--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was the happiness of knowing these girls…" description: "\"“Was the happiness of knowing these girls really unattainable? It would certainly not have been the first happiness of that sort which I had abandoned ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/marcel-proust-114_happiness_was-the-happiness-of-knowing-these-girls_2145153.jpg" --- # Was the happiness of knowing these girls really… ![“Was the happiness of knowing these girls really unattainable? It would certainly not have been the first happiness of that sort which I had abandoned all hope of ever enjoying?” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/marcel-proust-114_happiness_was-the-happiness-of-knowing-these-girls_2145153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/marcel-proust-114_happiness_was-the-happiness-of-knowing-these-girls_2145153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/marcel-proust-114_happiness_was-the-happiness-of-knowing-these-girls_2145153.jpg) > ““Was the happiness of knowing these girls really unattainable? It would certainly not have been the first happiness of that sort which I had abandoned all hope of ever enjoying?”” [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions whether happiness with certain women is truly unattainable, recalling past abandonment of hope. **In simple terms:** He wonders if happiness with those women is impossible. Key Takeaway Reexamine lost hopes for happiness. Themes love longing hope Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - romantic relationships - self‑reflection - literary analysis Key Concepts existential yearning memory desire Questions to Reflect On - What hopes have you abandoned? - Can you redefine what happiness means? A Different Perspective Happiness may be shaped by self‑imposed limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Unrequited love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrequited-love/) ## Related quotes > [“Thank you, I am well, certainly, and I have found more happiness in the last months than I ever hoped I might.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-rees/thank-you-i-am-well-certainly-and-i-have-found-more-happiness-in-the/) Tracy Rees > [We all look for happiness, but without knowing where to find it: like drunkards who look for their house, knowing dimly that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-all-look-for-happiness-but-without-knowing-where-to-find-it-like/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [To sense the peace of extinguished passion Happiness in not knowing the ultimate knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/to-sense-the-peace-of-extinguished-passion-happiness-in-not-knowing/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“If there is such a thing as complete happiness, it is knowing that you are in the right place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-complete-happiness-it-is-knowing-that-you/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [Perfect happiness is knowing that everyone I love is healthy, safe, and content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-fielding/perfect-happiness-is-knowing-that-everyone-i-love-is-healthy-safe-and/) [Joy Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-fielding/) > [“Happiness is knowing those you love not only feel your love, but understand that love is unconditional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-boyd/happiness-is-knowing-those-you-love-not-only-feel-your-love-but/) Jenni Boyd > [“His happiness in knowing himself to have been so long the beloved of such a heart, must have been great enough to warrant any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/his-happiness-in-knowing-himself-to-have-been-so-long-the-beloved-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Contentment is knowing you're right. 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