--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have lived through the era when…" description: "\"We have lived through the era when happiness was a warm puppy, and the era when happiness was a dry martini, and now we have come to the era when happi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/nora-ephron-1217_dry_we-have-lived-through-the-era-when-happi_1347187.jpg" --- # We have lived through the era when happiness was a warm… ![“We have lived through the era when happiness was a warm puppy, and the era when happiness was a dry martini, and now we have come to the era when happiness is 'knowing what your uterus looks like'.” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/nora-ephron-1217_dry_we-have-lived-through-the-era-when-happi_1347187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/nora-ephron-1217_dry_we-have-lived-through-the-era-when-happi_1347187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/nora-ephron-1217_dry_we-have-lived-through-the-era-when-happi_1347187.jpg) > “We have lived through the era when happiness was a warm puppy, and the era when happiness was a dry martini, and now we have come to the era when happiness is 'knowing what your uterus looks like'.” [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness shifts with cultural trends, moving from simple comforts to more personal, self‑knowledge focused experiences. **In simple terms:** Our ideas of happiness change over time. Key Takeaway Recognize how personal growth influences joy. Themes culture identity well‑being Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational cultural. When to use this quote - personal milestones - career changes - health decisions - relationship shifts Key Concepts consumerism self‑awareness social norms Questions to Reflect On - How do societal pressures shape your happiness? - What lasting joy comes from self‑understanding? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper fulfillment beyond self‑knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Martini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martini/) [Puppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puppy/) ## Related quotes > [“To this day I believe a person’s ideal first job is the one that reveals the most about them. Knowing who I was helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-riddle/to-this-day-i-believe-a-person-s-ideal-first-job-is-the-one-that/) [A.G. Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [We all look for happiness, but without knowing where to find it: like drunkards who look for their house, knowing dimly that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-all-look-for-happiness-but-without-knowing-where-to-find-it-like/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [To sense the peace of extinguished passion Happiness in not knowing the ultimate knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/to-sense-the-peace-of-extinguished-passion-happiness-in-not-knowing/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Was the happiness of knowing these girls really unattainable? It would certainly not have been the first happiness of that sort which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/was-the-happiness-of-knowing-these-girls-really-unattainable-it-would/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“If there is such a thing as complete happiness, it is knowing that you are in the right place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-complete-happiness-it-is-knowing-that-you/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [Perfect happiness is knowing that everyone I love is healthy, safe, and content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-fielding/perfect-happiness-is-knowing-that-everyone-i-love-is-healthy-safe-and/) [Joy Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-fielding/) > [“Happiness is knowing those you love not only feel your love, but understand that love is unconditional.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-boyd/happiness-is-knowing-those-you-love-not-only-feel-your-love-but/) Jenni Boyd > [“His happiness in knowing himself to have been so long the beloved of such a heart, must have been great enough to warrant any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/his-happiness-in-knowing-himself-to-have-been-so-long-the-beloved-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Contentment is knowing you're right. Happiness is knowing someone else is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/contentment-is-knowing-you-re-right-happiness-is-knowing-someone-else/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/the-greatest-happiness-you-can-have-is-knowing-that-you-do-not/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [I get happiness knowing you will never amount to anything in life and you will soon get what you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-get-happiness-knowing-you-will-never-amount-to-anything-in-life-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is nothing I have to do, nowhere I have to go, and no way I have to be except exactly the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/there-is-nothing-i-have-to-do-nowhere-i-have-to-go-and-no-way-i-have/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/sometimes-happiness-is-not-knowing-the-whole-story/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [Happiness is always knowing that Jesus loves you even when you don't love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vesta-rhoades/happiness-is-always-knowing-that-jesus-loves-you-even-when-you-don-t/) Vesta Rhoades > [“Lesson no. 5: Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/lesson-no-5-sometimes-happiness-is-not-knowing-the-whole-story/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) ## More by Nora Ephron > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Death is a sniper. It strikes people you love, people you like, people you know - it's everywhere. You could be next. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/death-is-a-sniper-it-strikes-people-you-love-people-you-like-people/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > ['When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you. When you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it's your laugh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/when-you-slip-on-a-banana-peel-people-laugh-at-you-when-you-tell/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I wish he were better at hailing taxis than I am; on the other hand, I realize that expectation is culturally conditioned, utterly foolish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-wish-he-were-better-at-hailing-taxis-than-i-am-on-the-other-hand-i/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-enter-into-a-certain-amount-of-madness-when-you-marry-a-person/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [I never went near the Wellesley College chapel in my four years there, but I am still amazed at the amount of Christian charity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-never-went-near-the-wellesley-college-chapel-in-my-four-years-there/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [You can't call yourself a feminist if you don't believe in the right to abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/you-can-t-call-yourself-a-feminist-if-you-don-t-believe-in-the-right/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know how it turned out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-always-read-the-last-page-of-a-book-first-so-that-if-i-die-before-i/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“If I was home alone at night, I cooked myself an entire meal from one of these cookbooks. Then I sat down in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/if-i-was-home-alone-at-night-i-cooked-myself-an-entire-meal-from-one/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“The next man I was involved with lived in Boston. He taught me to cook mushrooms. He taught me that if you heat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-next-man-i-was-involved-with-lived-in-boston-he-taught-me-to-cook/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/whatever-you-choose-however-many-roads-you-travel-i-hope-that-you/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [A man who finishes a book is always alone when he finishes it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/a-man-who-finishes-a-book-is-always-alone-when-he-finishes-it/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“I hear myself saying these words: What this movement is about is options. I say it to friends who are frustrated, or housebound, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-hear-myself-saying-these-words-what-this-movement-is-about-is/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) [Explore all 272 Nora Ephron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) ## More Dry quotes > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. 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We had oysters and a lovely dry white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/i-had-my-first-french-meal-and-i-never-got-over-it-it-was-just/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. 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