---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness in this world, when it comes…"
description: "\"Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase, and is never attained.\" ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_happiness_happiness-in-this-world-when-it-comes-co_1816821.jpg"
---

#  Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes…

![“Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase, and is never attained.” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_happiness_happiness-in-this-world-when-it-comes-co_1816821.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_happiness_happiness-in-this-world-when-it-comes-co_1816821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_happiness_happiness-in-this-world-when-it-comes-co_1816821.jpg)

> “Happiness in this world, when it comes, comes incidentally. Make it the object of pursuit, and it leads us a wild-goose chase, and is never attained.”

[Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Chasing happiness directly often leads to frustration; it is better to let it arise naturally.

**In simple terms:** Pursuing happiness directly fails.

Key Takeaway

Allow happiness to emerge.

Themes

happiness pursuit contentment

Mood

thoughtful calm

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- mental health
- relationship building
- spiritual practice
- goal setting

Key Concepts

philosophy of desire mindfulness acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What does happiness look like for you?
- How can you cultivate contentment without chasing?

A Different Perspective

May promote passivity.

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[Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/)

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