Definitions Quote by François Lelord
“Happiness. We're tearing our hair out to try to find a definition of it, for heaven's sake. Is it joy? People will tell you that it isn't, that joy is a fleeting emotion, a moment of happiness, which is always welcome, mind you. And then what about pleasure, huh? Oh, yes, that's easy, everybody knows what that is, but there again it doesn't last. But is happiness not the sum total of lots of small joys and pleasures, huh?”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Little Book of Happiness by François Lelord, 2006
Happiness is explored as a blend of fleeting joy and lasting pleasure, questioning whether it is the sum of many small positive experiences.
In simple terms: Happiness may be many small joys and pleasures together.
Key Takeaway
Seek and cherish everyday moments of joy and pleasure.
Themes
happiness
joy
pleasure
meaning
well‑being
Mood
reflective
optimistic
Type
philosophical
self‑help
When to use this quote
- daily life
- goal setting
- mental health
- personal growth
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
positive psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What small joys can you notice today?
- How do you differentiate joy from pleasure?
A Different Perspective
Happiness can be elusive and hard to define precisely.
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
