---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness was an evasive emotion that…"
description: "\"“Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be fabricated, duplicated, or happened upon. It was something that was only handed out to a select few..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg"
---

#  Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be…

![“Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be fabricated, duplicated, or happened upon. It was something that was only handed out to a select few, but just like his mother, Ethan realized that he was never meant to have it.” quote by Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg)

> ““Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be fabricated, duplicated, or happened upon. It was something that was only handed out to a select few, but just like his mother, Ethan realized that he was never meant to have it.””

[Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

## 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 portrayed as a rare, unattainable gift, not something one can create or find by chance.

**In simple terms:** Happiness seems out of reach for most.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaning beyond fleeting joy.

Themes

loneliness class existentialism

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- career stagnation
- personal relationships
- mental health
- spiritual seeking

Key Concepts

inequality search for meaning

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you believe happiness is a right or a privilege?
- What steps can you take to create your own joy?

A Different Perspective

Happiness can be cultivated through effort, not just handed out.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism/) [Emotion Fabricated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-fabricated-3642917/) [Ethan Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethan-realized-3642913/) [Evasive Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evasive-emotion-3642916/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Evasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-evasive-3642914/) [Mother Ethan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-ethan-3642915/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Womens-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/womens-fiction/)

## Related quotes

> [“I wish I didn’t want space, time to figure out what I want from life, but I can’t ignore it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-jane/i-wish-i-didn-t-want-space-time-to-figure-out-what-i-want-from-life/)

[Maria Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-jane/)

> [“It was strange letting her body do such things, while her mind hovered outside somewhere, just on the outside of her skull. Strange for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-martin/it-was-strange-letting-her-body-do-such-things-while-her-mind-hovered/)

[Sarah Beth Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-martin/)

> [“You don't have to live in a mansion to be happy. All you need is to create the right space; something that says this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-syrokou/you-don-t-have-to-live-in-a-mansion-to-be-happy-all-you-need-is-to/)

[Anthea Syrokou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-syrokou/)

> [“I love your farm, you know I do, but this is your passion. I’m figuring out what mine is. I’m good at marketing. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-jane/i-love-your-farm-you-know-i-do-but-this-is-your-passion-i-m-figuring/)

[Maria Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-jane/)

> [“Risky business, damn it. Being human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-valtsioti/risky-business-damn-it-being-human/)

[Suzy Valtsioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-valtsioti/)

> [“…When you’re in the darkness, know that the light will come. We are light and dark, sun and moon, male and female, yin and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-e-livingston/when-you-re-in-the-darkness-know-that-the-light-will-come-we-are/)

[Kathryn E. Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-e-livingston/)

> [“Dinner was served on mismatched plates with paper napkins and silverware that looked like it had been stolen from a school cafeteria. The spaghetti…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-schindler/dinner-was-served-on-mismatched-plates-with-paper-napkins-and/)

[Arlene Schindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-schindler/)

> [“To believe all you have to do is look at the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-e-livingston/to-believe-all-you-have-to-do-is-look-at-the-sky/)

[Kathryn E. Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-e-livingston/)

> [“She leans over Roop the way Sardarji leaned over Satya the years she cried for children, brushing tears from Roop's heavy lashes with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-singh-baldwin/she-leans-over-roop-the-way-sardarji-leaned-over-satya-the-years-she/)

[Shauna Singh Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-singh-baldwin/)

> [“Sometimes the changes are good. Sometimes you think they're good and you end up disappointed. Other times you think life has handed you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melodie-ramone/sometimes-the-changes-are-good-sometimes-you-think-they-re-good-and/)

[Melodie Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melodie-ramone/)

> [“Thoughtful, innovative, this mother was; she always had the solution. So on the stickiest of nights, when the varnished wood chairs sweated and moths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-beth-martin/thoughtful-innovative-this-mother-was-she-always-had-the-solution-so/)

[Sarah Beth Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-beth-martin/)

> [“In quantum physics, particles change when they’re observed. But this isn’t quantum: my book doesn’t alter by being seen or unseen. It is exceptional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-lucia-kanter-st-amour/in-quantum-physics-particles-change-when-they-re-observed-but-this/)

[S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-lucia-kanter-st-amour/)

> [“Vaheguru, forgive me, but a woman must choose the wisdom of lies over the dangers of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-singh-baldwin/vaheguru-forgive-me-but-a-woman-must-choose-the-wisdom-of-lies-over/)

[Shauna Singh Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-singh-baldwin/)

> [“Sweet girl, dry your tears. I’ve got a plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodee-neathery/sweet-girl-dry-your-tears-i-ve-got-a-plan/)

[JoDee Neathery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodee-neathery/)

> [“When I married Mr. Right, I didn’t realize his first name was ALWAYS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-kargman/when-i-married-mr-right-i-didn-t-realize-his-first-name-was-always/)

[Jill Kargman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-kargman/)

## More by Belinda G. Buchanan

> [“There were times that Nathan felt the world would be better off if he were dead. It seemed to him that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/there-were-times-that-nathan-felt-the-world-would-be-better-off-if-he/)

[Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

> [“Ethan didn't mind his blood being taken - he just disliked the fact that it had to be sucked through a needle in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/ethan-didn-t-mind-his-blood-being-taken-he-just-disliked-the-fact/)

[Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

> [“That's really easy for you to say, Jack. You've gotten everything you ever wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/that-s-really-easy-for-you-to-say-jack-you-ve-gotten-everything-you/)

[Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

> [“It was your choice to sleep with her Gavin! It didn't just happen!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/it-was-your-choice-to-sleep-with-her-gavin-it-didn-t-just-happen/)

[Belinda G. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

[Explore all 5 Belinda G. Buchanan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/)

## More Abuse quotes

> [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/)

[Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/)

[Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/)

> [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/)

[Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/)

> [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/)

[Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/)

> [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/)

[Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/)

> [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/)

[Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/)

> [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/)

[Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/)

> [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/)

[Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/)

> [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/)

[Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/)

[Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be fabricated, duplicated, or happened upon. It was something that was only handed out to a select few, but just like his mother, Ethan realized that he was never meant to have it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Belinda G. Buchanan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-could-not-be-fabricated/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abuse"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-could-not-be-fabricated/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5e/belinda-g-buchanan-59763_abuse_happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-co_2018357.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Happiness was an evasive emotion that could not be fabricated, duplicated, or happened upon. It was…” — Belinda G. Buchanan",
                "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": "Belinda G. Buchanan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-g-buchanan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Happiness was an evasive emotion that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-could-not-be-fabricated/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-g-buchanan/happiness-was-an-evasive-emotion-that-could-not-be-fabricated/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
