--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making comparisons can spoil your…" description: "\"Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.\" — François Lelord" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png" --- # Making comparisons can spoil your happiness. ![“Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.” quote by François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png) > “Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.” [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. Comparing yourself to others erodes personal joy. **In simple terms:** Comparisons spoil happiness. Key Takeaway Focus on personal progress, not others. Themes happiness comparison self‑worth Mood motivational practical Type inspirational balanced When to use this quote - social media - career advancement - personal goals Key Concepts psychology social influence Questions to Reflect On - When is comparison helpful? - How can you measure success internally? A Different Perspective Some comparisons can motivate improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Comparisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparisons/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [I don't like making comparisons. You might say one slight thing, find yourself misinterpreted, and suddenly you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/i-don-t-like-making-comparisons-you-might-say-one-slight-thing-find/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [There is no comparison between him and me; he developed a whole new way of making art and he's clearly in a league of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/there-is-no-comparison-between-him-and-me-he-developed-a-whole-new/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Making an issue of a little thing is one of the surest ways to spoil happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/making-an-issue-of-a-little-thing-is-one-of-the-surest-ways-to-spoil/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) > [Don't let stupid things and let downs spoil your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-let-stupid-things-and-let-downs-spoil-your-happiness/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [People will spoil your happiness just because they have nothing better to do and because they are unhappy with their own life. Stand your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/people-will-spoil-your-happiness-just-because-they-have-nothing/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [It's funny. People often compare me to other humor essayists. They're usually quite nice comparisons; I will accept those gladly. But I am always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/it-s-funny-people-often-compare-me-to-other-humor-essayists-they-re/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Comparisons of one's lot with others' teaches us nothing and enfeebles the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/comparisons-of-one-s-lot-with-others-teaches-us-nothing-and-enfeebles/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [We were in the same band, but we're two completely different people. People have asked me to make comparisons with our albums, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-chisholm/we-were-in-the-same-band-but-we-re-two-completely-different-people/) [Melanie Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-chisholm/) > [Im a huge fan of The Odd Couple, yes, and any comparisons to Tony Randall and or Jack Lemmon are completely welcome. I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/im-a-huge-fan-of-the-odd-couple-yes-and-any-comparisons-to-tony/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [How would you compare Polanski or Kubrick? I try not to do any comparisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/how-would-you-compare-polanski-or-kubrick-i-try-not-to-do-any/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [I don't do comparisons because I always lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanne-cash/i-don-t-do-comparisons-because-i-always-lose/) [Rosanne Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanne-cash/) > [The makers of '21 and Over' have been screening it, and I'm getting a lot of comparisons to a young Vince Vaughn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/the-makers-of-21-and-over-have-been-screening-it-and-i-m-getting-a/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [Whenever a dope artist comes out of nowhere, the first thing you do is try and compare it to stuff until you realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-tiller/whenever-a-dope-artist-comes-out-of-nowhere-the-first-thing-you-do-is/) [Bryson Tiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-tiller/) > [I know there'll be comparisons, but I consider it an honor to be compared to Audrey Hepburn. She's a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-oxenberg/i-know-there-ll-be-comparisons-but-i-consider-it-an-honor-to-be/) [Catherine Oxenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-oxenberg/) > [I don't make much of comparisons in general, it's not how I think people construct themselves and I don't think it's a healthy way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/i-don-t-make-much-of-comparisons-in-general-it-s-not-how-i-think/) [Sophie Gregoire Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/) ## 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 Comparison quotes > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You are Insignificant. One of millions, neither special nor unique. I did not ask for this ignominy, and I resent the comparison. Fine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/you-are-insignificant-one-of-millions-neither-special-nor-unique-i/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [President Obama's achievements and failures must be evaluated by comparison to those chief executives who have come before him and not be measured against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/president-obama-s-achievements-and-failures-must-be-evaluated-by/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) > [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/) Barbara Kolb > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [The wise man does not permit himself to set up even in his own mind any comparisons of his friends. His friendship is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/the-wise-man-does-not-permit-himself-to-set-up-even-in-his-own-mind/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The streets, at least in this part of town, seemed impossibly clean in comparison to London. The public telephones were unvandalised. For a London…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/the-streets-at-least-in-this-part-of-town-seemed-impossibly-clean-in/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [It is only through contact and comparison that the relative value or worthlessness of the various cultural elements can be clearly and critically seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/it-is-only-through-contact-and-comparison-that-the-relative-value-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [I feel I'm in 2006 form to be honest. I hear a lot of comparisons to 2004, but I never changed. Last year was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alecko-eskandarian/i-feel-i-m-in-2006-form-to-be-honest-i-hear-a-lot-of-comparisons-to/) Alecko Eskandarian > [Perhaps the comparison is closer to the Chinese cook who leaves hardly any part of a duck unserved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/perhaps-the-comparison-is-closer-to-the-chinese-cook-who-leaves/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) [Browse all 1,152 Comparison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "François Lelord" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happiness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comparison" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happiness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/fran-ois-lelord-15255_comparison_making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happin_1976931.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.” — François Lelord", "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": "François Lelord", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happiness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/making-comparisons-can-spoil-your-happiness/#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 } } ] } ```