-are-happy-without-knowing-it/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [“If you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy knowing that you had spent the last day of your life doing just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-c-p-irvine/if-you-were-to-die-tomorrow-would-you-be-happy-knowing-that-you-had/) [Ian C.P. Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-c-p-irvine/) > [I'm happy not knowing. Most of the time (except when I'm a neurotic mess about uncertainty) I feel glad that the horizon is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jamison/i-m-happy-not-knowing-most-of-the-time-except-when-i-m-a-neurotic/) [Leslie Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jamison/) > [Being happy is knowing that you can live with no regrets and knowing that there's no way somebody can take that away from you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaidee/being-happy-is-knowing-that-you-can-live-with-no-regrets-and-knowing/) [Zaidee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaidee/) ## More by Ann Radcliffe > [Wisdom can boast no higher attainment than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/wisdom-can-boast-no-higher-attainment-than-happiness/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“Towards evening, they wound down precipices, black with forest of cypress, pine and cedar, into a glen so savage and secluded, that, if Solicitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/towards-evening-they-wound-down-precipices-black-with-forest-of/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“At some distance from the tribunal stood a large iron frame, which Vivaldi conjectured to be the rack, and near it another, resembling, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/at-some-distance-from-the-tribunal-stood-a-large-iron-frame-which/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [I ought not to doubt the steadiness of your affection. Yet such is the inconsistency of real love, that it is always awake to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/i-ought-not-to-doubt-the-steadiness-of-your-affection-yet-such-is-the/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [How strange it is, that a fool or knave, with riches, should be treated with more respect by the world, than a good man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/how-strange-it-is-that-a-fool-or-knave-with-riches-should-be-treated/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“She had passed the spring of youth, but her wit prolonged the triumph of its reign, and they mutually assisted the fame of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/she-had-passed-the-spring-of-youth-but-her-wit-prolonged-the-triumph/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“My dear sir,’ said Emily, timidly, ‘what mean those tears?’—they speak, I fear, another language—they plead for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/my-dear-sir-said-emily-timidly-what-mean-those-tears-they-speak-i/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then, When your eyes roll so. Alas! why gnaw you so your nether lip? Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/and-yet-i-fear-you-for-you-are-fatal-then-when-your-eyes-roll-so-alas/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“Why all this terror?' said he, in a tremulous voice. 'Hear me, Emily: I come not to alarm you; no, by Heaven! I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/why-all-this-terror-said-he-in-a-tremulous-voice-hear-me-emily-i-come/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [I wish that all those, who on this night are not merry enough to speak before they think, may ever after be grave enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/i-wish-that-all-those-who-on-this-night-are-not-merry-enough-to-speak/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [Virtue and taste are nearly the same, for virtue is little more than active taste, and the most delicate affections of each combine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/virtue-and-taste-are-nearly-the-same-for-virtue-is-little-more-than/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“She wanted to complain, not to be consoled; and it was by exclamations of complaint only, Emily learned the particular circumstances of her affliction”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/she-wanted-to-complain-not-to-be-consoled-and-it-was-by-exclamations/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [“I dare not say what that fate would be,” interrupted the father, “or what my own, should I consent to assist you; but, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/i-dare-not-say-what-that-fate-would-be-interrupted-the-father-or-what/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [What are riches - grandeur - health itself, to the luxury of a pure conscience, the health of the soul; - and what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/what-are-riches-grandeur-health-itself-to-the-luxury-of-a-pure/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) > [Do you believe your heart to be, indeed, so hardened, that you can look without emotion on the suffering, to which you would condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/do-you-believe-your-heart-to-be-indeed-so-hardened-that-you-can-look/) [Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) [Explore all 90 Ann Radcliffe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/) ## More Guessing quotes > [Life has taught me one big lesson, always keep the girlies guessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/life-has-taught-me-one-big-lesson-always-keep-the-girlies-guessing/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“This whole thing," I said "is going to come down to guessing who isn't what they look like." "Who is?" Karrin asked, her hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/this-whole-thing-i-said-is-going-to-come-down-to-guessing-who-isn-t/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [You make a movie and it's like convincing people to go on an expedition with you. You think you know where it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ayer/you-make-a-movie-and-it-s-like-convincing-people-to-go-on-an/) [David Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ayer/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I don't think I have any set image, and I don't want one. If I think I'm getting a particular image, I try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-singh/i-don-t-think-i-have-any-set-image-and-i-don-t-want-one-if-i-think-i/) [Ranveer Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-singh/) > [“All this was very loose guessing, and I don't pretend it was ingenious or scientific. I wasn't any kind of Sherlock Holmes. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/all-this-was-very-loose-guessing-and-i-don-t-pretend-it-was-ingenious/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [Forever this time," he said as Sawyer strode toward them. Tara sighed blissfully. "You know what this means, right?" "I'm done guessing," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/forever-this-time-he-said-as-sawyer-strode-toward-them-tara-sighed/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [I love enemies, though not in the Christian way. They amuse me, excite my blood. Being always on one’s guard, catching every glance, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/i-love-enemies-though-not-in-the-christian-way-they-amuse-me-excite/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [Never keep a woman guessing, shes sure to find the answer some were else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-keep-a-woman-guessing-shes-sure-to-find-the-answer-some-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Empowering Women 101: If a normal man wants you he will let you know. You won't have to guess. He will move mountains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/empowering-women-101-if-a-normal-man-wants-you-he-will-let-you-know/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“I have long left the notion of guessing the mind of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-schamel/i-have-long-left-the-notion-of-guessing-the-mind-of-god/) [Amber Schamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-schamel/) > [My greatest desire as an actor is to keep people guessing and not do anything close to what I did last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-schreiber/my-greatest-desire-as-an-actor-is-to-keep-people-guessing-and-not-do/) [Pablo Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-schreiber/) [Browse all 281 Guessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy I am, or knowing anything about the matter,--- O! its quite beyond what you can understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Radcliffe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolerably-happy-perhaps/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Guessing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolerably-happy-perhaps/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/ann-radcliffe-7558_guessing_but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolera_968873.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But no matter for that, you can be tolerably happy, perhaps, notwithstanding; but as for guessing how happy…” — Ann Radcliffe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Radcliffe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But no matter for that, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolerably-happy-perhaps/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/but-no-matter-for-that-you-can-be-tolerably-happy-perhaps/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```