---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word \"passion\" is from the Latin…"
description: "\"“The word \"passion\" is from the Latin \"passionem,\" which means \"suffering, enduring.\" What else could the word \"passion\" mean? \"Good times?\" \"Happiness..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/joe-blair-86446_happiness_the-word-passion-is-from-the-latin-passi_94254.jpg"
---

#  The word "passion" is from the Latin "passionem," which…

![“The word &quot;passion&quot; is from the Latin &quot;passionem,&quot; which means &quot;suffering, enduring.&quot; What else could the word &quot;passion&quot; mean? &quot;Good times?&quot; &quot;Happiness?&quot; Passion has nothing to do with happiness. I think we all want to be happy. I also think we rarely are. Happiness, like the urge to write, is a…” quote by Joe Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/joe-blair-86446_happiness_the-word-passion-is-from-the-latin-passi_94254.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/joe-blair-86446_happiness_the-word-passion-is-from-the-latin-passi_94254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/joe-blair-86446_happiness_the-word-passion-is-from-the-latin-passi_94254.jpg)

> ““The word "passion" is from the Latin "passionem," which means "suffering, enduring." What else could the word "passion" mean? "Good times?" "Happiness?" Passion has nothing to do with happiness. I think we all want to be happy. I also think we rarely are. Happiness, like the urge to write, is a virus we catch. Not on purpose, but randomly. It comes, displays its symptoms, and then it goes. And we're left with a type of wistful nostalgia for this fleeting, accidental thing. This is our most common stance in the world. It's not a balanced pose, rather a kind of suffering. Enduring. A kind of passion. Which, we all agree, is a positive thing. For some reason. We want to be passionate. And we want to be happy. It's sort of like wanting to be sick and well at the same time.””

Joe Blair

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Passion originates from Latin for suffering, not happiness; it reflects a yearning for intense, enduring experience despite its pain.

**In simple terms:** Passion is enduring suffering, not fleeting happiness.

Key Takeaway

Passion is a paradoxical desire for both pain and joy.

Themes

philosophy psychology language culture existentialism

Mood

thoughtful melancholic inquisitive

Type

aphorism reflection

When to use this quote

- creative work
- personal reflection
- career ambition
- relationship dynamics

Key Concepts

etymology human desire suffering happiness

Practical Applications

- motivational speaking
- self‑help writing

Questions to Reflect On

- How does redefining passion change your goals?
- Can you accept suffering as part of fulfillment?

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[Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

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[Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/)

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[Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/)

> [“Have a passion that you mean it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-poison-king-2/have-a-passion-that-you-mean-it/)

Dr poison king

> [“The only link between my experience as an employee and that of an entrepreneur is all in one word: Passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/the-only-link-between-my-experience-as-an-employee-and-that-of-an/)

[Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/)

> [“J'ai un but, une tâche, disons le mot, une passion. Le métier d'écrire en est une violente et presque indestructible." ("I have an object,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/j-ai-un-but-une-t-che-disons-le-mot-une-passion-le-m-tier-d-crire-en/)

[George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/)

> [“Let’s listen again to Dencombe: 'Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task.' I love the fact that he uses the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-morton/let-s-listen-again-to-dencombe-our-doubt-is-our-passion-and-our/)

[Brian Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-morton/)

> [I have an object, a task, let me say the word, a passion. The profession of writing is a violent and almost indestructible one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-have-an-object-a-task-let-me-say-the-word-a-passion-the-profession/)

[George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/)

> [To sense the peace of extinguished passion Happiness in not knowing the ultimate knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/to-sense-the-peace-of-extinguished-passion-happiness-in-not-knowing/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [“Your sensuality is your passion and happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/your-sensuality-is-your-passion-and-happiness/)

[Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/)

> [Follow your dreams and use your passion for happiness, make life lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/follow-your-dreams-and-use-your-passion-for-happiness-make-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you strike that fine balance between the challenge of an activity and your skill at performing it, when the rhythm of your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/when-you-strike-that-fine-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [Life is beautiful. It is full with Love, Passion and Happiness. All of it are everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athirah/life-is-beautiful-it-is-full-with-love-passion-and-happiness-all-of/)

[Athirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athirah/)

> [“If you did not live lovingly and love deeply, you would not feel the pain of separation. But neither would you feel the joy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/if-you-did-not-live-lovingly-and-love-deeply-you-would-not-feel-the/)

[Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/)

> [There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-only-one-passion-the-passion-for-happiness/)

[Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/)

> [We run when we're scared, we run when we're ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/we-run-when-we-re-scared-we-run-when-we-re-ecstatic-we-run-away-from/)

[Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/)

## More by Joe Blair

> [“It is possible to grieve for the loss of a thing even as you are in possession of it. To crave the very thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-blair/it-is-possible-to-grieve-for-the-loss-of-a-thing-even-as-you-are-in/)

Joe Blair

> [“Some might say the difference between being a kid and being a grown-up is that grown-ups don't think they can sail around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-blair/some-might-say-the-difference-between-being-a-kid-and-being-a-grown/)

Joe Blair

Explore all 3 Joe Blair quotes

## More Good times quotes

> [We run when we're scared, we run when we're ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/we-run-when-we-re-scared-we-run-when-we-re-ecstatic-we-run-away-from/)

[Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/)

> [Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they're down, and when they're having a good time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/being-funny-is-one-of-my-greatest-strengths-i-can-make-girls-smile/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [The thought of you makes me sick. I can't even bare to begin. I need to remember how it feels to be loved again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-chiar/the-thought-of-you-makes-me-sick-i-can-t-even-bare-to-begin-i-need-to/)

[Francine Chiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-chiar/)

> [In BestFriend Every Letter Has A Meaning ! B:est at wat we do E:very time yuh make me laugh S:orry for wat went wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marrah-b/in-bestfriend-every-letter-has-a-meaning-b-est-at-wat-we-do-e-very/)

Marrah B

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[Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/)

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> [My flights delayed and I found a pube in my sushi. Good times at the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/my-flights-delayed-and-i-found-a-pube-in-my-sushi-good-times-at-the/)

[Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/)

> [ “\[Fiscal prudence\] means spending wisely, reducing waste, collecting sufficient taxes to pay for the public goods and services we want, keeping budgets in relative… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-himelfarb/fiscal-prudence-means-spending-wisely-reducing-waste-collecting/)

Alex Himelfarb

> [When you love someone you have to take the good with the bad. Sometimes the bad out numbers the good, but it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/when-you-love-someone-you-have-to-take-the-good-with-the-bad/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [At times it has been good. At times it has been average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/at-times-it-has-been-good-at-times-it-has-been-average/)

[Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/)

[Browse all 1,693 Good times quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/)

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