--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is our natural state. Happiness…" description: "\"“Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and conta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/anthony-de-mello-1331_children_happiness-is-our-natural-state-happiness_1386769.jpg" --- # Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural… ![“Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don't have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does…” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/anthony-de-mello-1331_children_happiness-is-our-natural-state-happiness_1386769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/anthony-de-mello-1331_children_happiness-is-our-natural-state-happiness_1386769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b9/anthony-de-mello-1331_children_happiness-is-our-natural-state-happiness_1386769.jpg) > ““Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don't have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don't you experience it? Because you've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions. You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!”” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## 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 inherent and unearned; we lose it by clinging to desires and false identities, and can recover it by letting go. **In simple terms:** Happiness is natural; drop desires to feel it. Key Takeaway Release attachments to rediscover innate joy. Themes happiness attachment identity spirituality Mood calm hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - daily reflection - simplifying life Key Concepts mindfulness non‑attachment inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What illusion are you holding onto? - How can you practice letting go daily? A Different Perspective Letting go can be painful and may conflict with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Easy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-life/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Society and culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-and-culture/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/happiness-is-our-natural-state-happiness-is-the-natural-state-of-2/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“Though money cannot acquire you happiness, it does not mean that both money and happiness cannot exist together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/though-money-cannot-acquire-you-happiness-it-does-not-mean-that-both/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“One cannot make plans to acquire happiness; it has to be unbidden and spontaneous only than it can give us peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rksj-rohit-kumar-singh-jadon/one-cannot-make-plans-to-acquire-happiness-it-has-to-be-unbidden-and/) RKSJ(Rohit Kumar Singh Jadon > [Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/life-is-easy-life-is-delightful-it-s-only-hard-on-your-illusions-your/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions. You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-ve-got-to-drop-something-you-ve-got-to-drop-illusions-you-don-t/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [In joy, in peace, in that soothing inner state, you will find happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/in-joy-in-peace-in-that-soothing-inner-state-you-will-find-happiness/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [“Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. The choices we make are our own decisions for how we want to live our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/contentment-is-a-state-of-happiness-and-satisfaction-the-choices-we/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [There is no point when all the material benefits of the world add up to a general state of happiness. It is the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarek-saab/there-is-no-point-when-all-the-material-benefits-of-the-world-add-up/) [Tarek Saab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarek-saab/) > [When you are in touch with the Inner Being then irrespective of the outer state, you remain in a perpetual state of happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/when-you-are-in-touch-with-the-inner-being-then-irrespective-of-the/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Misery is a state where happiness is a lie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/misery-is-a-state-where-happiness-is-a-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Philosophy takes as her aim the state of happiness...she shows us what are real and what are only apparent evils. She strips men's minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/philosophy-takes-as-her-aim-the-state-of-happiness-she-shows-us-what/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A genuine smile does not wear off too quickly, so is a state of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/a-genuine-smile-does-not-wear-off-too-quickly-so-is-a-state-of/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [We often think that money, possessions and external conditions bring happiness. I BELIEVE, it is self conciousness that determines true happiness. When I'm happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/we-often-think-that-money-possessions-and-external-conditions-bring-2/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [By happiness I mean here a deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind. This is not a mere pleasurable feeling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/by-happiness-i-mean-here-a-deep-sense-of-flourishing-that-arises-from/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“Americans are funny," Terence O'Donnell pointed out in a conversation we had about our national need to own as much as possible, including our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-fisher/americans-are-funny-terence-o-donnell-pointed-out-in-a-conversation/) [Lionel Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-fisher/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don't you experience it? Because you've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions. You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? 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