--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking for happiness is a sure way to…" description: "\"Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think. You have to take each moment as it comes.\" — Benedict Cumberbatch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_happiness_looking-for-happiness-is-a-sure-way-to-s_974595.jpg" --- # Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think… ![“Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think. You have to take each moment as it comes.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_happiness_looking-for-happiness-is-a-sure-way-to-s_974595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_happiness_looking-for-happiness-is-a-sure-way-to-s_974595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf0/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_happiness_looking-for-happiness-is-a-sure-way-to-s_974595.jpg) > “Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think. You have to take each moment as it comes.” [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chasing happiness directly leads to sadness; instead, embrace each moment as it arrives. **In simple terms:** Seeking happiness causes sadness; live in the now. Key Takeaway Practice present‑moment awareness. Themes happiness mindfulness acceptance Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily life - stress - mental health Key Concepts impermanence contentment Questions to Reflect On - How can we actively cultivate joy? - What practices help stay present? A Different Perspective Acceptance can be passive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Looking for happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-for-happiness/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Many of us seem to live our lives looking for happiness. That is not always a bad thing, but it can be if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrington-jones/many-of-us-seem-to-live-our-lives-looking-for-happiness-that-is-not/) Barbara Barrington Jones > [Everything is about looking for happiness and God. That was a sentiment shared by my dear friend Ronald Reagan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/everything-is-about-looking-for-happiness-and-god-that-was-a/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [“When you are fed up looking for happiness or motivation outside; look inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/when-you-are-fed-up-looking-for-happiness-or-motivation-outside-look/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [When people say they are looking for happiness, I ask, What are you giving to the world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-people-say-they-are-looking-for-happiness-i-ask-what-are-you/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you are looking for happiness, then you know nothing about it at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-are-looking-for-happiness-then-you-know-nothing-about-it-at-all/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Looking for happiness is like looking for the end of galaxy. you'll never be able to find it but someday it will find you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/looking-for-happiness-is-like-looking-for-the-end-of-galaxy-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fool is looking for happiness far away. The wise man makes it grow under his feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/the-fool-is-looking-for-happiness-far-away-the-wise-man-makes-it-grow/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [If my life has had a theme, I suppose it has been a typical American theme in that, for most of it, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-my-life-has-had-a-theme-i-suppose-it-has-been-a-typical-american/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“When I was your age...I wish I'd known that I already had everything I needed within myself to be happy, instead of looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilene-beckerman/when-i-was-your-age-i-wish-i-d-known-that-i-already-had-everything-i/) Ilene Beckerman > [Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/those-who-are-not-looking-for-happiness-are-the-most-likely-to-find/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Why are you so restless? what are you looking for? happiness is right there, yes, in front of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-bisht/why-are-you-so-restless-what-are-you-looking-for-happiness-is-right/) Kiran Bisht > [Looking for happiness in the body, mind or world is like looking for the screen in a movie. The screen doesn't appear in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-spira/looking-for-happiness-in-the-body-mind-or-world-is-like-looking-for/) [Rupert Spira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-spira/) > [If you're looking for happiness in things, you'll never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/if-you-re-looking-for-happiness-in-things-you-ll-never-find-it/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“In America, we are entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." There is no such expression in France. In fact, in France,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cat-callan/in-america-we-are-entitled-to-life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of/) [Jamie Cat Callan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cat-callan/) > [I kept looking for happiness, and then I realized: This is it. It's a moment, and it comes, and it goes, and it'll come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-kept-looking-for-happiness-and-then-i-realized-this-is-it-it-s-a/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) ## More by Benedict Cumberbatch > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [It's the same thing, I think, whether it's breathing or meditation or yoga. And running is a great way of doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/it-s-the-same-thing-i-think-whether-it-s-breathing-or-meditation-or/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Being someone who is of our sensual reality, Stephen Strange has a lifestyle, he has a sexuality, he's materialistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/being-someone-who-is-of-our-sensual-reality-stephen-strange-has-a/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [If you have an over-preoccupation with perception and trying to please people's expectations, then you can go mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/if-you-have-an-over-preoccupation-with-perception-and-trying-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Being on set is quite difficult, because it's so big and you've got to try and relax, which isn't easy when you know you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/being-on-set-is-quite-difficult-because-it-s-so-big-and-you-ve-got-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I know that might sound perverse because I played Julian Assange but, honestly, I don't think it would be fair for me to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-know-that-might-sound-perverse-because-i-played-julian-assange-but/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Maybe it's just getting older, but I don't want to miss things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/maybe-it-s-just-getting-older-but-i-don-t-want-to-miss-things/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I think playing any iconic role when you're stepping into big shoes, into the shadow of people who have come before you and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-think-playing-any-iconic-role-when-you-re-stepping-into-big-shoes/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [ \[While voicing cartoons\] you have to lose your sanity and inhibitions and any kind of dignity and just throw yourself around a bit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/while-voicing-cartoons-you-have-to-lose-your-sanity-and-inhibitions/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I'm not very geeky. I'm quite homespun. I would say I'm more modern rustic than gadget-orientated. I like woollen things and log fires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-m-not-very-geeky-i-m-quite-homespun-i-would-say-i-m-more-modern/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [This is an odd profession, and sometimes people get jealous, but I haven't really experienced any of that. Everyone's been really happy for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/this-is-an-odd-profession-and-sometimes-people-get-jealous-but-i/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-can-feel-infinitely-alive-curled-up-on-the-sofa-reading-a-book/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I think with any characterization there's a point where you empathize, no matter how much of a deviance his or her actions may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-think-with-any-characterization-there-s-a-point-where-you-empathize/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [When are you ever settled enough to have kids?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/when-are-you-ever-settled-enough-to-have-kids/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [You have to sometimes just run with the problem rather than trying to solve it with hi-tech wizardry and lots of planning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/you-have-to-sometimes-just-run-with-the-problem-rather-than-trying-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) [Explore all 281 Benedict Cumberbatch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) ## More Happiness quotes > [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/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [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/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking for happiness is a sure way to sadness, I think. 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