--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How's happiness class going, by the way?\"…" description: "\"“How's happiness class going, by the way?\" \"Okay, so far.\" \"Are you feeling happy?\" he asks with the hint of a smirk. I shrug. \"The professor says that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/cynthia-hand-1176_angels_how-s-happiness-class-going-by-the-way-o_1749476.jpg" --- # How's happiness class going, by the way?" "Okay, so far."… ![“How's happiness class going, by the way?" "Okay, so far." "Are you feeling happy?" he asks with the hint of a smirk. I shrug. "The professor says that happiness is wanting what you have." Christian makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat. "I see. Happiness is wanting what you have…” quote by Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/cynthia-hand-1176_angels_how-s-happiness-class-going-by-the-way-o_1749476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/cynthia-hand-1176_angels_how-s-happiness-class-going-by-the-way-o_1749476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/cynthia-hand-1176_angels_how-s-happiness-class-going-by-the-way-o_1749476.jpg) > ““How's happiness class going, by the way?" "Okay, so far." "Are you feeling happy?" he asks with the hint of a smirk. I shrug. "The professor says that happiness is wanting what you have." Christian makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat. "I see. Happiness is wanting what you have. Well, there you go. So what's the problem, then?" "What do you mean?" "Why is the class only okay?" "Oh." I bit my lip, then confess. "Every time I meditate, I start glowing.”” [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue explores the paradox of seeking happiness while already possessing it, highlighting dissatisfaction despite apparent contentment. **In simple terms:** People often feel unhappy even when they have what they need. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate what you already have. Themes happiness contentment paradox selfawareness Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical conversational When to use this quote - classroom discussion - personal reflection - meditation practice Key Concepts psychology mindfulness expectation Questions to Reflect On - What does "wanting what you have" mean to you? - How can you shift focus from scarcity to sufficiency? A Different Perspective Happiness can be elusive if we focus on lack rather than abundance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) [Feeling happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-happy/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-class-1593033/) [Happiness Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-wanting-298344/) [Happy Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-asks-1593036/) [Professor Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professor-says-1593035/) [Says Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-happiness-1593034/) ## Related quotes > [Mama says that, happiness is from magic rays of sunshine that come down when you're feeling blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/mama-says-that-happiness-is-from-magic-rays-of-sunshine-that-come/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [If you are happy, you are happy; nobody asks you why you are happy. Yes, if you are miserable, a question is relevant. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/if-you-are-happy-you-are-happy-nobody-asks-you-why-you-are-happy-yes/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Our object in the construction of the state is the greatest happiness of the whole, and not that of any one class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/our-object-in-the-construction-of-the-state-is-the-greatest-happiness/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The good news is that we can sometimes control the “circles” around us, moving toward smaller circles that boost our relative happiness. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-good-news-is-that-we-can-sometimes-control-the-circles-around-us/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“But why? Why did you do the evil things you did?' Billy asks suddenly. 'Ah, because I could not imagine consequences,' the Professor says.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-meno/but-why-why-did-you-do-the-evil-things-you-did-billy-asks-suddenly-ah/) [Joe Meno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-meno/) > [“Besides," she says, eyes twinkling mischievously, "it'd never work out between us. I'm still holding a candle for Professor Haven." "How could I compete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seventhswan/besides-she-says-eyes-twinkling-mischievously-it-d-never-work-out/) [seventhswan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seventhswan/) > [Hey, Carlos," the Professor says when he walks in. "How was REACH?" "It sucked." "Can you be more specific?" my guardian asks. "It really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/hey-carlos-the-professor-says-when-he-walks-in-how-was-reach-it/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“SUCCESS is getting what you want, but HAPPINESS is wanting what you get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-getting-what-you-want-but-happiness-is-wanting-what-you-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As soon as I had believed that financial security purchased emotional security, I'd lived a dependent, conditional life. Now I realize that rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-perle/as-soon-as-i-had-believed-that-financial-security-purchased-emotional/) [Liz Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-perle/) > [Happiness is wanting what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/happiness-is-wanting-what-you-have/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Our economy is based upon people wanting more; their happiness on wanting less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/our-economy-is-based-upon-people-wanting-more-their-happiness-on/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-meltzer/success-is-getting-and-achieving-what-you-want-happiness-is-wanting/) [Bernard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-meltzer/) > [Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-getting-what-you-want-happiness-is-wanting-what-you-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Know how to replace in your heart, by the happiness of those you love, the happiness that may be wanting to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/know-how-to-replace-in-your-heart-by-the-happiness-of-those-you-love/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [If you're not feeling to happy or excited about today, or tomorrow. Just remember, things will get better. They always get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-not-feeling-to-happy-or-excited-about-today-or-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Cynthia Hand > [“One minute you’re a happy fourteen-yearold—good at everything you try, popular, fun—the next you’re a freak with wings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/one-minute-you-re-a-happy-fourteen-yearold-good-at-everything-you-try/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“I am amazed at how being with him changes everything for me, socially speaking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-am-amazed-at-how-being-with-him-changes-everything-for-me-socially/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“Again," I whisper. The corner of his mouth lifts, and then I kiss him. Not so gently this time. His hands drop from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/again-i-whisper-the-corner-of-his-mouth-lifts-and-then-i-kiss-him-not/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“In fact, I've essentially given up on the idea of flight altogether and accepted that I'm going to be an angel-blood who stays earthbound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/in-fact-i-ve-essentially-given-up-on-the-idea-of-flight-altogether/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“As your abilities begin to grow, your angelic side will start to manifest itself in more noticeable ways." "My angelic side. Great. Like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/as-your-abilities-begin-to-grow-your-angelic-side-will-start-to/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“Today it’s just us and the wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/today-it-s-just-us-and-the-wind/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“But Tucker is my choice. I love him. That isn't going to go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/but-tucker-is-my-choice-i-love-him-that-isn-t-going-to-go-away/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“This is the part where I kiss you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/this-is-the-part-where-i-kiss-you/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“You do know we're officially the talk of the town," I say to Tucker. He might as well have taken a marker to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/you-do-know-we-re-officially-the-talk-of-the-town-i-say-to-tucker-he/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“Tucker snorts. "Sage is a fighter, it spreads over the land like wildfire, sucking up all the water, the nutrients in the earth, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/tucker-snorts-sage-is-a-fighter-it-spreads-over-the-land-like/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“I love that he says heck. I've totally had enough of hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-love-that-he-says-heck-i-ve-totally-had-enough-of-hell/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“I guess I always knew that our time together would be fleeting. Ephemeral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-guess-i-always-knew-that-our-time-together-would-be-fleeting/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“I sneaked out to his house a couple times in the middle of the night to watch over him while he slept, just in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-sneaked-out-to-his-house-a-couple-times-in-the-middle-of-the-night/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [“I should have fought for you, Clara, even if I would have had to fight you to fight for you. I should have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-should-have-fought-for-you-clara-even-if-i-would-have-had-to-fight/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) [Explore all 273 Cynthia Hand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) ## More Angels quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“ Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/around-our-pillows-golden-ladders-rise-and-up-and-down-the-skies-with/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [I'll always be a member of the Rays in my heart, absolutely. Just like with the Angels. It's no different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-ll-always-be-a-member-of-the-rays-in-my-heart-absolutely-just-like/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [“Unfortunately for you love, I take my pleasure with a shot of pain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-lake/unfortunately-for-you-love-i-take-my-pleasure-with-a-shot-of-pain/) [Keri Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-lake/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thank You for bringing me to a place and situation where even Angels in heaven have to move aside and give way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jefferson/thank-you-for-bringing-me-to-a-place-and-situation-where-even-angels/) [Mark Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jefferson/) > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [The entire hierarchy of angels can best be described as an endlessly vast sphere of beings, who surround an unknowable centre-point, which is called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-godwin/the-entire-hierarchy-of-angels-can-best-be-described-as-an-endlessly/) [Malcolm Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-godwin/) > [“She lay there like a beautiful lace covered present for the troll with her sweet hands wrapped up in the red bow of Lilith’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-swann/she-lay-there-like-a-beautiful-lace-covered-present-for-the-troll/) [Bella Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-swann/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) [Twe Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twe-stephens/) > [Those clouds are angels' robes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/those-clouds-are-angels-robes/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Well, the only reason we’re friends is because you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed, tone mock serious. “So if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/well-the-only-reason-we-re-friends-is-because-you-can-rock-a-tweed/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. You have generally been off with the old angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/you-men-find-so-many-angels-in-your-travels-you-have-been-honester/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) [Browse all 1,587 Angels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How's happiness class going, by the way?\" \"Okay, so far.\" \"Are you feeling happy?\" he asks with the hint of a smirk. I shrug. \"The professor says that happiness is wanting what you have.\" Christian makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat. \"I see. Happiness is wanting what you have. Well, there you go. 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