--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They've got no idea what happiness is…" description: "\"They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us--there is no life.\" — Leo Tol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png" --- # They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know… ![“They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us--there is no life.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png) > “They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us--there is no life.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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 depends on love; without love there is no happiness or unhappiness, only existence. **In simple terms:** Love is the source of happiness. Key Takeaway Cultivate love to find meaning. Themes love meaning existence Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy emotional fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How does love shape your sense of happiness? - Can you find meaning without love? A Different Perspective Love alone may not guarantee happiness if other needs are unmet. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [“They haven’t an idea what happiness is; they don’t know that without our love, for us there is neither happiness nor unhappiness—no life at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-haven-t-an-idea-what-happiness-is-they-don-t-know-that-without/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [No matter when, at whatever moment, if she were asked what she was thinking about she could reply quite correctly - one thing, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/no-matter-when-at-whatever-moment-if-she-were-asked-what-she-was/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-you-realized-that-most-of-your-unhappiness-in-life-is-due-to-the-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've had a lot of unhappiness in my life — and a lot of happiness. Who doesn't? Maybe I've learned enough to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-hayworth/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-unhappiness-in-my-life-and-a-lot-of-happiness-who/) [Rita Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-hayworth/) > [“These books were a way of escaping from the unhappiness of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/these-books-were-a-way-of-escaping-from-the-unhappiness-of-my-life/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I believe half of the unhappiness in life comes from people being afraid to go straight at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-half-of-the-unhappiness-in-life-comes-from-people-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is, after all, a kind of happiness in unhappiness, if it's the right unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/there-is-after-all-a-kind-of-happiness-in-unhappiness-if-it-s-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Joy is not like happiness, unhappiness. It is singular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/joy-is-not-like-happiness-unhappiness-it-is-singular/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Ah, how little you know of human happiness - you comfortable and benevolent people! For happiness and unhappiness are brother and sister - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ah-how-little-you-know-of-human-happiness-you-comfortable-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Both happiness and unhappiness depend on perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/both-happiness-and-unhappiness-depend-on-perception/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Happiness and unhappiness differ as a bucket hammered from gold differs from one pressed in tin ... Each carries the same water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/happiness-and-unhappiness-differ-as-a-bucket-hammered-from-gold/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Happiness or unhappiness is often a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-or-unhappiness-is-often-a-matter-of-choice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The fact that there is always a positive side to life is the one thing that gives me a lot of happiness. This world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-fact-that-there-is-always-a-positive-side-to-life-is-the-one/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/if-you-don-t-enjoy-getting-up-and-working-and-finishing-your-work-and/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Happiness and unhappiness are not primarily created by the material world or the physical body. First and foremost, they are decisions of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/happiness-and-unhappiness-are-not-primarily-created-by-the-material/) [Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [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/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us--there is no life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-they-don-t-know-that-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-they-don-t-know-that-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/259/leo-tolstoy-55_happiness_they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-th_1850310.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or…” — Leo Tolstoy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They've got no idea what happiness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-they-don-t-know-that-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/they-ve-got-no-idea-what-happiness-is-they-don-t-know-that-without/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```