--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here we must take account of one of St…" description: "\"“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction betwee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/josef-pieper-11414_activity_here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-t_887788.png" --- # Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's… ![“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction between "uncreated" and "created" happiness. We have here something which, while not at all obvious, is nevertheless fraught with consequences for our…” quote by Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/josef-pieper-11414_activity_here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-t_887788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/josef-pieper-11414_activity_here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-t_887788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/josef-pieper-11414_activity_here-we-must-take-account-of-one-of-st-t_887788.png) > ““Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. It is the distinction between "uncreated" and "created" happiness. We have here something which, while not at all obvious, is nevertheless fraught with consequences for our whole feeling about life. Namely, this: what does indeed make us happy is the infinite and uncreated richness of God; but participation in this, happiness itself, is entirely a "creatural" reality governed from within by our humanity; it is not something that descends overwhelmingly upon us from outside. That is, it is not only something that happens to us; we ourselves are intensely active participants in our own happiness. Beatitude - Thomas is saying - cannot possibly be conceived as a merely objective condition of sheer existence. It is not a mere quality, not pure passivity, not simply a feeling. It is something that takes place in the alert core of the mind... Happiness is an act and an activity of the soul.”” [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from an active, internal participation in divine richness, not merely passive reception. **In simple terms:** Happiness is an active, internal experience. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner participation in joy. Themes spirituality ethics human nature purpose Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - community service - creative expression Key Concepts theology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you actively engage in your happiness? - What internal resources support this activity? A Different Perspective Active participation may be limited by external circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquinas/) [Beatitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatitude/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [St thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/st-thomas/) ## Related quotes > [“In captivity, in the shed, Pierre had learned, not with his mind, but with his whole being, his life, that man is created for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/in-captivity-in-the-shed-pierre-had-learned-not-with-his-mind-but/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Every little smile can touch somebody's heart.. No one is born happy, but all of us are born with the ability to created happiness.. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-little-smile-can-touch-somebody-s-heart-no-one-is-born-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness is not found, it is created. Happiness does not depend on all that we lack, but on the way in which we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnaud-desjardins/happiness-is-not-found-it-is-created-happiness-does-not-depend-on-all/) [Arnaud Desjardins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnaud-desjardins/) > [I never believed 'God created no happiness without sorrow...but the fact is everything started with him and will surely ends with him...God has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-believed-god-created-no-happiness-without-sorrow-but-the-fact/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Didots created happiness and power, or in this case, pain and sadness...but only within its subject’s mind. The power it held was real,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/the-didots-created-happiness-and-power-or-in-this-case-pain-and/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) > [“Man is created for happiness, that happiness lies in himself, in the satisfaction of simple human needs; and that all unhappiness is due, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/man-is-created-for-happiness-that-happiness-lies-in-himself-in-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [This much is certain: when a man is happy, happy to the core and root of beatitude, he is no longer conscious of himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/this-much-is-certain-when-a-man-is-happy-happy-to-the-core-and-root/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. \[Matt 5:4\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blessed-are-those-who-mourn-for-they-will-be-comforted-matt-5-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As long as one is alive, one should strive for the attainment of final beatitude. This should be done by one who knows what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-dominic-de-lucia/as-long-as-one-is-alive-one-should-strive-for-the-attainment-of-final/) Dean Dominic De Lucia > [Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed was the ninth beatitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/blessed-is-the-man-who-expects-nothing-for-he-shall-never-be/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Because I am Beat, I believe in Beatitude and that God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/because-i-am-beat-i-believe-in-beatitude-and-that-god-so-loved-the/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“When man subverted order he did a great deal more than merely fall away from the rationality of his nature, diminish his own humanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-gilson/when-man-subverted-order-he-did-a-great-deal-more-than-merely-fall/) [Étienne Gilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-gilson/) > [“I will bless thee - His Beatitude is Your Beautification”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-joseph/i-will-bless-thee-his-beatitude-is-your-beautification/) [Ikechukwu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-joseph/) > [“Beatitude starts in the moment when the act of thinking has freed itself from the necessity of form. Beatitude starts at the moment when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/beatitude-starts-in-the-moment-when-the-act-of-thinking-has-freed/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [There's one blessing only, the source and cornerstone of beatitude: confidence in self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-s-one-blessing-only-the-source-and-cornerstone-of-beatitude/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) ## More by Josef Pieper > [The delight we take in our senses is an implicit desire to know the ultimate reason for things, the highest cause. The desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-delight-we-take-in-our-senses-is-an-implicit-desire-to-know-the/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“The vacancy left by absence of worship is filled by mere killing of time and by boredom, which is directly related to inability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-vacancy-left-by-absence-of-worship-is-filled-by-mere-killing-of/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“Patience is not the indiscriminate acceptance of any sort of evil: "It is not the one who does not flee from evil who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/patience-is-not-the-indiscriminate-acceptance-of-any-sort-of-evil-it/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Contemplation does not ignore the 'historical Gethsemane', does not ignore the mystery of evil, guilt and its bloody atonement. The happiness of contemplation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/contemplation-does-not-ignore-the-historical-gethsemane-does-not/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Justice is a habit (habitus), whereby a man renders to each one his due with constant and perpetual will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/justice-is-a-habit-habitus-whereby-a-man-renders-to-each-one-his-due/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [The happy life does not mean loving what we possess, but possessing what we love." Possession of the beloved, St. Thomas holds, takes place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-happy-life-does-not-mean-loving-what-we-possess-but-possessing/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [The brave man uses wrath for his own act, above all in attack, 'for it is peculiar to wrath to pounce upon evil. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-brave-man-uses-wrath-for-his-own-act-above-all-in-attack-for-it/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [What distinguishes - in both senses of that word - contemplation is rather this: it is a knowing which is inspired by love. "Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/what-distinguishes-in-both-senses-of-that-word-contemplation-is/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Beauty, however, must here be understood in its original meaning: as the glow of the true and the good irradiating from every ordered state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/beauty-however-must-here-be-understood-in-its-original-meaning-as-the/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for nonactivity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/unless-we-regain-the-art-of-silence-and-insight-the-ability-for/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [To be conscious of gratitude is to acknowledge a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/to-be-conscious-of-gratitude-is-to-acknowledge-a-gift/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [If God really became incarnate, and if His Incarnation can with justice compel man to change his life,then we have no alternative but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/if-god-really-became-incarnate-and-if-his-incarnation-can-with/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Surrender to sensuality paralyzes the powers of the moral person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/surrender-to-sensuality-paralyzes-the-powers-of-the-moral-person/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [Only those are called liberal or free which are concerned with knowledge; those which are concerned with utilitarian ends... are called servile...The question is...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/only-those-are-called-liberal-or-free-which-are-concerned-with/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [To celebrate a festival means: to live out, for some special occasion and in an uncommon manner, the universal assent to the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/to-celebrate-a-festival-means-to-live-out-for-some-special-occasion/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) [Explore all 60 Josef Pieper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here we must take account of one of St. Thomas's conceptual distinctions, which at first seems like unnecessary caviling. 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