Happiness Quote by Huston Smith
““The scientific gauge is quantity: space, size, and strength of forces can all be reckoned numerically. The comparable "yardstick" in the traditional hierarchy was quality. It had, over the millennia, two distinct readings that overlapped. To the popular mind it meant essentially euphoria: better meant happier, worse less happy. Reflective minds, on the other hand, considered happiness to be only an aspect of quality, not its defining feature. The word "significance" points us in the direction of the feature they considered fundamental, but significance too was derivative. It was taken for granted that the higher worlds abounded in meaning, significance, and importance, but this was because they were saturated with Being and were therefore more real. *Sat*, *Chit*, *Ananda*: Being, Awareness, and Bliss. All three pertained, but Being, being basic, came first. In the last analysis, the scale in the traditional hierarchy was ontological." —from_The Forgotten Truth_””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Forgotten Truth, author unknown, date unknown
The quote contrasts quantitative measurement of reality with traditional qualitative assessments, arguing that true significance lies in ontological being rather than mere happiness or importance.
In simple terms: Quality vs quantity debate, emphasizing being as fundamental.
Prioritize ontological depth over superficial metrics.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- personal reflection
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure true significance?
- What does “being” mean to you?
Quantitative focus can neglect subjective experience.