--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People exaggerate both happiness and…" description: "\"People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as people say we are.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png" --- # People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are… ![“People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as people say we are.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png) > “People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as people say we are.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People overstate both joy and sorrow, making life seem more extreme than it is. **In simple terms:** Life is less extreme than people claim. Key Takeaway Accept reality as it is. Themes perception emotion balance Mood reflective balanced Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - daily conversations - mental health counseling - media consumption - self‑reflection - goal setting Key Concepts cognitive bias subjective reality Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice when you amplify feelings? - How does this affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Exaggerations can be useful for storytelling but may distort truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [There are many more attempts to define happiness than unhappiness. It is because people know all too well what unhappiness is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/there-are-many-more-attempts-to-define-happiness-than-unhappiness-it/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/there-is-neither-happiness-nor-unhappiness-in-this-world-there-is/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“The opposite of happiness is unhappiness, not depression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-opposite-of-happiness-is-unhappiness-not-depression/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is, after all, a kind of happiness in unhappiness, if it's the right unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/there-is-after-all-a-kind-of-happiness-in-unhappiness-if-it-s-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Joy is not like happiness, unhappiness. It is singular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/joy-is-not-like-happiness-unhappiness-it-is-singular/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [No matter when, at whatever moment, if she were asked what she was thinking about she could reply quite correctly - one thing, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/no-matter-when-at-whatever-moment-if-she-were-asked-what-she-was/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Ah, how little you know of human happiness - you comfortable and benevolent people! For happiness and unhappiness are brother and sister - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ah-how-little-you-know-of-human-happiness-you-comfortable-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Both happiness and unhappiness depend on perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/both-happiness-and-unhappiness-depend-on-perception/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Happiness and unhappiness differ as a bucket hammered from gold differs from one pressed in tin ... Each carries the same water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/happiness-and-unhappiness-differ-as-a-bucket-hammered-from-gold/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Happiness or unhappiness is often a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-or-unhappiness-is-often-a-matter-of-choice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fact that there is always a positive side to life is the one thing that gives me a lot of happiness. This world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-fact-that-there-is-always-a-positive-side-to-life-is-the-one/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/if-you-don-t-enjoy-getting-up-and-working-and-finishing-your-work-and/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Happiness and unhappiness are not primarily created by the material world or the physical body. First and foremost, they are decisions of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/happiness-and-unhappiness-are-not-primarily-created-by-the-material/) [Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/) > [It's nonsense to say money doesn't buy happiness, but people exaggerate the extent to which more money can buy more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/it-s-nonsense-to-say-money-doesn-t-buy-happiness-but-people/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [People exaggerate the value of things they haven't got everybody worships truth and unselfishness because they have no experience with them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-exaggerate-the-value-of-things-they-haven-t-got-everybody/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Fortunate quotes > [It is indeed a surprising and fortunate fact that nature can be expressed by relatively low-order mathematical functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/it-is-indeed-a-surprising-and-fortunate-fact-that-nature-can-be/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [I have been very fortunate to have a partner who really stepped up and have wonderful children who do a lot of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilhan-omar/i-have-been-very-fortunate-to-have-a-partner-who-really-stepped-up/) [Ilhan Omar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilhan-omar/) > [We are very fortunate to be recognized here in such an extraordinary manner for work that we enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-altman/we-are-very-fortunate-to-be-recognized-here-in-such-an-extraordinary/) [Sidney Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-altman/) > [Most magicians consider the palm an easy move to make. They are inclined to believe that they are 'getting away with it,' when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dai-vernon/most-magicians-consider-the-palm-an-easy-move-to-make-they-are/) [Dai Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dai-vernon/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [We in Illinois are very fortunate to have a number of historic structures that have added immeasurably to the cultural life of the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-thompson/we-in-illinois-are-very-fortunate-to-have-a-number-of-historic/) James R. Thompson > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [As a fan of the books, I feel fortunate to be part of 'The Hunger Games' family. It was an amazing experience; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/as-a-fan-of-the-books-i-feel-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-hunger-games/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [I just don't think of myself as a star. This is what I do for a living; I'm fortunate that I make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-star-this-is-what-i-do-for-a-living/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I'm fortunate in one way and I can take pride from the fact that I've consistently performed for 10 years, which is something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/i-m-fortunate-in-one-way-and-i-can-take-pride-from-the-fact-that-i-ve/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [I'm very fortunate in my life to be able to do what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/i-m-very-fortunate-in-my-life-to-be-able-to-do-what-i-want-to-do/) [Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/) Browse all 2,107 Fortunate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as people say we are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unhappiness-we-are-never-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fortunate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unhappiness-we-are-never-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/honor-de-balzac-197_fortunate_people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unh_1044442.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness; we are never so fortunate nor so unfortunate as people say…” — Honore de Balzac", "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": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People exaggerate both happiness and unhappiness;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unhappiness-we-are-never-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/people-exaggerate-both-happiness-and-unhappiness-we-are-never-so/#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 } } ] } ```