---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often think about happiness as trying…"
description: "\"We often think about happiness as trying to increase our joy, but it's also about decreasing our worry. So what you get for paying those high taxes is,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png"
---

#  We often think about happiness as trying to increase our…

![“We often think about happiness as trying to increase our joy, but it's also about decreasing our worry. So what you get for paying those high taxes is, if you're a parent thinking about putting your child through school, you don't have to worry about it, because all education through college is…” quote by Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png)

> “We often think about happiness as trying to increase our joy, but it's also about decreasing our worry. So what you get for paying those high taxes is, if you're a parent thinking about putting your child through school, you don't have to worry about it, because all education through college is free.”

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Happiness involves both adding joy and removing anxiety, such as through public education that eases parental concerns.

**In simple terms:** Joy plus less worry equals happiness.

Key Takeaway

Seek ways to reduce stressors while cultivating joy.

Themes

well‑being public policy education

Mood

optimistic reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- parenting
- college planning
- tax policy
- mental health

Key Concepts

Hedonic balance social safety nets

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies further lower worry beyond education?
- What personal habits increase joy?

A Different Perspective

Free education may not address all financial pressures families face.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-free-2339122/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/often/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parent Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent-thinking-4115572/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Paying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying/) [Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Taxes Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes-parent-4115573/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-happiness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Your child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-child/)

## Related quotes

> [Coming from a small town in New Mexico - Lovington, New Mexico - I was very happy to go to college for free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/coming-from-a-small-town-in-new-mexico-lovington-new-mexico-i-was/)

[Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/)

> [Put simply, what I'd like to do is to see the first two years of community college free for everybody's who is willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/put-simply-what-i-d-like-to-do-is-to-see-the-first-two-years-of/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The economy, virtually all the new income has gone to the top 10 percent, and we need to find those areas where we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-merkley/the-economy-virtually-all-the-new-income-has-gone-to-the-top-10/)

[Jeff Merkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-merkley/)

> [How much does it really matter whether your child will soon be enjoying a first year at Harvard or Yale or will instead end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/how-much-does-it-really-matter-whether-your-child-will-soon-be/)

[Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/)

> [Kids who are poor often have families that have not really been kept informed about... how important it is to read to your child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/kids-who-are-poor-often-have-families-that-have-not-really-been-kept/)

[Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/)

> [My upbringing is so fundamentally different to my parents'. It must be strange to look at your child who not only speaks with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mangan/my-upbringing-is-so-fundamentally-different-to-my-parents-it-must-be/)

[Stephen Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mangan/)

> [If watching your child die is a parent's worst nightmare, imagine having to tell your other child that his sister is dead... Although I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/if-watching-your-child-die-is-a-parent-s-worst-nightmare-imagine/)

[Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/)

> [My parents always made education and school the number one priority. They believed that an education is the best gift you can give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/my-parents-always-made-education-and-school-the-number-one-priority/)

[Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/)

> [Your child is happy. What else could you want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-noah/your-child-is-happy-what-else-could-you-want/)

[Yannick Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-noah/)

> [It's quite a job, so to speak, when you can really be with your child for 21 out of 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-macmaster/it-s-quite-a-job-so-to-speak-when-you-can-really-be-with-your-child/)

[Natalie MacMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-macmaster/)

> [I would say that children are more resilient than you realize, and that as long as you love them, there is no right way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/i-would-say-that-children-are-more-resilient-than-you-realize-and/)

[Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/)

> [I want parents out there to know that it's totally natural for kids to make believe and play games. It does not mean your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/i-want-parents-out-there-to-know-that-it-s-totally-natural-for-kids/)

[Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/)

> [Anytime you have a difficult encounter with your child, there is a good chance that at least one of these factors is bringing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/anytime-you-have-a-difficult-encounter-with-your-child-there-is-a/)

[Cathy Rindner Tempelsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-rindner-tempelsman/)

> [From a tourist's point of view, you finally have time to travel, but you need to spend your time looking after your child. Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guo-guangchang/from-a-tourist-s-point-of-view-you-finally-have-time-to-travel-but/)

[Guo Guangchang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guo-guangchang/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

## More by Dan Buettner

> [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [I wake up in the morning and I see that flower, with the dew on its petals, and at the way it's folding out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/i-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-i-see-that-flower-with-the-dew-on-its/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [Eat your vegetables, have a positive outlook, be kind to people, and smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/eat-your-vegetables-have-a-positive-outlook-be-kind-to-people-and/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [Of course, Minneapolis, we think, 'Oh well, it's cold there, lethally cold.' But the reality is you adapt to weather... Humans are consummately adaptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/of-course-minneapolis-we-think-oh-well-it-s-cold-there-lethally-cold/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [A long healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/a-long-healthy-life-is-no-accident-it-begins-with-good-genes-but-it/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [The newness effect of a new thing wears off in nine months to a year, but financial security can last a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/the-newness-effect-of-a-new-thing-wears-off-in-nine-months-to-a-year/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [“If you’re an older man, you should not have a supplement with iron because iron accumulates in the heart and can lead to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/if-you-re-an-older-man-you-should-not-have-a-supplement-with-iron/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [The name of the game is to keep from pushing the accelerator pedal so hard that we speed up the aging process. The average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/the-name-of-the-game-is-to-keep-from-pushing-the-accelerator-pedal-so/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [Diet and supplements and exercise programs aren't what is achieving longevity. Having a faith-based community can add four to 14 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/diet-and-supplements-and-exercise-programs-aren-t-what-is-achieving/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [I know exactly what my values are and what I love to do. That's worth additional years right there. I say no to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/i-know-exactly-what-my-values-are-and-what-i-love-to-do-that-s-worth/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [Gratitude always comes into play; research shows that people are happier if they are grateful for the positive things in their lives, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/gratitude-always-comes-into-play-research-shows-that-people-are/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [True happiness involves the pursuit of worth goals; without dreams, without risks, only a trivial semblance of living can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/true-happiness-involves-the-pursuit-of-worth-goals-without-dreams/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [I have always followed exactly what interests me and never really worried about the money. And when you think about it, to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/i-have-always-followed-exactly-what-interests-me-and-never-really/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [“I used to be very beautiful,” Kamada replied. “I had hair that came down to my waist. It took me a long time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/i-used-to-be-very-beautiful-kamada-replied-i-had-hair-that-came-down/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

> [If one fails to develop goals that give meaning to one’s existence, if one does not use the mind to it’s fullest, then good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/if-one-fails-to-develop-goals-that-give-meaning-to-one-s-existence-if/)

[Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

[Explore all 55 Dan Buettner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We often think about happiness as trying to increase our joy, but it's also about decreasing our worry. So what you get for paying those high taxes is, if you're a parent thinking about putting your child through school, you don't have to worry about it, because all education through college is free.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Buettner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying-to-increase-our-joy-but-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying-to-increase-our-joy-but-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/dan-buettner-12394_about_we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying_1277482.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We often think about happiness as trying to increase our joy, but it's also about decreasing our worry. So…” — Dan Buettner",
                "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": "Dan Buettner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We often think about happiness as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying-to-increase-our-joy-but-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/we-often-think-about-happiness-as-trying-to-increase-our-joy-but-it-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
