--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is a vector. It can only be…" description: "\"“Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.”\" — Neal Shusterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png" --- # Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed… ![“Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png) > ““Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.”” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## 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 measured by how quickly one moves away from pain, treating it like a vector direction. **In simple terms:** Happiness equals moving fast away from pain. Key Takeaway Focus on reducing pain to increase happiness. Themes happiness pain movement psychology Mood hopeful motivational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - personal development - mental health strategies - goal setting - stress management Key Concepts vector concept emotional dynamics goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - What pains are you moving away from? - Can happiness exist without pain? A Different Perspective Pain may not be the only factor; joy also matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness is not a state of being. Happiness is a vector, it is movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/happiness-is-not-a-state-of-being-happiness-is-a-vector-it-is-movement/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“In the end, blame didn't shine on an individual. It was a floodlight cast on all of us. And all because we longed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/in-the-end-blame-didn-t-shine-on-an-individual-it-was-a-floodlight/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“Scandalocity is defined as "the speed at which scandal measured in velocity can turn you into a star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coerte-v-w-felske/scandalocity-is-defined-as-the-speed-at-which-scandal-measured-in/) Coerte V.W. Felske > [Movin' fast, doing 95. Hit top speed, but I'm still moving much too slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiss/movin-fast-doing-95-hit-top-speed-but-i-m-still-moving-much-too-slow/) [KISS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiss/) > [Nobody can take away your pain, so do not let anyone take away your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-can-take-away-your-pain-so-do-not-let-anyone-take-away-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oblivion - what a blessing...for the mind to dwell a world away from pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/oblivion-what-a-blessing-for-the-mind-to-dwell-a-world-away-from-pain/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I can’t take away the pain I caused, but I want to dilute the shit out of it by being there for you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-cole/i-can-t-take-away-the-pain-i-caused-but-i-want-to-dilute-the-shit-out/) [Scarlett Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-cole/) > [What happens when the one who used to take away all your pain is now the one causing it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/what-happens-when-the-one-who-used-to-take-away-all-your-pain-is-now/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“... I'll always have something that not even time can take away. Pain. ...because when I've forgotten everything else, I'll feel that ache... that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto/i-ll-always-have-something-that-not-even-time-can-take-away-pain/) [Samantha Sotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto/) > [“But now it makes sense: she wanted those wings so she could fly away, because the pain of trying to reach for them was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-howard/but-now-it-makes-sense-she-wanted-those-wings-so-she-could-fly-away/) [A.G. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-howard/) > [“Because there is no power in the world that can take away the pain until it is ready to leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-carter/because-there-is-no-power-in-the-world-that-can-take-away-the-pain/) [Aimee Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-carter/) > [“All movement is away from pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-jain/all-movement-is-away-from-pain/) Anil Jain > [When I see you smilin', It takes away my pain, Oh, there's no denyin', Can't keep away from the flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/def-leppard/when-i-see-you-smilin-it-takes-away-my-pain-oh-there-s-no-denyin-can/) [Def Leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/def-leppard/) > [I can kiss away the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-iglesias/i-can-kiss-away-the-pain/) [Enrique Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-iglesias/) > [No one can take away your pain, so don't let anyone take away your happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/no-one-can-take-away-your-pain-so-don-t-let-anyone-take-away-your/) [Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/) ## More by Neal Shusterman > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) [Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## 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": "“Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Shusterman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-defined-by-the-speed-at-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-defined-by-the-speed-at-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/neal-shusterman-412_happiness_happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-def_2582411.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is a vector. It can only be defined by the speed at which you're moving away from pain.” — Neal Shusterman", "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": "Neal Shusterman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Happiness is a vector. It can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-defined-by-the-speed-at-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/happiness-is-a-vector-it-can-only-be-defined-by-the-speed-at-which/#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 } } ] } ```