--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We spend so much of our lives doing math…" description: "\"We spend so much of our lives doing math problems on how to feel good. It's such a waste of time. You're going to feel how you feel. It's hard to just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/brett-gelman-8521_feel_we-spend-so-much-of-our-lives-doing-math_2877679.jpg" --- # We spend so much of our lives doing math problems on how… ![“We spend so much of our lives doing math problems on how to feel good. It's such a waste of time. You're going to feel how you feel. It's hard to just set up a way that you're going to live your life that is going to be just endlessly happy and healthy. That's impossible.” quote by Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/brett-gelman-8521_feel_we-spend-so-much-of-our-lives-doing-math_2877679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/brett-gelman-8521_feel_we-spend-so-much-of-our-lives-doing-math_2877679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/brett-gelman-8521_feel_we-spend-so-much-of-our-lives-doing-math_2877679.jpg) > “We spend so much of our lives doing math problems on how to feel good. It's such a waste of time. You're going to feel how you feel. It's hard to just set up a way that you're going to live your life that is going to be just endlessly happy and healthy. That's impossible.” [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We waste time trying to engineer happiness; feeling is natural and cannot be forced into endless joy. **In simple terms:** Happiness cannot be engineered. Key Takeaway Accept natural emotional fluctuations. Themes happiness effort well‑being authenticity time Mood humorous reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mental health therapy - mindfulness practice - life planning Key Concepts psychology of happiness existentialism self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What does “being happy” truly mean to you? - How can you embrace imperfect emotions? A Different Perspective Pursuing constant happiness may cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-feel-293107/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Going Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-feel-247566/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-your-life/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Problems Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-feel-616881/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) ## Related quotes > [“M The heat is going out of me. C The heart is going out of me. B I feel nothing, nothing. I feel nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kane/m-the-heat-is-going-out-of-me-c-the-heart-is-going-out-of-me-b-i-feel/) [Sarah Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kane/) > [I feel like that's one of my problems; I feel like I'm not consistent enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/i-feel-like-that-s-one-of-my-problems-i-feel-like-i-m-not-consistent/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [I have all sorts of problems and feel discouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-claudel/i-have-all-sorts-of-problems-and-feel-discouraged/) [Camille Claudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-claudel/) > [“ Problems in the Workplace This section shows how the problems you have in school carry over into the workplace. If you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/problems-in-the-workplace-this-section-shows-how-the-problems-you/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [If you having heat problems I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems, sunburn aint one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-having-heat-problems-i-feel-bad-for-you-son-i-got-99-problems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As I obsess about my ancient problems, I feel more like I'm sinking in quicksand than lighting a torch. I'm creating neither heat nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/as-i-obsess-about-my-ancient-problems-i-feel-more-like-i-m-sinking-in/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [If u have followed problems I feel bad for YA son I got 500followers and U ain't one so follow:))é](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-klein/if-u-have-followed-problems-i-feel-bad-for-ya-son-i-got-500followers/) [Jordan Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-klein/) > [If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got potato.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/if-you-re-having-girl-problems-i-feel-bad-for-you-son-i-got-potato/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [“Life can sometime be very hard for us and we feel that as if we are drowning in our problems. when we feel this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-can-sometime-be-very-hard-for-us-and-we-feel-that-as-if-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have two lives, and all the problems I might have, I feel like I drop them once I step on to the match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/i-have-two-lives-and-all-the-problems-i-might-have-i-feel-like-i-drop/) [Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/) > [80% of people's problems are about how they feel about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/80-of-people-s-problems-are-about-how-they-feel-about-themselves/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [There's a lot of talk about division right now in America, and I really want to unite people and go like: 'Those are my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-calderon-kellett/there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-division-right-now-in-america-and-i/) [Gloria Calderon Kellett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-calderon-kellett/) > [If you're having girl problems, I feel bad for you son. But I've got 99 models and you can't have one :P .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eniss/if-you-re-having-girl-problems-i-feel-bad-for-you-son-but-i-ve-got-99/) [Eniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eniss/) > [People are trying to act like they're balling all day with cars, their house, like there's no problems. I feel like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-ma/people-are-trying-to-act-like-they-re-balling-all-day-with-cars-their/) [Remy Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-ma/) > [“Alone, alone. I am alone – I ache … Yet for the first time, despite all the anguish and the reality problems, I’m here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/alone-alone-i-am-alone-i-ache-yet-for-the-first-time-despite-all-the/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## More by Brett Gelman > [I think that's something that people don't realize enough about when they get into comedy - it's not just about sitting back and observing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-s-something-that-people-don-t-realize-enough-about-when/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Dinner is often a very celebratory environment, a very safe place, a time to reflect and let the day go and enjoy good food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/dinner-is-often-a-very-celebratory-environment-a-very-safe-place-a/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I honestly don't see how anyone can view the GOP and the Right as anything but evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-honestly-don-t-see-how-anyone-can-view-the-gop-and-the-right-as/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Deeper things, heavier things happen to you as you get older and makes you more open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/deeper-things-heavier-things-happen-to-you-as-you-get-older-and-makes/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [What a great way to make some money is just fine somebody $300 if their phone rings in the theatre. That'll make them remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/what-a-great-way-to-make-some-money-is-just-fine-somebody-300-if/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I think that all the Mel Brooks' company of actors is just tremendous. It was a crazy group of genius people. All of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-all-the-mel-brooks-company-of-actors-is-just-tremendous/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've definitely had my hard partying moments. I've definitely had the long stretches of time in my personal life where I've felt an intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-definitely-had-my-hard-partying-moments-i-ve-definitely-had-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I love 'Seinfeld.' That was not alternative. You can't get more in mainstream than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-love-seinfeld-that-was-not-alternative-you-can-t-get-more-in/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm not a stranger to depression and desperation. I can be kind of tortured but I do like to have a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-not-a-stranger-to-depression-and-desperation-i-can-be-kind-of/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [As far as making people feel less depressed, that, in and of itself, is a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/as-far-as-making-people-feel-less-depressed-that-in-and-of-itself-is/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm an obvious example of how everyone is spiraling out of control on the show and just trying to live life the best they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-an-obvious-example-of-how-everyone-is-spiraling-out-of-control-on/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [At the end of the day, stand-up comedy is like acting when the audience are the other characters that I'm acting with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/at-the-end-of-the-day-stand-up-comedy-is-like-acting-when-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've wanted to be a comedian since I was a kid, and my parents were very supportive of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-since-i-was-a-kid-and-my-parents-were/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I really am not that hairy on my body. It's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-really-am-not-that-hairy-on-my-body-it-s-weird/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I get to live a privileged existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-get-to-live-a-privileged-existence/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) [Explore all 80 Brett Gelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [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/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We spend so much of our lives doing math problems on how to feel good. 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