--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is that the only time I'm happy…" description: "\"The truth is that the only time I'm happy is when I'm doing absolutely nothing. I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/ava-gardner-8168_doing-nothing_the-truth-is-that-the-only-time-i-m-happ_3170361.jpg" --- # The truth is that the only time I'm happy is when I'm… ![“The truth is that the only time I'm happy is when I'm doing absolutely nothing. I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feel like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” quote by Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/ava-gardner-8168_doing-nothing_the-truth-is-that-the-only-time-i-m-happ_3170361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/ava-gardner-8168_doing-nothing_the-truth-is-that-the-only-time-i-m-happ_3170361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/ava-gardner-8168_doing-nothing_the-truth-is-that-the-only-time-i-m-happ_3170361.jpg) > “The truth is that the only time I'm happy is when I'm doing absolutely nothing. I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feel like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## 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 finds true happiness only in idle moments, viewing activity and discussion of work as burdens, and describes idleness as blissful and soothing. **In simple terms:** Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water. Key Takeaway Embrace moments of stillness. Themes happiness idleness contentment Mood reflective calm Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - relaxation - creative brainstorming - mental health breaks Key Concepts psychology of leisure anti‑work sentiment Questions to Reflect On - Why do you resist work? - What benefits can purposeful activity bring? A Different Perspective It may ignore the need for purposeful engagement in life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-feel/) [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Floating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floating/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Happy Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-doing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-happy-281329/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/doing-nothing-feels-like-floating-on-warm-water-to-me-delightful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I'm perfectly happy doing nothing. I'll hang around the house and take the dog to the park.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-garcia/i-m-perfectly-happy-doing-nothing-i-ll-hang-around-the-house-and-take/) [Jorge Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-garcia/) > [I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feels like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-don-t-understand-people-who-like-to-work-and-talk-about-it-like-it/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Be strong n move on its time for u to be happy again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cookie/be-strong-n-move-on-its-time-for-u-to-be-happy-again/) [Cookie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cookie/) > [It really hurts me every time I see you happy with someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-really-hurts-me-every-time-i-see-you-happy-with-someone-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here.”\[”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-time-to-be-happy-is-now-the-place-to-be-happy-is-here/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People should take time to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grandma-moses/people-should-take-time-to-be-happy/) [Grandma Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grandma-moses/) > [“Because I was more often happy for other people, I got to spend more time being happy. And as I saw more light in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/because-i-was-more-often-happy-for-other-people-i-got-to-spend-more/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“You don't have to wait for happiness, because there's no time but now to be happy. You don't have to go somewhere else, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maezen-miller/you-don-t-have-to-wait-for-happiness-because-there-s-no-time-but-now/) [Karen Maezen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maezen-miller/) > [Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/happiness-is-the-only-good-the-time-to-be-happy-is-now-the-place-to/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I'm one Pia Zadora, the same way all the time. That's why I'm happy. It took me a long time to get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-zadora/i-m-one-pia-zadora-the-same-way-all-the-time-that-s-why-i-m-happy-it/) [Pia Zadora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-zadora/) > [Dont say I wish I never met him because there was a time he made you happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-say-i-wish-i-never-met-him-because-there-was-a-time-he-made-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It feels as if being alone is the hardest thing to go threw, its not, if we spent more time being happy on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-zayas/it-feels-as-if-being-alone-is-the-hardest-thing-to-go-threw-its-not/) [Xavier Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-zayas/) > [It's Time to be HAPPY again. You have to pick yourself up, keep moving and believe in yourself. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-time-to-be-happy-again-you-have-to-pick-yourself-up-keep-moving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think of Today, not Tomorrow. It's time to be Happy, not live a Life of Sorrow. Find out those things that make you Glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/think-of-today-not-tomorrow-it-s-time-to-be-happy-not-live-a-life-of/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) ## More by Ava Gardner > [It's a shame that it didn't work out with Mick. I was hopelessly in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/it-s-a-shame-that-it-didn-t-work-out-with-mick-i-was-hopelessly-in/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Then, aided by the booze, like a fool I tossed off one of those throwaway lines that would have been better thrown away. "Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/then-aided-by-the-booze-like-a-fool-i-tossed-off-one-of-those/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“Great idea," I said. "Call the police. Call the fucking police.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/great-idea-i-said-call-the-police-call-the-fucking-police/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I was born with good health and a strong body and spent years abusing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-was-born-with-good-health-and-a-strong-body-and-spent-years-abusing/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Elizabeth Taylor is not beautiful, she is pretty—I was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/elizabeth-taylor-is-not-beautiful-she-is-pretty-i-was-beautiful/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I either write the book or sell the jewels. And I'm kinda sentimental about the jewels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-either-write-the-book-or-sell-the-jewels-and-i-m-kinda-sentimental/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Mickey - the smallest husband I ever had and the biggest mistake I ever made - well, that year, it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/mickey-the-smallest-husband-i-ever-had-and-the-biggest-mistake-i-ever/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [God knows I've got so many frailties myself, I ought to be able to understand and forgive them in others. But I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/god-knows-i-ve-got-so-many-frailties-myself-i-ought-to-be-able-to/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Our phone bills were astronomical, and when I found the letters Frank wrote me the other day, the total could fill a suitcase. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/our-phone-bills-were-astronomical-and-when-i-found-the-letters-frank/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Maybe, in the final analysis, they saw me as something I wasn't and I tried to turn them into something they could never be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/maybe-in-the-final-analysis-they-saw-me-as-something-i-wasn-t-and-i/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [After my screen test, the director clapped his hands gleefully and yelled: “She can't talk! She can't act! She's sensational!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/after-my-screen-test-the-director-clapped-his-hands-gleefully-and/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Don't think for a minute that bad publicity and endless criticism don't leave their claw marks on everyone concerned. Your friends try to cheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/don-t-think-for-a-minute-that-bad-publicity-and-endless-criticism-don/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I'm not saying my own looks don't give the game away. Nothing I can do about that anymore. A nip and tuck ain't gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-m-not-saying-my-own-looks-don-t-give-the-game-away-nothing-i-can-do/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [I do owe Mickey one thing: he taught me how much I enjoyed sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/i-do-owe-mickey-one-thing-he-taught-me-how-much-i-enjoyed-sex/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [“In one scene, when I was supposed to say, "In a pig's eye you are," what came out was, "In a pig's ass you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/in-one-scene-when-i-was-supposed-to-say-in-a-pig-s-eye-you-are-what/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) [Explore all 83 Ava Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) ## More Doing nothing quotes > [Doing nothing gives me great pleasure. And believe me, I succeed wonderfully in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-nothing-gives-me-great-pleasure-and-believe-me-i-succeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But out there are many, many more people who are addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/you-are-going-to-kill-me-and-that-will-protect-society-from-me-but/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. I strongly oppose feminism because it's nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-women-i-hate-feminism-hate-may-be-an-accurate-word-but-too/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/retirement-is-wonderful-it-s-doing-nothing-without-worrying-about/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [If you can't be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-can-t-be-remarkable-perhaps-you-should-consider-doing-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The problem with lethargy is that doing nothing validates the fear that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/the-problem-with-lethargy-is-that-doing-nothing-validates-the-fear/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/talk-to-the-guys-that-ain-t-doing-nothing-don-t-talk-to-me-i-just/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Never go into business purely to make money. If that's the motive you're better off doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/never-go-into-business-purely-to-make-money-if-that-s-the-motive-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Music is my life. I love doing it, so I just do it nonstop all day. And with dancing, I wanted to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/music-is-my-life-i-love-doing-it-so-i-just-do-it-nonstop-all-day-and/) [Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) [Browse all 361 Doing nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The truth is that the only time I'm happy is when I'm doing absolutely nothing. I don't understand people who like to work and talk about it like it was some sort of goddamn duty. Doing nothing feel like floating on warm water to me. 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