--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the way it ought to be, he…" description: "\"“This is the way it ought to be, he thought to himself, to be able to dance with a girl you like and really get a kick out of it because everything’ on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/john-okada-88620_acceptance_this-is-the-way-it-ought-to-be-he-though_348899.jpg" --- # This is the way it ought to be, he thought to himself, to… ![“This is the way it ought to be, he thought to himself, to be able to dance with a girl you like and really get a kick out of it because everything’ on an even keel and one’s worries are of the usual ones of unpaid bills and sickness in the family and being late to work too often. Wh can’t it be…” quote by John Okada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/john-okada-88620_acceptance_this-is-the-way-it-ought-to-be-he-though_348899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/john-okada-88620_acceptance_this-is-the-way-it-ought-to-be-he-though_348899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/john-okada-88620_acceptance_this-is-the-way-it-ought-to-be-he-though_348899.jpg) > ““This is the way it ought to be, he thought to himself, to be able to dance with a girl you like and really get a kick out of it because everything’ on an even keel and one’s worries are of the usual ones of unpaid bills and sickness in the family and being late to work too often. Wh can’t it be that way for me? Nobody’s looking twice at us. Nobody’s asking me where I was during the war or what the hell I am doing back on the coast. There’s no trouble to be had without looking for it. Everything’s the same, just as it used to be. No bad feelings except for those that have always been and probably always will. It’s a matter of attitude. Mine needs changing. I’ve got to love the world the way I used to. I’ve got to love it and the people so I’ll feel good, and feeling good will make life worthwhile. There’s no point in crying about what’s done. There’s a place for me and Emi and Freddie here on the dance floor and out there in the hustle of things if we’ll let it be that way. I’ve been fighting it and hating it and letting my bitterness against myself and Ma and Pa and even Taro throw the whole universe out of perspective. I want only to go on living and be happy. I’ve only to let myself do so.”” John Okada ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire for simple, carefree life clashes with personal and societal burdens; changing attitude can bring joy. **In simple terms:** Wanting easy happiness meets real problems; mindset shift helps. Key Takeaway Shift perspective to appreciate life despite hardships. Themes attitude hope contentment resilience mental health Mood hopeful determined Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - daily routine - career stress - family issues - financial worries Key Concepts existentialism psychology self‑help Questions to Reflect On - What small attitude change can improve your day? - How can you balance acceptance with action? A Different Perspective Changing mindset alone may not solve external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Bad feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-feelings/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Good feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-feeling/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [“My Japanese isn’t much better today, but at least now I appreciate my duality more than when I was a punk kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-asakawa/my-japanese-isn-t-much-better-today-but-at-least-now-i-appreciate-my/) Gil Asakawa > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [When I sing for myself, I probably sing for anyone who has any kind of hurt, any kind of bad feelings, good feelings, ups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/when-i-sing-for-myself-i-probably-sing-for-anyone-who-has-any-kind-of/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/thoughts-that-bring-about-good-feelings-mean-you-are-on-the-right/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Your feelings are cosmic communication! The good feelings mean, GOOD FOR YOU. The bad feelings are to get your attention so that you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/your-feelings-are-cosmic-communication-the-good-feelings-mean-good/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Our feelings probably are not less strong at fifty than they were ten or fifteen years before; but they have changed their objects, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/our-feelings-probably-are-not-less-strong-at-fifty-than-they-were-ten/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [Sometimes when you lead someone on for too long they start to develop feelings that you probably will not reciprocate, which leads to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-you-lead-someone-on-for-too-long-they-start-to-develop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We feel understood by people who like us; misunderstood by people who don't -- and those feelings are probably realistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/we-feel-understood-by-people-who-like-us-misunderstood-by-people-who/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“I was realising that all new feelings from here on in would probably be bad ones. Surprises would no longer be good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/i-was-realising-that-all-new-feelings-from-here-on-in-would-probably/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [I know that even now, having watched enough television, you probably won't even refer to them as lepers so as to spare their feelings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-know-that-even-now-having-watched-enough-television-you-probably/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [If I had feelings, I probably wouldn’t have even survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-had-feelings-i-probably-wouldn-t-have-even-survived/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The thought makes me angry. I hope the anger burns up all other feelings because it’s probably the only thing keeping me on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/the-thought-makes-me-angry-i-hope-the-anger-burns-up-all-other/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [“What I really felt was this: chopped down like a tree, a new feeling, and I was realizing that all new feelings from here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/what-i-really-felt-was-this-chopped-down-like-a-tree-a-new-feeling/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [I deal with everything in my life in music - everything that ever happens to me just finds its way into a song or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-green/i-deal-with-everything-in-my-life-in-music-everything-that-ever/) [Anthony Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-green/) > [Life is too short to waste time harboring bad feelings about anyone. Forgive, forget, then move on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-austin/life-is-too-short-to-waste-time-harboring-bad-feelings-about-anyone/) [Denise Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-austin/) ## More by John Okada > [“...Love is not something you save and hoard. You're born with it and you spend it when you have to and there's always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-okada/love-is-not-something-you-save-and-hoard-you-re-born-with-it-and-you/) John Okada > [“There is a period between each night and day when one dies for a few hours, neither dreaming nor thinking nor tossing nor hating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-okada/there-is-a-period-between-each-night-and-day-when-one-dies-for-a-few/) John Okada Explore all 3 John Okada quotes ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is the way it ought to be, he thought to himself, to be able to dance with a girl you like and really get a kick out of it because everything’ on an even keel and one’s worries are of the usual ones of unpaid bills and sickness in the family and being late to work too often. Wh can’t it be that way for me? Nobody’s looking twice at us. Nobody’s asking me where I was during the war or what the hell I am doing back on the coast. There’s no trouble to be had without looking for it. Everything’s the same, just as it used to be. No bad feelings except for those that have always been and probably always will. It’s a matter of attitude. Mine needs changing. I’ve got to love the world the way I used to. I’ve got to love it and the people so I’ll feel good, and feeling good will make life worthwhile. There’s no point in crying about what’s done. There’s a place for me and Emi and Freddie here on the dance floor and out there in the hustle of things if we’ll let it be that way. I’ve been fighting it and hating it and letting my bitterness against myself and Ma and Pa and even Taro throw the whole universe out of perspective. I want only to go on living and be happy. 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