---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is the consequence of personal…"
description: "\"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, and insist upon it.\" — Elizabeth Gilbert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg"
---

#  Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must…

![“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, and insist upon it.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg)

> “Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, and insist upon it.”

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## About This Quote

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

Happiness results from deliberate effort; you must actively pursue and demand it.

**In simple terms:** Happiness requires effort and insistence.

Key Takeaway

Actively chase happiness.

Themes

happiness effort agency

Mood

motivational pragmatic

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- career goals
- personal development
- well‑being strategies

Key Concepts

psychology self‑help

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take today for happiness?
- How do you maintain insistence when discouraged?

A Different Perspective

External factors can limit happiness despite effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Consequence Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence-personal-4014060/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Effort Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort-fight-2213448/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-consequence-982865/) [Personal Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-effort-982867/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/)

## Related quotes

> [“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-fight-for-it/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-fight-for-it-3/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-fight-for-it-2/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-fight-for-it-4/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Happiness is a direct consequence of personal effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert/happiness-is-a-direct-consequence-of-personal-effort/)

[Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert/)

> [“People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/people-universally-tend-to-think-that-happiness-is-a-stroke-of-luck/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“I keep remembering one of my Guru's teachings about happiness. She says that people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-keep-remembering-one-of-my-guru-s-teachings-about-happiness-she/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/people-tend-to-think-that-happiness-is-a-stroke-of-luck-something/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I don't think I am the type of person who thinks, 'I dunno. Things are getting on top of me.' It's not that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/i-don-t-think-i-am-the-type-of-person-who-thinks-i-dunno-things-are/)

[Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/)

> [If you give all your effort and all the fight and all the heart you got, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/if-you-give-all-your-effort-and-all-the-fight-and-all-the-heart-you/)

[Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/)

> [At the end of the day, coaches, fans, everyone can live with the team playing hard and giving an effort. Fall short, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-thompson/at-the-end-of-the-day-coaches-fans-everyone-can-live-with-the-team/)

[Tristan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-thompson/)

> [True happiness is a state of mind. Happiness is not a consequence of things that happen. Do not pursue happiness - practice it. Sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-happiness-is-a-state-of-mind-happiness-is-not-a-consequence-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Optimism, unaccompanied by personal effort, is merely a state of mind and not fruitful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/optimism-unaccompanied-by-personal-effort-is-merely-a-state-of-mind/)

[Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/)

> [“In order to benefit fully from the education provided in the Theocratic Ministry School, you, the student, must make a personal effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-watchtower-bible-and-tract-society/in-order-to-benefit-fully-from-the-education-provided-in-the/)

[The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-watchtower-bible-and-tract-society/)

## More by Elizabeth Gilbert

> [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

[Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## More Consequence quotes

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Actions have consequences... first rule of life. And the second rule is this - you are the only one responsible for your own actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actions-have-consequences-first-rule-of-life-and-the-second-rule-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/)

[Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/)

> [“Each day I learn that every single action we take has its own consequence – for either good or bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-dye/each-day-i-learn-that-every-single-action-we-take-has-its-own/)

[Ginny Dye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-dye/)

> [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Any kind of restrictions put on free speech would have worse consequences than bullying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-starlight/any-kind-of-restrictions-put-on-free-speech-would-have-worse/)

[Lady Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-starlight/)

> [So, I'm not the only one who believes that there is such a thing as "the law of gravity," and if it's a law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/so-i-m-not-the-only-one-who-believes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/)

[Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/)

> [The average American expends more time becoming informed about choosing a car than choosing a candidate. But, then, the consequences of the former choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/the-average-american-expends-more-time-becoming-informed-about/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

[Browse all 3,099 Consequence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, and insist upon it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-must-fight-for-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Consequence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-must-fight-for-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/777/elizabeth-gilbert-131_consequence_happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal_619950.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, and insist upon it.” — Elizabeth Gilbert",
                "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": "Elizabeth Gilbert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Happiness is the consequence of personal...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-must-fight-for-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/happiness-is-the-consequence-of-personal-effort-you-must-fight-for-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
