---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first requisite to happiness is that…"
description: "\"The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in a famous city.\" — Euripides"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png"
---

#  The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in…

![“The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in a famous city.” quote by Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png)

> “The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in a famous city.”

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

## About This Quote

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

Being born in a famous place is seen as a shortcut to happiness.

**In simple terms:** Fame of birthplace doesn’t guarantee joy.

Key Takeaway

Seek happiness beyond origins.

Themes

happiness origin social status

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- urban vs rural life
- immigrant experience
- social mobility
- celebrity culture

Key Concepts

philosophy sociology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you think your hometown defines you?
- What truly makes you happy?

A Different Perspective

Happiness depends on personal fulfillment, not location.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [“Oh, London is a fine town, A very famous city, Where all the streets are paved with gold, And all the maidens pretty, --G.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-williams/oh-london-is-a-fine-town-a-very-famous-city-where-all-the-streets-are/)

[Mark Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-williams/)

> [Paris, though it's a very famous city, it's very small, so people always tell themselves, "We're gonna love each other in Paris."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/paris-though-it-s-a-very-famous-city-it-s-very-small-so-people-always/)

[Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/)

> [Temperance in everything is requisite for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/temperance-in-everything-is-requisite-for-happiness/)

[Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/)

> [Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pilates/physical-fitness-is-the-first-requisite-of-happiness/)

[Joseph Pilates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pilates/)

> [The first and indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-first-and-indispensable-requisite-of-happiness-is-a-clear/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-first-requisite-for-the-happiness-of-the-people-is-the-abolition/)

[Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/)

> [Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pilates/physical-fitness-is-the-first-requisite-of-happiness-in-order-to/)

[Joseph Pilates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pilates/)

> [Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pilates/physical-fitness-is-the-first-requisite-of-happiness-our/)

[Joseph Pilates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pilates/)

> [The best thing for a man to do is to be born and, being born, to die at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-aretino/the-best-thing-for-a-man-to-do-is-to-be-born-and-being-born-to-die-at/)

[Pietro Aretino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-aretino/)

> [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [Happiness is a man's greatest achievement; it is the response of his total personality to a productive orientation toward himself and the world outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/happiness-is-a-man-s-greatest-achievement-it-is-the-response-of-his/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [Men make their own happiness, and a man may be respected even though only a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-a-henty/men-make-their-own-happiness-and-a-man-may-be-respected-even-though/)

[G.A. Henty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-henty/)

> [Wisdom allows nothing to be good that will not be so forever; no man to be happy but he that needs no other happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-allows-nothing-to-be-good-that-will-not-be-so-forever-no-man/)

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

> [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but on the mastery of his passions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-happiness-of-a-man-in-this-life-does-not-consist-in-the-absence/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

## More by Euripides

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Old age is not a total misery. Experience helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/old-age-is-not-a-total-misery-experience-helps/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“What greater sorrow than being forced to leave behind my native earth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/what-greater-sorrow-than-being-forced-to-leave-behind-my-native-earth/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [But woe to him, who left to moan, Reviews the hours of brightness gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/but-woe-to-him-who-left-to-moan-reviews-the-hours-of-brightness-gone/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“Dreams of the proud man, making great And greater ever, Things which are not of God. In wide And devious coverts, hunter-wise, He coucheth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dreams-of-the-proud-man-making-great-and-greater-ever-things-which/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [There is desire in those who love to hear about their loved ones' pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-desire-in-those-who-love-to-hear-about-their-loved-ones-pains/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Soon all of you immortals Will be as dead as we are! Come on then, what are you waiting for? Have you run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/soon-all-of-you-immortals-will-be-as-dead-as-we-are-come-on-then-what/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [There is the sky, which is all men's together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-the-sky-which-is-all-men-s-together/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Youth holds no society with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/youth-holds-no-society-with-grief/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Leave no stone unturned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/leave-no-stone-unturned/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

[Explore all 532 Euripides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

## More Born quotes

> [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/)

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

> [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/)

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

> [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/)

[Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/)

> [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/)

[Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/)

> [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/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/)

[Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/)

> [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/)

[Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/)

> [If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/if-you-can-believe-it-hollywood-wanted-to-change-my-birthdate-i-was/)

[Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/)

Browse all 11,606 Born quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in a famous city.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Euripides"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that-a-man-be-born-in-a-famous/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Born"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that-a-man-be-born-in-a-famous/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/euripides-472_born_the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that_1317387.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first requisite to happiness is that a man be born in a famous city.” — Euripides",
                "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": "Euripides",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first requisite to happiness is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that-a-man-be-born-in-a-famous/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-first-requisite-to-happiness-is-that-a-man-be-born-in-a-famous/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
