--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have discovered the secret of happiness…" description: "\"I have discovered the secret of happiness - it is work, either with the hands or the head. The moment I have something to do, the draughts are open and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/john-burroughs-1157_draws_i-have-discovered-the-secret-of-happines_1514796.png" --- # I have discovered the secret of happiness - it is work… ![“I have discovered the secret of happiness - it is work, either with the hands or the head. The moment I have something to do, the draughts are open and my chimney draws, and I am happy.” quote by John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/john-burroughs-1157_draws_i-have-discovered-the-secret-of-happines_1514796.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/john-burroughs-1157_draws_i-have-discovered-the-secret-of-happines_1514796.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/155/john-burroughs-1157_draws_i-have-discovered-the-secret-of-happines_1514796.png) > “I have discovered the secret of happiness - it is work, either with the hands or the head. The moment I have something to do, the draughts are open and my chimney draws, and I am happy.” [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Work provides purpose and focus, turning idle moments into productive satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Work brings joy and purpose. Key Takeaway Engage in meaningful tasks daily. Themes purpose productivity wellbeing Mood content motivated Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - job tasks - creative projects - volunteering - home chores Key Concepts psychology labor theory flow Questions to Reflect On - What activity makes you lose track of time? - How can you add purpose to routine tasks? A Different Perspective Work alone may not guarantee happiness if it lacks intrinsic interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-work/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I have discovered the secret of happiness. It is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-have-discovered-the-secret-of-happiness-it-is-work/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The secret of happiness is something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-secret-of-happiness-is-something-to-do/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The secret of happiness is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-secret-of-happiness-is-freedom/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The secret of happiness is renunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-secret-of-happiness-is-renunciation/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [A Sufi mystic who had always remained happy was asked… For seventy years people had watched him, he had never been found sad. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-sufi-mystic-who-had-always-remained-happy-was-asked-for-seventy/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/the-secret-of-happiness-is-find-something-more-important-than-you-are/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [What I am looking for is not happiness. I work solely because it is impossible for me to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-giacometti/what-i-am-looking-for-is-not-happiness-i-work-solely-because-it-is/) [Alberto Giacometti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-giacometti/) > [“No other technique for the conduct of life attaches the individual so firmly to reality as laying emphasis on work; for his work at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/no-other-technique-for-the-conduct-of-life-attaches-the-individual-so-2/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/people-universally-tend-to-think-that-happiness-is-a-stroke-of-luck/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [work is happiness. No one can take my work from me and therefore no one can take my happiness from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-corelli/work-is-happiness-no-one-can-take-my-work-from-me-and-therefore-no/) [Marie Corelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-corelli/) > [You can always find happiness at work on Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-always-find-happiness-at-work-on-friday/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness and work rose up together with the sun, radiant like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/happiness-and-work-rose-up-together-with-the-sun-radiant-like-it/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [“Most people chase success at work, thinking that will make them happy. The truth is that happiness at work will make you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kjerulf/most-people-chase-success-at-work-thinking-that-will-make-them-happy/) [Alexander Kjerulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kjerulf/) > [“Happiness is when you do the work you love and earn from it as much money as you want and need, and you live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamuna-tsertsvadze/happiness-is-when-you-do-the-work-you-love-and-earn-from-it-as-much/) Tamuna Tsertsvadze > [The reality is that fulfillment, success and all of these good things comes from trying to help those that we care about to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-reality-is-that-fulfillment-success-and-all-of-these-good-things/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More by John Burroughs > [As life nears its end with me, I find myself meditating more and more upon the mystery of its nature and origin, yet without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/as-life-nears-its-end-with-me-i-find-myself-meditating-more-and-more/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [When Darwin published his conclusion that man was descended from an apelike ancestor who was again descended from a still lower type, most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/when-darwin-published-his-conclusion-that-man-was-descended-from-an/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Science sees the process of evolution from the outside, as one might a train of cars going by, and resolves it into the physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/science-sees-the-process-of-evolution-from-the-outside-as-one-might-a/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Maybe that will happen with other countries as well. And so, that's why one of the things that groups like mine that work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/maybe-that-will-happen-with-other-countries-as-well-and-so-that-s-why/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [One can only learn his powers of action by action, and his powers of thought by thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/one-can-only-learn-his-powers-of-action-by-action-and-his-powers-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [I was born with a chronic anxiety about the weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-was-born-with-a-chronic-anxiety-about-the-weather/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [When the woodpecker is searching for food, or laying siege to some hidden grub, the sound of his hammer is dead or muffled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/when-the-woodpecker-is-searching-for-food-or-laying-siege-to-some/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [In what bold relief stand out the lives of all walkers of the snow! 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Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/no-one-can-come-to-me-unless-the-father-draws-him/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [They say that art comes from the soul. The more drama in an artist's life, the more he can draw on for his art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/they-say-that-art-comes-from-the-soul-the-more-drama-in-an-artist-s/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. 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