--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in…" description: "\"“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg" --- # Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent… ![“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not intelligent enough. Socrates, Seneca, and Epictetus were intelligent enough to find happiness and contentment—even while drinking hemlock, cutting…” quote by Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg) > ““Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not intelligent enough. Socrates, Seneca, and Epictetus were intelligent enough to find happiness and contentment—even while drinking hemlock, cutting their veins, or living as crippled slaves.”” [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence alone does not guarantee happiness; true contentment requires wisdom and acceptance, as shown by historic philosophers. **In simple terms:** Intelligence ≠ happiness. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom, not just knowledge. Themes happiness intelligence wisdom philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career stress - academic pressure - midlife crisis - health challenges - personal growth Key Concepts Stoicism existential meaning psychology of well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate contentment beyond intellect? - What practices foster wisdom? A Different Perspective Philosophical insight can feel abstract and hard to apply in everyday life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epictetus/) [Ernest-hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ernest-hemingway-2/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness And Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-and-contentment/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligent people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-people/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seneca/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the-rarest-thing-i-know/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will. -Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/there-is-only-one-way-to-happiness-and-that-is-to-cease-worrying-2/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [“Show your character and commitment through your actions,” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ballantyne/show-your-character-and-commitment-through-your-actions-epictetus/) [Craig Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ballantyne/) > [“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” - Epictetus By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-martine/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-but-how-you-react-to-it-that-matters/) Ali Martine > [“As Epictetus said centuries ago, “It is impossible to begin to learn what one thinks one already knows.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/as-epictetus-said-centuries-ago-it-is-impossible-to-begin-to-learn/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [Asked, Who is the rich man? Epictetus replied, �He who is content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-who-is-the-rich-man-epictetus-replied-he-who-is-content/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Asked how a man should best grieve his enemy, Epictetus replied, "By setting himself to live the noblest life himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/asked-how-a-man-should-best-grieve-his-enemy-epictetus-replied-by/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/change-your-life-publishing/the-key-is-to-keep-company-only-with-people-who-uplift-you-whose/) [Change Your Life Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/change-your-life-publishing/) > [“Use, do not abuse; the wise man arrange things so. I flee Epictetus and Petronius alike. Neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/use-do-not-abuse-the-wise-man-arrange-things-so-i-flee-epictetus-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Epictetus is reminding you that serenity and stability are results of your choices and judgment, not your environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/epictetus-is-reminding-you-that-serenity-and-stability-are-results-of/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“If you wish to be a writer; write! Send quote to a friend Epictetus (50-120) Greek philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-wish-to-be-a-writer-write-send-quote-to-a-friend-epictetus-50/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“What would Heracles have been if he had said, "How am I to prevent a big lion from appearing, or a big boar, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-would-heracles-have-been-if-he-had-said-how-am-i-to-prevent-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Only the educated are free. --Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-educated-are-free-epictetus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Circumstances don't make the man, they only reveal him to himself."   - Epictetus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-crosby/circumstances-don-t-make-the-man-they-only-reveal-him-to-himself-2/) [Dennis Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-crosby/) ## More by Giannis Delimitsos > [“When I arrive to a new place, it is no longer the place it was before my arrival. And I am not the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/when-i-arrive-to-a-new-place-it-is-no-longer-the-place-it-was-before/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“She who believes that science will inescapably solve humanity’s oldest problems and radically change the human lot in this world is the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/she-who-believes-that-science-will-inescapably-solve-humanity-s/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Homo Defessus – Never before in human history has so many people considered their everyday tiredness (because they are so busy and have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/homo-defessus-never-before-in-human-history-has-so-many-people/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Many modern gurus encourage us to ‘be ourselves’. Perhaps it has not occurred to them that we can only ever be ourselves – nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/many-modern-gurus-encourage-us-to-be-ourselves-perhaps-it-has-not/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Love, the phenomenal act of canceling self in favor of the very same self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/love-the-phenomenal-act-of-canceling-self-in-favor-of-the-very-same/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Never be disappointed and never lose your hope and fortitude when all that you see around is only shadows. Because if there are shadows, there must also be sources of light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/never-be-disappointed-and-never-lose-your-hope-and-fortitude-when-all/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“If you wish to know things better and understand their workings more profoundly, make sure that you keep yourself at a certain distance from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/if-you-wish-to-know-things-better-and-understand-their-workings-more/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“A pleasing paradox — The more frequently we contemplate our death, the less dominant its effect in our lives becomes. Like King Mithridates, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/a-pleasing-paradox-the-more-frequently-we-contemplate-our-death-the/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“Idol worship” is so deeply ingrained in the human brain synapses that it would be almost impossible to be bereft of it. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/idol-worship-is-so-deeply-ingrained-in-the-human-brain-synapses-that/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“The Buddha promised redemption after thousands of deaths and rebirths, after millennia of suffering. Epicurus promised the end of all striving with a momentary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/the-buddha-promised-redemption-after-thousands-of-deaths-and-rebirths/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) > [“By speaking with courtesy and respect, you are offering a wonderful gift to yourself, a useful embarrassment to the unkind, and a good example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/by-speaking-with-courtesy-and-respect-you-are-offering-a-wonderful/) [Giannis Delimitsos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) [Explore all 12 Giannis Delimitsos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/) ## More Contentment quotes > [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 may not have everything I want in life but I have all I will ever need to make my life complete, my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-not-have-everything-i-want-in-life-but-i-have-all-i-will-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Most of us are not content with our lot because we want a lot more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/most-of-us-are-not-content-with-our-lot-because-we-want-a-lot-more/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [Pleasure simply brings more craving, but the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/pleasure-simply-brings-more-craving-but-the-problem-is-that-we-try-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Every human always wants more. We're never satisfied. True happiness doesn't come until we're fully satisfied with what we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-human-always-wants-more-we-re-never-satisfied-true-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was so nearly happy. There remained only a tiny something, something unexplained and inexplicable that buzzed in my ear when the lights were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-rooney/i-was-so-nearly-happy-there-remained-only-a-tiny-something-something/) Jennie Rooney > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [Stop complaining and start accepting, everything happens for a reason, you may not notice the importance of the things that you have now, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/stop-complaining-and-start-accepting-everything-happens-for-a-reason/) Hemantsmarty > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) [Browse all 1,355 Contentment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are intelligent yet unhappy, then perhaps we are not intelligent enough. Socrates, Seneca, and Epictetus were intelligent enough to find happiness and contentment—even while drinking hemlock, cutting their veins, or living as crippled slaves.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Giannis Delimitsos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contentment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/giannis-delimitsos-38279_contentment_ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in_878723.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing. However, if we are…” — Giannis Delimitsos", "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": "Giannis Delimitsos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giannis-delimitsos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Ernest Hemingway wrote that happiness in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giannis-delimitsos/ernest-hemingway-wrote-that-happiness-in-intelligent-people-is-the/#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 } } ] } ```