--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness does not consist in having what…" description: "\"Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg" --- # Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in… ![“Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg) > “Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contentment comes from appreciating what you have, not from acquiring desires. **In simple terms:** Be happy with what you own. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude daily. Themes contentment gratitude desire Mood peaceful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal finance - mental health - relationships Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What are you grateful for today? - How can desire be constructive? A Different Perspective Desire can motivate growth; balance is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Finding happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-happiness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-does/) [Having Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-want-1155880/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-wanting-1843492/) [Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/it-s-not-having-what-you-want-it-s-wanting-what-you-ve-got/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Happiness consists not in having what you want, but in wanting what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/happiness-consists-not-in-having-what-you-want-but-in-wanting-what/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have. —RABBI HYMAN SCHACHTEL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-sasaki/happiness-is-not-having-what-you-want-but-wanting-what-you-have-rabbi/) [Fumio Sasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-sasaki/) > [“It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/it-s-not-having-what-you-want-it-s-wanting-what-you-have/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-having-what-you-want-but-wanting-what-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness is not having what you want, it's wanting what you have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-not-having-what-you-want-it-s-wanting-what-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not about having what you want, it's about wanting what you got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-about-having-what-you-want-it-s-about-wanting-what-you-got/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Satisfaction isn't so much getting what you want as wanting what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-myers/satisfaction-isn-t-so-much-getting-what-you-want-as-wanting-what-you/) [David Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-myers/) > [“Happiness is not about doing what you want. It's about wanting what you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-stern/happiness-is-not-about-doing-what-you-want-it-s-about-wanting-what/) [Shawn Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-stern/) > [“Happiness is not doing what you want but wanting what you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/happiness-is-not-doing-what-you-want-but-wanting-what-you-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Suffering is getting what you do not want while wanting what you do not get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/suffering-is-getting-what-you-do-not-want-while-wanting-what-you-do/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Human happiness konsists in having what yu want, and wanting what yu have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/human-happiness-konsists-in-having-what-yu-want-and-wanting-what-yu/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“I wanted to write “I Want” because wanting is one of the things I want most in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wanted-to-write-i-want-because-wanting-is-one-of-the-things-i-want/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The secret of happiness is simply this... your happiness does NOT depend on getting what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-neill/the-secret-of-happiness-is-simply-this-your-happiness-does-not-depend/) [Michael Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-neill/) > [He who needs only coarse food, water and drink, and as pillow his folded arms will find happiness without further search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/he-who-needs-only-coarse-food-water-and-drink-and-as-pillow-his/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) [Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-what-you-want-but-in-wanting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-what-you-want-but-in-wanting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/confucius-164_doe_happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-wha_2689273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have” — Confucius", "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": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness does not consist in having...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-what-you-want-but-in-wanting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/happiness-does-not-consist-in-having-what-you-want-but-in-wanting/#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 } } ] } ```