--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But whether he was happy or not was hard…" description: "\"But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. Probably he was neither, just as a plant is neither.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/anonymous-1_happy_but-whether-he-was-happy-or-not-was-hard_98037.jpg" --- # But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. Probably… ![“But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. Probably he was neither, just as a plant is neither.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/anonymous-1_happy_but-whether-he-was-happy-or-not-was-hard_98037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/anonymous-1_happy_but-whether-he-was-happy-or-not-was-hard_98037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b7/anonymous-1_happy_but-whether-he-was-happy-or-not-was-hard_98037.jpg) > “But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. Probably he was neither, just as a plant is neither.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests the subject’s emotional state is ambiguous, likening it to a plant’s indifferent existence. **In simple terms:** He was neither happy nor sad, like a plant. Key Takeaway Emotions can be neutral or indeterminate. Themes emotion ambiguity philosophy Mood melancholic contemplative Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - grief counseling - artistic interpretation Key Concepts existential neutrality Practical Applications - Use neutral language when describing unclear affect Questions to Reflect On - Can neutrality be a coping strategy? - How does language shape our perception of emotional states? A Different Perspective Metaphor may oversimplify complex human affective experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Happy Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-hard-1198051/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-say-348572/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Probably Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-just-887088/) ## Related quotes > [You know why it's so hard to be happy? Because we find it so hard to let go of the things that make us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-why-it-s-so-hard-to-be-happy-because-we-find-it-so-hard-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm done trying to keep everyone happy, it's too hard. So I have decided to do and say what the f\*\*\* I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-done-trying-to-keep-everyone-happy-it-s-too-hard-so-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know why it's so hard to be happy? Because you find it so hard to let go of the things that make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-why-it-s-so-hard-to-be-happy-because-you-find-it-so-hard-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When life give you lemons you probably just found lemons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-give-you-lemons-you-probably-just-found-lemons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes love just can't make you stay When you're happy the hard way :/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/every-avenue/sometimes-love-just-can-t-make-you-stay-when-you-re-happy-the-hard-way/) [Every Avenue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/every-avenue/) > [I think in defeat you grope for things that are happy, and it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-think-in-defeat-you-grope-for-things-that-are-happy-and-it-s-hard/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Shit is hard to say but he love went sour before it was even sweet shit what happened to the old days where kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shit-is-hard-to-say-but-he-love-went-sour-before-it-was-even-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know why it's hard to be happy? Because you find it hard to let go of the things that make you sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meaningful-shit/you-know-why-it-s-hard-to-be-happy-because-you-find-it-hard-to-let-go/) [Meaningful Shit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meaningful-shit/) > [I am happy that my hard work in 'Chandramukhi' has been recognized well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidyasagar/i-am-happy-that-my-hard-work-in-chandramukhi-has-been-recognized-well/) [Vidyasagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidyasagar/) > [I really like you. Ugh, why does that have to be so hard so say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-like-you-ugh-why-does-that-have-to-be-so-hard-so-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its hard to say what's wrong when nothing is going right!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-hard-to-say-what-s-wrong-when-nothing-is-going-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its hard to say good bie when we know we are never gonna meet again...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-hard-to-say-good-bie-when-we-know-we-are-never-gonna-meet-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“G.C. Cameron on the soundtrack singing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday." Bullshit. Sometimes, yesterday says goodbye to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/g-c-cameron-on-the-soundtrack-singing-it-s-so-hard-to-say-goodbye-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hard to say I'm sorry... After all thats been said and done, you're just a part of me that I cant let go...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hard-to-say-i-m-sorry-after-all-thats-been-said-and-done-you-re-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is it, I wanted to smile but I cant, I wanted to be happy but its hard... oh headache why are you doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missyrie/this-is-it-i-wanted-to-smile-but-i-cant-i-wanted-to-be-happy-but-its/) [Missyrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missyrie/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Happy quotes > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [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/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [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/) > [Yes, I am happy that my work is recognised, and it is wonderful to be acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/yes-i-am-happy-that-my-work-is-recognised-and-it-is-wonderful-to-be/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [“So if we’re both so happy, why are we sad?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/so-if-we-re-both-so-happy-why-are-we-sad/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [I know George Burns was a very happy man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/i-know-george-burns-was-a-very-happy-man/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [I'm happy. I'm always with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-m-happy-i-m-always-with-a-smile/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-an-attitude-we-either-make-ourselves-miserable-or-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm happy to be considered desirable. I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-happy-to-be-considered-desirable-i-love-it/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) [Browse all 12,897 Happy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. 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