--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's happiness or unhappiness depends…" description: "\"A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his temperament as on his destiny.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_depends_a-man-s-happiness-or-unhappiness-depends_3151196.png" --- # A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his… ![“A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his temperament as on his destiny.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_depends_a-man-s-happiness-or-unhappiness-depends_3151196.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_depends_a-man-s-happiness-or-unhappiness-depends_3151196.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_depends_a-man-s-happiness-or-unhappiness-depends_3151196.png) > “A man's happiness or unhappiness depends as much on his temperament as on his destiny.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness hinges on both innate temperament and external fate, suggesting both nature and circumstance shape well‑being. **In simple terms:** Temperament and destiny together affect happiness. Key Takeaway Cultivate a balanced mindset. Themes happiness temperament destiny Mood reflective philosophical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - stress management - career planning - relationship building Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - Can you control your temperament? - How do you respond to destiny’s twists? A Different Perspective Even with a good temperament, adverse destiny can hinder happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [Our genetic heritage endows each of us with a series of emotional set-points that determines our temperament. But the brain circuitry involved is extraordinarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/our-genetic-heritage-endows-each-of-us-with-a-series-of-emotional-set/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Power doesn't create happiness or unhappiness. It depends how you use it. Wisdom is the guiding force that directs happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/power-doesn-t-create-happiness-or-unhappiness-it-depends-how-you-use/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [What is happiness and unhappiness? It depends so little on the circumstances; it depends really only on what happens inside a person. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-is-happiness-and-unhappiness-it-depends-so-little-on-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I am more and more convinced that our happiness or our unhappiness depends far more on the way we meet the events of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/i-am-more-and-more-convinced-that-our-happiness-or-our-unhappiness/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [The future seems a little gloomy! Go to bed early, sleep well, eat moderately at breakfast; the future looks brighter. The world's outlook may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lynch/the-future-seems-a-little-gloomy-go-to-bed-early-sleep-well-eat/) [Arthur Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lynch/) > [The conduct of men depends upon the temperament, not upon a bunch of musty maxims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-conduct-of-men-depends-upon-the-temperament-not-upon-a-bunch-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Appreciation, whether of nature, or books, or art, or men, depends very much on temperament. What is beauty or genius or greatness to one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/appreciation-whether-of-nature-or-books-or-art-or-men-depends-very/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Even the mind depends so much on temperament and the disposition of one's bodily organs that, if it is possible to find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/even-the-mind-depends-so-much-on-temperament-and-the-disposition-of/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Happiness is an endowment and not an acquisition. It depends more upon temperament and disposition than environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-an-endowment-and-not-an-acquisition-it-depends-more-upon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-happiness-and-unhappiness-of-men-depends-as-much-on-their-ethics/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life, as on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-tranquility-or-agitation-of-our-temper-does-not-depend-so-much-on/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Happiness lies in being privileged to work hard for long hours in doing whatever you think is worth doing. One man may find happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/happiness-lies-in-being-privileged-to-work-hard-for-long-hours-in/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [The sea was not freedom; it was a likeness of freedom, a symbol of freedom...How splendid freedom must be if a mere likeness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/the-sea-was-not-freedom-it-was-a-likeness-of-freedom-a-symbol-of/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [The happiness of man is: I will. The happiness of woman is: he wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-happiness-of-man-is-i-will-the-happiness-of-woman-is-he-wills/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/there-is-nothing-which-has-yet-been-contrived-by-man-by-which-so-much/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Depends quotes > [It all depends on you. 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