--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think…" description: "\"“Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think happiness is all smooth and serene. Isn't it mostly a great energetic struggle - you against the universe - a gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b8/margaret-mahy-9662_happiness_anyhow-isn-t-it-a-bit-wrong-to-think-hap_2226863.jpg" --- # Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think happiness is all… ![“Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think happiness is all smooth and serene. Isn't it mostly a great energetic struggle - you against the universe - a great whopping opponent, with the referee in its pocket?” quote by Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b8/margaret-mahy-9662_happiness_anyhow-isn-t-it-a-bit-wrong-to-think-hap_2226863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b8/margaret-mahy-9662_happiness_anyhow-isn-t-it-a-bit-wrong-to-think-hap_2226863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b8/margaret-mahy-9662_happiness_anyhow-isn-t-it-a-bit-wrong-to-think-hap_2226863.jpg) > ““Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think happiness is all smooth and serene. Isn't it mostly a great energetic struggle - you against the universe - a great whopping opponent, with the referee in its pocket?”” [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness involves struggle against a chaotic universe, not just calmness. **In simple terms:** Happiness is a tough fight. Key Takeaway Accept struggle as part of joy. Themes happiness struggle universe perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative work - mental health - overcoming adversity Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance peace and challenge? - What role does conflict play in your joy? A Different Perspective Happiness can be fleeting if conflict is ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Serene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serene/) ## Related quotes > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. What matters is that happiness - the golden day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/you-are-quite-quite-wrong-if-you-think-that-i-find-your-happiness/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [Well wisher is not the one who meets U, And talk with you every day, Well wishers is the one who may or may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kand3n/well-wisher-is-not-the-one-who-meets-u-and-talk-with-you-every-day/) [Kand3n](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kand3n/) > [I think all happiness depends on the energy to assume the mask of some other life, on a re-birth as something not one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-think-all-happiness-depends-on-the-energy-to-assume-the-mask-of/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/do-not-feel-envious-of-the-happiness-of-those-who-live-in-a-fool-s/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/people-tend-to-think-that-happiness-is-a-stroke-of-luck-something/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before I was abducted, I think that happiness was related to success. Nowadays happiness is related, for me, to rest, peace, serenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-betancourt/before-i-was-abducted-i-think-that-happiness-was-related-to-success/) [Ingrid Betancourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-betancourt/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“For what it's worth, I think happiness is a fleeting condition, not a permanent state of goddamn mind. I've learned that if you chase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/for-what-it-s-worth-i-think-happiness-is-a-fleeting-condition-not-a/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [“I’m not the only person in the world who’s suffered. I do think happiness is a choice. I don’t mean for people who suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sariah-wilson/i-m-not-the-only-person-in-the-world-who-s-suffered-i-do-think/) [Sariah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sariah-wilson/) > [I don't think happiness is necessarily the reason we're here. 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Being surrounded by those you loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-weaver/but-i-think-sometimes-happiness-just-meant-living-being-present-being/) [Paige Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-weaver/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Love is not always getting who you love; it’s also the ability to think about the happiness of the one you love…. Weather with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikky-bhartia/love-is-not-always-getting-who-you-love-it-s-also-the-ability-to/) Rikky Bhartia > [If you think that happiness means total peace, you will never be happy. Peace comes from the acceptance of the part of you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/if-you-think-that-happiness-means-total-peace-you-will-never-be-happy/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More by Margaret Mahy > [In a way, the characters often do take over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/in-a-way-the-characters-often-do-take-over/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-writing-of-course-you-have-to-do-all-that-writing-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“All right," said Eden. "After all, we've got to hide somewhere. And even if they move on a bit faster than we can, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/all-right-said-eden-after-all-we-ve-got-to-hide-somewhere-and-even-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [a man who builds a house never really dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/a-man-who-builds-a-house-never-really-dies/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Anyone interested in the world generally can't help being interested in young adult culture - in the music, the bands, the books, the fashions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/anyone-interested-in-the-world-generally-can-t-help-being-interested/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“I don't know everything I feel, but I do know this. You mustn't ever want anyone but me, Big Science. If you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-don-t-know-everything-i-feel-but-i-do-know-this-you-mustn-t-ever/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I, personally, have found reading a continual support to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-personally-have-found-reading-a-continual-support-to-writing/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Stamp, your name is to be Laura. I'm sharing my name with you. I'm putting my power into you and you must do my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/stamp-your-name-is-to-be-laura-i-m-sharing-my-name-with-you-i-m/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Reading is very creative - it's not just a passive thing. I write a story; it goes out into the world; somebody reads it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/reading-is-very-creative-it-s-not-just-a-passive-thing-i-write-a/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Fattening!” said Troy, looking at Tabitha’s round face and plump arms. “If I don’t mind being fat, I don’t see why other people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/fattening-said-troy-looking-at-tabitha-s-round-face-and-plump-arms-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Ellis's understanding of himself and the world around him certainly develops because of his adventures, and part of that development comes through recognizing other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/ellis-s-understanding-of-himself-and-the-world-around-him-certainly/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Being a librarian certainly helped me with my writing because it made me even more of a reader, and I was always an enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/being-a-librarian-certainly-helped-me-with-my-writing-because-it-made/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. Well, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters-in-more-sophisticated-stories/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I was able to work out all sorts of attitudes to style and event and character, all of which affected the way I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-was-able-to-work-out-all-sorts-of-attitudes-to-style-and-event-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“These were true things, Laura knew, but they were only part of the truth which was something less orderly than Kate made it sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/these-were-true-things-laura-knew-but-they-were-only-part-of-the/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) [Explore all 71 Margaret Mahy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## 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": "“Anyhow, isn't it a bit wrong to think happiness is all smooth and serene. 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