--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: happiness is a different thing…" description: "\"“happiness is a different thing altogether. If you try to achieve it, you have every chance of failing. And besides, how would you ever know that you’d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/fran-ois-lelord-15255_happiness_happiness-is-a-different-thing-altogethe_1153370.jpg" --- # happiness is a different thing altogether. If you try to… ![“happiness is a different thing altogether. If you try to achieve it, you have every chance of failing. And besides, how would you ever know that you’d achieved it? Of course one can’t blame people, especially unhappy people, for wanting to be happier and setting themselves goals in order to try to…” quote by François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/fran-ois-lelord-15255_happiness_happiness-is-a-different-thing-altogethe_1153370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/fran-ois-lelord-15255_happiness_happiness-is-a-different-thing-altogethe_1153370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/fran-ois-lelord-15255_happiness_happiness-is-a-different-thing-altogethe_1153370.jpg) > ““happiness is a different thing altogether. If you try to achieve it, you have every chance of failing. And besides, how would you ever know that you’d achieved it? Of course one can’t blame people, especially unhappy people, for wanting to be happier and setting themselves goals in order to try to escape from their unhappiness.”” [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness cannot be pursued directly; it emerges when we stop chasing it and focus on meaningful goals. **In simple terms:** Don’t chase happiness; live meaningfully. Key Takeaway Seek purpose, not happiness. Themes psychology well‑being goal‑setting Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal relationships - mental health practice - creative projects Key Concepts meaning intrinsic motivation acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What activities bring you fulfillment without aiming for happiness? - How does redefining success affect your well‑being? A Different Perspective Focusing on happiness can create pressure and disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Unhappy people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-people/) ## Related quotes > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [For many of us we are always wanting more - we would be happier if we had such and such. Maybe we should pause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/for-many-of-us-we-are-always-wanting-more-we-would-be-happier-if-we/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) > [Just try to be happy. Unhappiness starts with wanting to be happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levenson/just-try-to-be-happy-unhappiness-starts-with-wanting-to-be-happier/) [Sam Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levenson/) > [Unhappy people get excited about other people's drama cause it's a distraction from their unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unhappy-people-get-excited-about-other-people-s-drama-cause-it-s-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest source of unhappiness comes from inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-source-of-unhappiness-comes-from-inside/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [So much of unhappiness, it seems to me, is due to nerves; and bad nerves are the result of having nothing to do, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/so-much-of-unhappiness-it-seems-to-me-is-due-to-nerves-and-bad-nerves/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [What's the good of dragging up sufferings which are over, of being unhappy now just because you were then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/what-s-the-good-of-dragging-up-sufferings-which-are-over-of-being/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no-2/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [Whereas happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/whereas-happiness-is-the-highest-good-being-a-realization-and-perfect/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I truly believe happiness has a different meaning for everyone. But I also believe that the sense of self is the key to one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-bendre/i-truly-believe-happiness-has-a-different-meaning-for-everyone-but-i/) [Sonali Bendre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-bendre/) > [Even though the idea of happiness is different for every person, in the end we all want the same thing... to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-though-the-idea-of-happiness-is-different-for-every-person-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Happiness was different in childhood. It was so much then a matter simply of accumulation, of taking things--new experiences, new emotions--and applying them like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/happiness-was-different-in-childhood-it-was-so-much-then-a-matter/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [“On the surface of Life, you walk, talk, act, play but you live only when truly in contact with your Souls, you live only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasa-pantovic-nuit/on-the-surface-of-life-you-walk-talk-act-play-but-you-live-only-when/) [Natasa Pantovic Nuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasa-pantovic-nuit/) > [Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling, enduring, and accomplishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/happiness-is-different-from-pleasure-happiness-has-something-to-do/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [I've been writing jokes since I'm fifteen. Not out of happiness, but to go to a different place, because reality wasn't good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-ve-been-writing-jokes-since-i-m-fifteen-not-out-of-happiness-but-to/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) ## More by François Lelord > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“Exciting happiness is joy, celebration, travelling, being in bed with a woman you desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/exciting-happiness-is-joy-celebration-travelling-being-in-bed-with-a/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [Many people see happiness only in their future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/many-people-see-happiness-only-in-their-future/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“He had realised that it was Clara he loved, and that he loved her in many different ways. (Because there are even more ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/he-had-realised-that-it-was-clara-he-loved-and-that-he-loved-her-in/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [The basic mistake people make is to think that happiness is the goal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/the-basic-mistake-people-make-is-to-think-that-happiness-is-the-goal/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/happiness-we-re-tearing-our-hair-out-to-try-to-find-a-definition-of/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“(Be very wary of people who declare that they’re going to create heaven on earth, they almost invariably create hell.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/be-very-wary-of-people-who-declare-that-they-re-going-to-create/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [People fall in love more easily when they are already troubled by another emotion because we know that any intense emotional state greatly increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/people-fall-in-love-more-easily-when-they-are-already-troubled-by/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [I didn't intend 'Hector' to be a self-help book when I first started writing. I wrote it as a little tale about a psychiatrist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/i-didn-t-intend-hector-to-be-a-self-help-book-when-i-first-started/) [Francois Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“The only shadow on my happiness is when I tell myself sometimes that as it's all going well, it can't last, that one day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/the-only-shadow-on-my-happiness-is-when-i-tell-myself-sometimes-that/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“Happiness is feeling useful to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/happiness-is-feeling-useful-to-others/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [“Adeline was really rather charming, she always had a man in her life, but it never worked out: either they were nice but she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/adeline-was-really-rather-charming-she-always-had-a-man-in-her-life/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [He who spends too long regretting his ruined crop will be neglect to plant next year's harvest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/he-who-spends-too-long-regretting-his-ruined-crop-will-be-neglect-to/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/sometimes-happiness-is-not-knowing-the-whole-story/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [It's one thing thinking something and another thing knowing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/it-s-one-thing-thinking-something-and-another-thing-knowing-it/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) [Explore all 43 François Lelord quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“happiness is a different thing altogether. 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