--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The happiness state, when examined more…" description: "\"The happiness state, when examined more closely, turns out not to be a point but a range, with contentment at the bottom and exaltation at the top...th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/michael-foley-12028_bottom_the-happiness-state-when-examined-more-c_619101.png" --- # The happiness state, when examined more closely, turns out… ![“The happiness state, when examined more closely, turns out not to be a point but a range, with contentment at the bottom and exaltation at the top...there are probably as many forms of happiness as there are of depression.” quote by Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/michael-foley-12028_bottom_the-happiness-state-when-examined-more-c_619101.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/michael-foley-12028_bottom_the-happiness-state-when-examined-more-c_619101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/michael-foley-12028_bottom_the-happiness-state-when-examined-more-c_619101.png) > “The happiness state, when examined more closely, turns out not to be a point but a range, with contentment at the bottom and exaltation at the top...there are probably as many forms of happiness as there are of depression.” [Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is not a fixed point but a spectrum ranging from contentment to exaltation, varying similarly to depression’s many forms. **In simple terms:** Happiness is a range, not a point. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture different happiness levels. Themes emotion psychology well‑being Mood contemplative balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - therapy - mindfulness practices - goal setting Key Concepts positive psychology affect theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify your current happiness level? - What practices help you move toward higher states? A Different Perspective Focusing only on peak happiness may ignore steady contentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Exaltation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaltation/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [There are as many forms of happiness as sorrow, though most prove fleeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/there-are-as-many-forms-of-happiness-as-sorrow-though-most-prove/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Happiness and depression cannot blossom on the same vine. Some people affirm their woes and beg for sympathy. Others, unfortunately, cast gloom wherever they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sullivan/happiness-and-depression-cannot-blossom-on-the-same-vine-some-people/) [Louis Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sullivan/) > [When a thoughtful human being has overcome incentives to vice and is aware of having done his bitter duty, he finds himself in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/when-a-thoughtful-human-being-has-overcome-incentives-to-vice-and-is/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind caused by whatever is happening in your life. By that way of thinking, we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/it-s-tempting-to-imagine-happiness-as-a-state-of-mind-caused-by/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Step #10 - Make yourself happy No one can make you happy but yourself. Don’t think that your happiness is dependent on other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-perruso/step-10-make-yourself-happy-no-one-can-make-you-happy-but-yourself/) Mary Jane Perruso > [Happiness is a state of mind. You can be happy or you can be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/happiness-is-a-state-of-mind-you-can-be-happy-or-you-can-be-unhappy/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“Happiness is not something out there, it is a state of being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/happiness-is-not-something-out-there-it-is-a-state-of-being/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [Happiness is a state of mind and not a state of possession. Be as you are and you will be happy, if you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/happiness-is-a-state-of-mind-and-not-a-state-of-possession-be-as-you/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [I guess happiness is not a state you want to be in all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-belushi/i-guess-happiness-is-not-a-state-you-want-to-be-in-all-the-time/) [John Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-belushi/) > [Joy is the state of the human soul who is not identified with the personality. Happiness is a state of the soul who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torkom-saraydarian/joy-is-the-state-of-the-human-soul-who-is-not-identified-with-the/) [Torkom Saraydarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torkom-saraydarian/) > [Happiness is a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I suspect that happiness is not a state but rather a transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suspect-that-happiness-is-not-a-state-but-rather-a-transition/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Happiness is a state a mind, not a dress size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/happiness-is-a-state-a-mind-not-a-dress-size/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/happiness-is-a-state-of-inner-fulfillment-not-the-gratification-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) ## More by Michael Foley > [Employees hate meetings because they reveal that self-promotion, sycophancy, dissimulation and constantly talking nonsense in a loud confident voice are more impressive than merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foley/employees-hate-meetings-because-they-reveal-that-self-promotion/) [Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foley/) > [“Proust is famous for his rhapsodies on hawthorns but his book has only three of these, whereas there are thirteen scenes in brothels, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foley/proust-is-famous-for-his-rhapsodies-on-hawthorns-but-his-book-has/) [Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foley/) > [“Imagine someone sitting alone in a room without television, radio, computer or phone and with the door closed and the blinds down. 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