--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is like time and space--we make…" description: "\"“Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it ourselves; it is a fancy--as big, as little, as you please; just a thing of contrasts and com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg" --- # Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it… ![“Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it ourselves; it is a fancy--as big, as little, as you please; just a thing of contrasts and comparisons, like health or strength or beauty or any other good--that wouldn't even be noticed but for sad personal experience of its opposite!--or…” quote by George Du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg) > ““Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it ourselves; it is a fancy--as big, as little, as you please; just a thing of contrasts and comparisons, like health or strength or beauty or any other good--that wouldn't even be noticed but for sad personal experience of its opposite!--or its greater!”” [George Du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is a personal construct we define and measure, shaped by contrasts and personal experiences. **In simple terms:** We create and gauge happiness ourselves, using comparisons. Key Takeaway Recognize how personal perspective shapes happiness. Themes happiness perception contrast subjectivity Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - therapy - coaching Key Concepts philosophy psychology subjective well Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure your own happiness? - What contrasts define your sense of joy? A Different Perspective Happiness may be elusive without confronting its opposite. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Personal experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-experience/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is like time and space-we make and measure it ourselves; it is as fancy, as big, as little, as you please, just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [“Comparisons are like rigid fingers—eager to point at a subject but unwilling to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/comparisons-are-like-rigid-fingers-eager-to-point-at-a-subject-but/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's not a good idea to conceptualize a static relationship with long-standing policies, like health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-klein/it-s-not-a-good-idea-to-conceptualize-a-static-relationship-with-long/) [Ezra Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-klein/) > [I feel like the health industry is getting nothing but stronger every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-carpenter/i-feel-like-the-health-industry-is-getting-nothing-but-stronger-every/) [Karen Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-carpenter/) > [Happy Nurses Week to someone whose first-rate medical advice almost makes me feel like I have health benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-nurses-week-to-someone-whose-first-rate-medical-advice-almost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True friendship is like health significance; Its value we became aware of after we lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-like-health-significance-its-value-we-became-aware/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't have jobs, it's hard to have other things like health and education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/if-you-don-t-have-jobs-it-s-hard-to-have-other-things-like-health-and/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [If you like your doctor or health care provider, you can keep them. If you like your health care plan, you can keep that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-you-like-your-doctor-or-health-care-provider-you-can-keep-them-if/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I feel like in my field, like in fitness, or in health, you kind of need to read journal articles, like health journal articles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-ting/i-feel-like-in-my-field-like-in-fitness-or-in-health-you-kind-of-need/) [Chloe Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-ting/) > [“Self-loving choices look like health and they taste like freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-eaton/self-loving-choices-look-like-health-and-they-taste-like-freedom/) Bethany Eaton > [I am always interested in working and fun things like health insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-d-abruzzo/i-am-always-interested-in-working-and-fun-things-like-health-insurance/) [Stephanie D'Abruzzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-d-abruzzo/) > [As Miss World 2017, and even later in life, I'd like to take health and hygiene to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manushi-chhillar/as-miss-world-2017-and-even-later-in-life-i-d-like-to-take-health-and/) [Manushi Chhillar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manushi-chhillar/) > [I try to, like, hang out with my family as much as possible. Hang out with the band, go hiking when I'm in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid/i-try-to-like-hang-out-with-my-family-as-much-as-possible-hang-out/) [Sigrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid/) > [Everything is now for sale. Even those areas of life that we once considered sacred like health and education, food and water and air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-barlow/everything-is-now-for-sale-even-those-areas-of-life-that-we-once/) [Maude Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-barlow/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More by George Du Maurier > [Lovely female shapes are terrible complicators of the difficulties and dangers of this earthly life, especially for their owners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/lovely-female-shapes-are-terrible-complicators-of-the-difficulties/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [Happiness is like time and space-we make and measure it ourselves; it is as fancy, as big, as little, as you please, just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [An apple is an excellent thing -- until you have tried a peach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/an-apple-is-an-excellent-thing-until-you-have-tried-a-peach/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [“But you are not listening, sapperment! great big she-fool that you are—sheep’s-head! Dummkopf! Donnerwetter! you are looking at the chimney-pots when Svengali talks! Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/but-you-are-not-listening-sapperment-great-big-she-fool-that-you-are/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [The wretcheder one is, the more one smokes; and the more one smokes, the wretcheder one gets-a vicious circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/the-wretcheder-one-is-the-more-one-smokes-and-the-more-one-smokes-the/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [Sick I am of idle words, past all reconciling, Words that weary and perplex and pander and conceal, Wake the sounds that cannot lie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/sick-i-am-of-idle-words-past-all-reconciling-words-that-weary-and/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [“And, ach! what a beautiful skeleton you will make! And very soon, too, because you do not smile on your madly loving Svengali. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/and-ach-what-a-beautiful-skeleton-you-will-make-and-very-soon-too/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [The best years of a man's life are after he is forty. A man at forty has ceased to hunt the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/the-best-years-of-a-man-s-life-are-after-he-is-forty-a-man-at-forty/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [Life ain't all beer and skittles, and more's the pity; but what's the odds, so long as you're happy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/life-ain-t-all-beer-and-skittles-and-more-s-the-pity-but-what-s-the/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [A little work, a little play, To keep us going - and so, good-day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/a-little-work-a-little-play-to-keep-us-going-and-so-good-day/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [“It is a wondrous thing, the human foot—like the human hand; even more so, perhaps; but, unlike the hand, with which we are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/it-is-a-wondrous-thing-the-human-foot-like-the-human-hand-even-more/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [“Language is a poor thing. You fill your lungs with wind and shake a little slit in your throat, and make mouths, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/language-is-a-poor-thing-you-fill-your-lungs-with-wind-and-shake-a/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) > [I doubt if Dickens did, especially his women-his pretty women-Mrs. Dombey, Florence, Dora, Agnes, Ruth Pinch, Kate Nickleby, little Emily-we know them all through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/i-doubt-if-dickens-did-especially-his-women-his-pretty-women-mrs/) [George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) [Explore all 14 George Du Maurier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) [Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it ourselves; it is a fancy--as big, as little, as you please; just a thing of contrasts and comparisons, like health or strength or beauty or any other good--that wouldn't even be noticed but for sad personal experience of its opposite!--or its greater!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Du Maurier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beauty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/george-du-maurier-34854_beauty_happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make_2088621.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is like time and space--we make and measure it ourselves; it is a fancy--as big, as little, as you…” — George Du Maurier", "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": "George Du Maurier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Happiness is like time and space--we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/happiness-is-like-time-and-space-we-make-and-measure-it-ourselves-it-2/#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 } } ] } ```