--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though common sense would suggest…" description: "\"“Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel most happy if we experience the maximum amount of intense positive affect and not very freq..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg" --- # Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel… ![“Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel most happy if we experience the maximum amount of intense positive affect and not very frequent negative affect, research demonstrates that this is not the case. The research shows that, while it is very important to experience positive…” quote by Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg) > ““Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel most happy if we experience the maximum amount of intense positive affect and not very frequent negative affect, research demonstrates that this is not the case. The research shows that, while it is very important to experience positive affect often, intense positive affect is not necessary for well-being. It appears that intense positive emotions usually come at a price, as they are often followed by periods of low affect. Also, they can negatively affect the evaluation of subsequent (usually less intense) positive experiences (Diener et al., 1991).”” [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Frequent moderate positive emotions boost well‑being more than rare intense highs, which can lead to lows and diminish future joy. **In simple terms:** Regular moderate happiness is better than occasional intense joy. Key Takeaway Cultivate steady, moderate positivity daily. Themes well‑being affect happiness psychology balance research Mood thoughtful balanced Type analytical informative When to use this quote - daily routines - mindfulness practice - social interactions - work environment Key Concepts Hedonic adaptation emotional regulation life satisfaction Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase moderate positive experiences? - What limits do intense emotions place on long‑term happiness? A Different Perspective Intense joy may be unsustainable and cause emotional swings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-emotions/) ## Related quotes > [“hedonism – striving for maximization of pleasure (positive affect) and minimization of pain (negative affect).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/hedonism-striving-for-maximization-of-pleasure-positive-affect-and/) [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) > [I've been so lucky that there's been such an intense and positive response to the line. It's one of the craziest things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi-neely/i-ve-been-so-lucky-that-there-s-been-such-an-intense-and-positive/) [Rumi Neely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi-neely/) > [You can have meaning, accomplishment, engagement and good relationships, even if you are dull on the positive affect side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/you-can-have-meaning-accomplishment-engagement-and-good-relationships/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [Positive corrective approach to wrong done has positive affect on self empowerment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/positive-corrective-approach-to-wrong-done-has-positive-affect-on/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [I gravitate to stories that I feel I can tell well, and that will have a positive affect on the viewer. That doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-coraci/i-gravitate-to-stories-that-i-feel-i-can-tell-well-and-that-will-have/) Frank Coraci > [You know, the standard state for people is 'mildly pleasant.' Negative emotions are quite rare, and extremely positive emotions are rare. But people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/you-know-the-standard-state-for-people-is-mildly-pleasant-negative/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate. It is your responsibility to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/positive-and-negative-emotions-cannot-occupy-the-mind-at-the-same/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Mooo!' was one of those songs where I was like thank God people like it because I like it, too. When I made it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doja-cat/mooo-was-one-of-those-songs-where-i-was-like-thank-god-people-like-it/) [Doja Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doja-cat/) > [“But buzz also has considerable downsides. “Everyone assumes that it’s good to accentuate positive emotions, but that isn’t correct,” the psychology professor Richard Howard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/but-buzz-also-has-considerable-downsides-everyone-assumes-that-it-s/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Negative emotion is your indicator of resistance, while positive emotion is your indicator of allowance. And they are on the same meter: allowance; resistance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/negative-emotion-is-your-indicator-of-resistance-while-positive/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“begin a daily use of the self-control techniques you’ve already learned. Remember to practice the Safe/Calm Place technique every day to strengthen it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-shapiro/begin-a-daily-use-of-the-self-control-techniques-you-ve-already/) Francine Shapiro > [“Whereas cognitive constraints on negative emotions can reduce distress, freeing positive emotions from such constraints can enhance religious experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-l-clore/whereas-cognitive-constraints-on-negative-emotions-can-reduce/) Gerald L. Clore > [Music and songs are written at different periods of time, at different times in your life. They reflect the feelings you have and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/music-and-songs-are-written-at-different-periods-of-time-at-different/) [Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More by Ilona Boniwell > [“Happiness and relationships One of the strongest predictors (and not only correlates!) of happiness is social relationships. In fact, to be happy we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/happiness-and-relationships-one-of-the-strongest-predictors-and-not/) [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) > [“hedonism – striving for maximization of pleasure (positive affect) and minimization of pain (negative affect).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/hedonism-striving-for-maximization-of-pleasure-positive-affect-and/) [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) > [“Taking into account the findings of many scholars, Seligman offers the happiness formula: H = S + C + V, where H stands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/taking-into-account-the-findings-of-many-scholars-seligman-offers-the/) [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) > [“Can someone be truly fulfilled without knowing what he or she is living for, what the point is, the meaning of one’s existence? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/can-someone-be-truly-fulfilled-without-knowing-what-he-or-she-is/) [Ilona Boniwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) [Explore all 5 Ilona Boniwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [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've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel most happy if we experience the maximum amount of intense positive affect and not very frequent negative affect, research demonstrates that this is not the case. The research shows that, while it is very important to experience positive affect often, intense positive affect is not necessary for well-being. It appears that intense positive emotions usually come at a price, as they are often followed by periods of low affect. Also, they can negatively affect the evaluation of subsequent (usually less intense) positive experiences (Diener et al., 1991).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ilona Boniwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-that-we-should-feel-most-happy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-that-we-should-feel-most-happy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/ilona-boniwell-59258_happiness_even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-t_2148062.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even though common sense would suggest that we should feel most happy if we experience the maximum amount of…” — Ilona Boniwell", "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": "Ilona Boniwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-boniwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Even though common sense would suggest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-that-we-should-feel-most-happy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-boniwell/even-though-common-sense-would-suggest-that-we-should-feel-most-happy/#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 } } ] } ```