--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human happiness seems to consist in three…" description: "\"Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients; action, pleasure and indolence. And though these ingredients ought to be mixed in different prop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-hume-538_action_human-happiness-seems-to-consist-in-thre_1263371.jpg" --- # Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients… ![“Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients; action, pleasure and indolence. And though these ingredients ought to be mixed in different proportions, according to the disposition of the person, yet no one ingredient can be entirely wanting without destroying in some measure the relish of…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-hume-538_action_human-happiness-seems-to-consist-in-thre_1263371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-hume-538_action_human-happiness-seems-to-consist-in-thre_1263371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/david-hume-538_action_human-happiness-seems-to-consist-in-thre_1263371.jpg) > “Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients; action, pleasure and indolence. And though these ingredients ought to be mixed in different proportions, according to the disposition of the person, yet no one ingredient can be entirely wanting without destroying in some measure the relish of the whole composition.” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human happiness depends on a balance of activity, enjoyment, and leisure, tailored to personal temperament. **In simple terms:** Happiness needs action, pleasure, and rest. Key Takeaway Balance work, fun, and rest. Themes happiness balance human nature Mood contemplative optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - leisure planning - career choices - personal development Key Concepts psychology ethics well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How do you currently balance these three aspects? - Which component feels lacking in your life? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on any one element can cause burnout or emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Destroying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Disposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disposition/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Consist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-consist-596650/) [Human happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-happiness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indolence/) [Ingredients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients/) [Ingredients Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients-ought-4024517/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Person Ingredient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-ingredient-4024518/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-indolence-3324003/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Relish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relish/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients: action, pleasure and indolence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/human-happiness-seems-to-consist-in-three-ingredients-action-pleasure/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Of all the cankers of human happiness none corrodes with so silent, yet so baneful an influence, as indolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-cankers-of-human-happiness-none-corrodes-with-so-silent/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Employment, which Galen calls 'Nature's Physician,' is so essential to human happiness that indolence is justly considered as the mother of misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/employment-which-galen-calls-nature-s-physician-is-so-essential-to/) [Robert A. 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