--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His statement to himself should have…" description: "\"His statement to himself should have been, 'I possess this now, therefore I am happy', instead of what it so Victorianly was: \"I cannot possess this fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/john-fowles-816_forever_his-statement-to-himself-should-have-bee_1570070.png" --- # His statement to himself should have been, 'I possess this… ![“His statement to himself should have been, 'I possess this now, therefore I am happy', instead of what it so Victorianly was: "I cannot possess this for ever, and therefore am sad."” quote by John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/john-fowles-816_forever_his-statement-to-himself-should-have-bee_1570070.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/john-fowles-816_forever_his-statement-to-himself-should-have-bee_1570070.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/john-fowles-816_forever_his-statement-to-himself-should-have-bee_1570070.png) > “His statement to himself should have been, 'I possess this now, therefore I am happy', instead of what it so Victorianly was: "I cannot possess this for ever, and therefore am sad."” [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques the idea that possession equals happiness, suggesting that clinging to permanence causes sorrow. **In simple terms:** Holding onto things forever leads to sadness. Key Takeaway Find contentment without needing ownership. Themes philosophy contentment impermanence Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career goals - material pursuits Key Concepts existentialism psychology of desire Questions to Reflect On - What can you appreciate without owning? - How does letting go affect happiness? A Different Perspective Ownership isn’t always achievable or fulfilling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Instead Victorianly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-victorianly-4164233/) [Possess Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-happy-1279968/) [Possess Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-sad-5908423/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Should have been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have-been/) [Statement Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statement-possess-4164234/) [Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements/) [Victorianly Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victorianly-possess-4164232/) ## Related quotes > [His statement to himself should have been 'I possess this now,therefore I am happy' , instead of what it so Victorianly was: 'I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/his-statement-to-himself-should-have-been-i-possess-this-now/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [If you possess happiness you possess everything: to be happy is to be in tune with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-possess-happiness-you-possess-everything-to-be-happy-is-to-be/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Hillary Clinton should have been prosecuted and gone to jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-should-have-been-prosecuted-and-gone-to-jail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Steiner has here transformed the vaporous conceptions of his life, the vapors of what never was and never will be, from their aeriform state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-tosches/steiner-has-here-transformed-the-vaporous-conceptions-of-his-life-the/) [Nick Tosches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-tosches/) > [When it came to the on-camera TV stuff, I'd be standing next to the director, my friend, and he'd be asked a question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/when-it-came-to-the-on-camera-tv-stuff-i-d-be-standing-next-to-the/) [Robert B. 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