--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness, it has been observed, is best…" description: "\"Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those who have been most unhappy heretofore.\" — Millard Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png" --- # Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those… ![“Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those who have been most unhappy heretofore.” quote by Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png) > “Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those who have been most unhappy heretofore.” [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness often follows deep personal struggle, suggesting that those who have endured hardship are more likely to appreciate and attain joy. **In simple terms:** Hardship can lead to true happiness. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to find joy. Themes resilience joy adversity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - recovering from loss - mental health therapy - personal growth seminars - overcoming adversity Key Concepts psychology philosophy of happiness Questions to Reflect On - How has past pain shaped your happiness? - Can you find joy without prior struggle? A Different Perspective Happiness may be fleeting without sustained effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieved Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved-unhappy-5826287/) [Best Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-achieved-2651274/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Observed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-observed-5826286/) [Observed Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed-best-4729915/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy Heretofore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-heretofore-5826288/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is not best achieved by those who seek it directly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/happiness-is-not-best-achieved-by-those-who-seek-it-directly/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed. It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-s-some-catch-that-catch-22-he-observed-it-s-the-best-there-is-2/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [One moment of gratification is not worth a lifetime of being unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-moment-of-gratification-is-not-worth-a-lifetime-of-being-unhappy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“…for I look upon the Frasers to be about as unhappy as most other married people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/for-i-look-upon-the-frasers-to-be-about-as-unhappy-as-most-other/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [Divorce isn't such a tragedy. A tragedy's staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching your children the wrong things about love. Nobody ever died of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/divorce-isn-t-such-a-tragedy-a-tragedy-s-staying-in-an-unhappy/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [“Listen! I know it's not right to talk. Better to set an example, better to just start - I have already started - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/listen-i-know-it-s-not-right-to-talk-better-to-set-an-example-better/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-listen-to-it-i-understand-i-understand/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More by Millard Kaufman > [No one will ever make your movie. They will only make their movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/no-one-will-ever-make-your-movie-they-will-only-make-their-movie/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [“It is a fact that every day this time of year,at twenty-three seconds after 4:18, the entire Parthenon of animistic godlings and demons,trolls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/it-is-a-fact-that-every-day-this-time-of-year-at-twenty-three-seconds/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [Happiness when sustained too long in print can rightly be construed as sappiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/happiness-when-sustained-too-long-in-print-can-rightly-be-construed/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [“The presumption of divine intervention in human affairs violates my sense of an orderly and comprehensible universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/the-presumption-of-divine-intervention-in-human-affairs-violates-my/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [She wrote poetry constantly; that was her "work". She was a slow bleeder and she slaved over it for long, exhausting hours, and many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/she-wrote-poetry-constantly-that-was-her-work-she-was-a-slow-bleeder/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [“...your zeal to face life's rough and tumble, your ardor to accept the responsibilities of adulthood is hardly congruent with the aspirations of most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/your-zeal-to-face-life-s-rough-and-tumble-your-ardor-to-accept-the/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) > [I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/i-glanced-out-the-window-at-the-signs-of-spring-the-sky-was-almost/) [Millard Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) [Explore all 8 Millard Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those who have been most unhappy heretofore.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Millard Kaufman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-achieved-by-those-who-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-achieved-by-those-who-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/millard-kaufman-47755_happiness_happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-a_3180564.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness, it has been observed, is best achieved by those who have been most unhappy heretofore.” — Millard Kaufman", "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": "Millard Kaufman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-kaufman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness, it has been observed, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-achieved-by-those-who-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-kaufman/happiness-it-has-been-observed-is-best-achieved-by-those-who-have/#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 } } ] } ```