--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If happiness comes at all: which is by no…" description: "\"If happiness comes at all: which is by no means prearranged; it comes by the way, while you are seeking for something else. Something outside yourself,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/caitlin-thomas-17205_absorption_if-happiness-comes-at-all-which-is-by-no_1700586.png" --- # If happiness comes at all: which is by no means… ![“If happiness comes at all: which is by no means prearranged; it comes by the way, while you are seeking for something else. Something outside yourself, beyond yourself: in a brief absorption of self-forgetfulness.” quote by Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/caitlin-thomas-17205_absorption_if-happiness-comes-at-all-which-is-by-no_1700586.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/caitlin-thomas-17205_absorption_if-happiness-comes-at-all-which-is-by-no_1700586.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/caitlin-thomas-17205_absorption_if-happiness-comes-at-all-which-is-by-no_1700586.png) > “If happiness comes at all: which is by no means prearranged; it comes by the way, while you are seeking for something else. Something outside yourself, beyond yourself: in a brief absorption of self-forgetfulness.” [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness often appears unexpectedly while we pursue other goals, arising from self‑forgetfulness and immersion beyond ourselves. **In simple terms:** Happiness can arrive when we’re focused elsewhere. Key Takeaway Seek moments of deep immersion. Themes happiness self‑forgetfulness unexpectedness Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - meditation - nature walks - sports - artistic pursuits Key Concepts mindfulness flow presence Questions to Reflect On - How can you create space for self‑forgetfulness? - What activities bring you into the present? A Different Perspective It may be fleeting and hard to sustain without intentional practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absorption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorption/) [Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes/) [Comes Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-means-1146285/) [Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetfulness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-comes/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-forgetfulness/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness lies outside yourself, is achieved through interacting with others. Self-forgetfulness should be one's goal, not self-absorption. The male, capable of only the latter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/happiness-lies-outside-yourself-is-achieved-through-interacting-with/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Self-forgetfulness in creativity can lead to self-transcendence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-ashton-warner/self-forgetfulness-in-creativity-can-lead-to-self-transcendence/) [Sylvia Ashton-Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-ashton-warner/) > [By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbour actively and indefatigably. In as far as you advance in love you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-the-experience-of-active-love-strive-to-love-your-neighbour/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But what after all, behind appearances, is this seeming mystery? We can see that it is the Consciousness which had lost itself returning again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/but-what-after-all-behind-appearances-is-this-seeming-mystery-we-can/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [the self expands through acts of self forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/the-self-expands-through-acts-of-self-forgetfulness/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Humility is not an exaggeratedly low opinion of yourself. Humility is self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/humility-is-not-an-exaggeratedly-low-opinion-of-yourself-humility-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [But what after all, behind appearance, is the seeming mystery? We can see that it is the Consciousness which had lost itself, returning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/but-what-after-all-behind-appearance-is-the-seeming-mystery-we-can/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Happiness lies in a large measure of self-forgetfulness, either in work . . . or in the love of others. ♥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-ruess/happiness-lies-in-a-large-measure-of-self-forgetfulness-either-in/) [Everett Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-ruess/) > [For with eyes made clear by many tears, and a heart softened by the tenderest sorrow, she recognized the beauty of her sister's life—uneventful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/for-with-eyes-made-clear-by-many-tears-and-a-heart-softened-by-the/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Humility is self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/humility-is-self-forgetfulness/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [By means of Invocation, the being awakens, and awakening becomes fullness. By means of balancing, fullness becomes internal wholeness. By virtue of exteriorized attention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-truman/by-means-of-invocation-the-being-awakens-and-awakening-becomes/) [David Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-truman/) > [“Ignorance might be bliss. But self-forgetfulness is pure ecstasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/ignorance-might-be-bliss-but-self-forgetfulness-is-pure-ecstasy/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-really-wonderful-moments-of-joy-in-this-world-are-not-the-moments/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“I center down - I retreat, not inside myself, but outside myself. ... Self-forgetfulness is tremendously invigorating. I wonder if we don't waste most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-center-down-i-retreat-not-inside-myself-but-outside-myself-self/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More by Caitlin Thomas > [A lot of warm vulgarity is incomparably preferable to a little bit of pinched niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/a-lot-of-warm-vulgarity-is-incomparably-preferable-to-a-little-bit-of/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [Sex divorced from love is the thief of personal dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/sex-divorced-from-love-is-the-thief-of-personal-dignity/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [The wretched Artist himself is alternatively the lowest worm that ever crawled when no fire is in him; or the loftiest God that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/the-wretched-artist-himself-is-alternatively-the-lowest-worm-that/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [there is no gaiety as gay as the gaiety of grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-no-gaiety-as-gay-as-the-gaiety-of-grief/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [When the desire is on for one particular person, nobody else will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/when-the-desire-is-on-for-one-particular-person-nobody-else-will-do/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his Artistic integrity in the tomb of success. A tomb, nevertheless, which nearly every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-nothing-harder-for-an-artist-than-to-retain-his-artistic/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [anybody who drinks seriously is poor: so poor, poor, extra poor, me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/anybody-who-drinks-seriously-is-poor-so-poor-poor-extra-poor-me/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [There is, happily, no limit to the faith of human nature in believing what it wants to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-happily-no-limit-to-the-faith-of-human-nature-in-believing/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [resignation, perhaps the most stifling word in the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/resignation-perhaps-the-most-stifling-word-in-the-language/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [ \[On journalists:\] ... however lyingly libellous they may be: nobody can seriously hurt the reputation of a Great person. If he is hurt: he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/on-journalists-however-lyingly-libellous-they-may-be-nobody-can/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [ \[On journalists:\] They are as disruptive a menace to the public body: as grating turds in the intestines are to the private body. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/on-journalists-they-are-as-disruptive-a-menace-to-the-public-body-as/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [There is a brotherliness about a drinking person, which is coldly lacking in the straight and narrow enemies of drink; the difference between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-a-brotherliness-about-a-drinking-person-which-is-coldly/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [England, where nobody ever says what they mean: and by denying feeling, kill it off stone-cold at the roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/england-where-nobody-ever-says-what-they-mean-and-by-denying-feeling/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [money ... is only important when you have none; and though it may not be everything, it goes a very long way towards blocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/money-is-only-important-when-you-have-none-and-though-it-may-not-be/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [“Fearful as reality is, it is less fearful than evasions of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/fearful-as-reality-is-it-is-less-fearful-than-evasions-of-reality/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) [Explore all 37 Caitlin Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) ## More Absorption quotes > [In fact, studies show that vegans tend to get more iron than meat eaters. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables increases iron absorption. Meanwhile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/in-fact-studies-show-that-vegans-tend-to-get-more-iron-than-meat/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I am not the center of the universe. And it's a lesson that I keep having to learn; it's my ongoing work, I'd say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-am-not-the-center-of-the-universe-and-it-s-a-lesson-that-i-keep/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [The greatness of peoples springs from their ability to grasp the grand conceptions of being. It is the absorption of a people, of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-crummell/the-greatness-of-peoples-springs-from-their-ability-to-grasp-the/) [Alexander Crummell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-crummell/) > [Melancholy betrays the world for the sake of knowledge. But in its tenacious self-absorption it embraces dead objects in its contemplation, in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/melancholy-betrays-the-world-for-the-sake-of-knowledge-but-in-its/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I was in a garden at the Rodin Museum. For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-work-at-a-thing-heart-and-soul-not-only-achieve-success-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Self-absorption intensifies isolation, but permits it to go unnoticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-absorption-intensifies-isolation-but-permits-it-to-go-unnoticed/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Life is a state of constant radiation and absorption; to exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-george-jordan/life-is-a-state-of-constant-radiation-and-absorption-to-exist-is-to/) [William George Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-george-jordan/) > [I had learned that science is a rewarding, active process of discovery, not the passive absorption of what others had discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/i-had-learned-that-science-is-a-rewarding-active-process-of-discovery/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [Selfishness and self-absorption are deadly charm-exterminators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/selfishness-and-self-absorption-are-deadly-charm-exterminators/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Prayer gives us relief from the melancholy burden of self-absorption .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/prayer-gives-us-relief-from-the-melancholy-burden-of-self-absorption/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ \[Pope Francis\]sees a world in need of the Gospel, and of friendship with Jesus Christ, as an antidote to the self-absorption and loneliness that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/pope-francis-sees-a-world-in-need-of-the-gospel-and-of-friendship/) [George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/) > [The ecstasy and completion of absorption in God is so fantastic that you can't possibly have lost anything because all the things you've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-ecstasy-and-completion-of-absorption-in-god-is-so-fantastic-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ \[T\]he mass-man sees in the State an anonymous power, and feeling himself, like it, anonymous, he believes that the State is something of his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/t-he-mass-man-sees-in-the-state-an-anonymous-power-and-feeling/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“But the work had told upon the Editor. Work of that sort carries its penalties with it. Success means absorption, and absorption spells softening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/but-the-work-had-told-upon-the-editor-work-of-that-sort-carries-its/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) [Browse all 118 Absorption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absorption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If happiness comes at all: which is by no means prearranged; it comes by the way, while you are seeking for something else. 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