--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Felicity is in possession, happiness in…" description: "\"Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.\" — Jean Racine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg" --- # Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation. ![“Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.” quote by Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg) > “Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.” [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Possession brings fleeting joy; anticipation holds lasting happiness. **In simple terms:** Having things gives brief joy; expecting gives lasting joy. Key Takeaway Value anticipation over acquisition. Themes desire contentment expectation Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - shopping - career advancement - relationships - goal setting Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What are you currently anticipating? - How can you enjoy the present while waiting? A Different Perspective Over‑anticipation can lead to disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) ## Related quotes > [“Happiness is the anticipation of future happines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-carey/happiness-is-the-anticipation-of-future-happines/) [Anna Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-carey/) > [If happiness is anticipation with certainty, we were happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-happiness-is-anticipation-with-certainty-we-were-happy/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“if your happiness is linked to this material possession, your happiness is likely going to be temporary as well. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-white/if-your-happiness-is-linked-to-this-material-possession-your/) Amy White > [“We desire some pleasure, and the material means of obtaining it are lacking. “It is a mistake,” Labruyère tells us, “to be in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/we-desire-some-pleasure-and-the-material-means-of-obtaining-it-are-2/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [If a man has important work, and enough leisure and income to enable him to do it properly, he is in possession of as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/if-a-man-has-important-work-and-enough-leisure-and-income-to-enable/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Let a man choose what condition he will, and let him accumulate around him all the goods and gratifications seemingly calculated to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/let-a-man-choose-what-condition-he-will-and-let-him-accumulate-around/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Possession without obligation to the object possessed approaches felicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/possession-without-obligation-to-the-object-possessed-approaches/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [Our envy always outlives the felicity of its object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-envy-always-outlives-the-felicity-of-its-object/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In 2005, I had the great honor of playing Shailene Woodley's mother in 'Felicity: An American Girl Adventure.' I was immediately impressed by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/in-2005-i-had-the-great-honor-of-playing-shailene-woodley-s-mother-in/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [“Shh, May,' Felicity said soothingly, glancing behind her. She absolutely did not want Rafe to come out and say something stupidly noble. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-enoch/shh-may-felicity-said-soothingly-glancing-behind-her-she-absolutely/) [Suzanne Enoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-enoch/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Lady Maccon cogitated. She would like to encourage this new spirit of social-mindedness. If Felicity needed anything in her life, it was a cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lady-maccon-cogitated-she-would-like-to-encourage-this-new-spirit-of/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [... professing myself moreover convinced that the general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/professing-myself-moreover-convinced-that-the-general-s-unjust/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I never root for a failure. I learned that when we were on 'Felicity.' There was a show that failed on the lot, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-grunberg/i-never-root-for-a-failure-i-learned-that-when-we-were-on-felicity/) [Greg Grunberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-grunberg/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Jean Racine > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Honor, without money, is a mere malady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/honor-without-money-is-a-mere-malady/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The part I remember best is the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/the-part-i-remember-best-is-the-beginning/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [A noble heart cannot suspect in others the pettiness and malice that it has never felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/a-noble-heart-cannot-suspect-in-others-the-pettiness-and-malice-that/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Justice in the extreme is often unjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/justice-in-the-extreme-is-often-unjust/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/i-embrace-my-rival-but-only-to-strangle-him/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [“Le nom d'amant peut-être offense son courage; Mais il en a les yeux, s'il n'en a le langage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/le-nom-d-amant-peut-tre-offense-son-courage-mais-il-en-a-les-yeux-s/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The face of tyranny Is always mild at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/the-face-of-tyranny-is-always-mild-at-first/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [My only hope lies in my despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/my-only-hope-lies-in-my-despair/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [When I'm carried away, isn't it clear that my heart contradicts my mouth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/when-i-m-carried-away-isn-t-it-clear-that-my-heart-contradicts-my/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Life is a comedy to those who think; a tragedy to those who feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/life-is-a-comedy-to-those-who-think-a-tragedy-to-those-who-feel/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/if-i-could-believe-that-this-was-said-sincerely-i-could-put-up-with/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Can a faith that does nothing be called sincere?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/can-a-faith-that-does-nothing-be-called-sincere/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Behind a veil, unseen yet present, I was the forceful soul that moved this mighty body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/behind-a-veil-unseen-yet-present-i-was-the-forceful-soul-that-moved/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [It is a maxim of old that among themselves all things are common to friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/it-is-a-maxim-of-old-that-among-themselves-all-things-are-common-to/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) [Explore all 106 Jean Racine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) ## More Anticipation quotes > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/long-intros-are-cool-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-anticipation-you/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“O I'm so afraid that it's true about to travel hopefully being better than to arrive. It might be all in the quest, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brophy/o-i-m-so-afraid-that-it-s-true-about-to-travel-hopefully-being-better/) [Brigid Brophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brophy/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [The so called unconscious inferences can be traced back to the all-preserving memory, which presents us with parallel experiences and hence already knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-unconscious-inferences-can-be-traced-back-to-the-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) Paul Boateng > [“I can handle Evil, but I cannot handle Anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabbo-de-la-parra/i-can-handle-evil-but-i-cannot-handle-anticipation/) [Gabbo De La Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabbo-de-la-parra/) > [Hope is itself a species of happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-is-itself-a-species-of-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) Browse all 758 Anticipation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Racine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-anticipation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anticipation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-anticipation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/jean-racine-4047_anticipation_felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-a_1655148.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.” — Jean Racine", "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": "Jean Racine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Felicity is in possession, happiness in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-anticipation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/felicity-is-in-possession-happiness-in-anticipation/#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 } } ] } ```