--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who decides whether you shall be happy or…" description: "\"“Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? The answer—you do!”\" — Norton Juster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/norton-juster-2113_decides_who-decides-whether-you-shall-be-happy-o_294496.png" --- # Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? The… ![“Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? The answer—you do!” quote by Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/norton-juster-2113_decides_who-decides-whether-you-shall-be-happy-o_294496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/norton-juster-2113_decides_who-decides-whether-you-shall-be-happy-o_294496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/norton-juster-2113_decides_who-decides-whether-you-shall-be-happy-o_294496.png) > ““Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? The answer—you do!”” [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## 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 a personal choice; you control your emotional state. **In simple terms:** You choose happiness. Key Takeaway Take charge of your mood. Themes self‑determination emotion choice Mood encouraging optimistic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - daily stress - goal setting - mental health Key Concepts Psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What choices empower your happiness? - How can you shift perspective in adversity? A Different Perspective External events still influence feelings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-quotes/) [Insipirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insipirational/) ## Related quotes > [Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? You do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/who-decides-whether-you-shall-be-happy-or-unhappy-you-do/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The person who decides what shall be the food and drink of a family, and the modes of its preparation, is the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/the-person-who-decides-what-shall-be-the-food-and-drink-of-a-family/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“Whatever changes there are in the world I hope you will never forsake me and I shall be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-somerset/whatever-changes-there-are-in-the-world-i-hope-you-will-never-forsake/) Anne Somerset > [“Whoever has hope, shall be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-has-hope-shall-be-happy/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“When we turned to God, He will heal us, then we shall be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/when-we-turned-to-god-he-will-heal-us-then-we-shall-be-happy/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Blessed are the uncool; for they shall be happy without needing the approval of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/blessed-are-the-uncool-for-they-shall-be-happy-without-needing-the/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Ah, my dear; and I shall never be happy unless I can open the windows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/ah-my-dear-and-i-shall-never-be-happy-unless-i-can-open-the-windows/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Certes, je sortirai quant a' moi satisfait D'un monde o u' l'action n'est pas la soeur du re" ve. Indeed, for my part, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/certes-je-sortirai-quant-a-moi-satisfait-d-un-monde-o-u-l-action-n/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this his almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-shall-be-most-happy-indeed-if-i-shall-be-an-humble-instrument-in/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am much obliged by the favorable sentiments you express towards me, and shall be happy if I can be of service in carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephenson/i-am-much-obliged-by-the-favorable-sentiments-you-express-towards-me/) [George Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephenson/) > [It's OK, I'm FINE. I shall be happy again. Fake a smile, don't let them know you're crying inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-ok-i-m-fine-i-shall-be-happy-again-fake-a-smile-don-t-let-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You know a book is well-written when it makes you read it over and over again, and in every time you enjoy the events,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noora-ahmed-alsuwaidi/you-know-a-book-is-well-written-when-it-makes-you-read-it-over-and/) Noora Ahmed Alsuwaidi > [“life doesnot stop just our thinking stops”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhawana/life-doesnot-stop-just-our-thinking-stops/) Bhawana > [“Beauty lies in one’s heart and sex lies in one mind. It all depends on where your belief lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravindra-shukla/beauty-lies-in-one-s-heart-and-sex-lies-in-one-mind-it-all-depends-on/) [Ravindra Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravindra-shukla/) > [“Emotions must not be part of the decision process: decisions must be clinical and well calculated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-dube/emotions-must-not-be-part-of-the-decision-process-decisions-must-be/) Alex Dube ## More by Norton Juster > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“How are you going to make it move? It doesn't have a – " "Be very quiet," advised the duke, "for it goes without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-are-you-going-to-make-it-move-it-doesn-t-have-a-be-very-quiet/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [It was really written as most, I think, books are by writers - for themselves. There was something that just had to be written,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-was-really-written-as-most-i-think-books-are-by-writers-for/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“What kind of a place is Expectations?" inquired Milo, unable to see the humor and feeling very doubtful of the little man's sanity. "Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/what-kind-of-a-place-is-expectations-inquired-milo-unable-to-see-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [There is much worth noticing that often escapes the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/there-is-much-worth-noticing-that-often-escapes-the-eye/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/the-most-important-reason-for-going-from-one-place-to-another-is-to/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“As the cheering continued, Rhyme leaned forward and touched Milo gently on the shoulder. "They're cheering for you," she said with a smile. "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/as-the-cheering-continued-rhyme-leaned-forward-and-touched-milo/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [He paused again as a tear of longing rolled from cheek to lip with the sweet-salty taste of an old memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/he-paused-again-as-a-tear-of-longing-rolled-from-cheek-to-lip-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Kad god se nasmiješiš, radost se oko tebe širi poput kolobara u bari, i kad god si tužan, nitko nigdje ne može biti stvarno…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/kad-god-se-nasmije-i-radost-se-oko-tebe-iri-poput-kolobara-u-bari-i/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“Why not take a few pounds of ‘happys’?” advised the salesman. “They’re much more practical—and very useful for Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/why-not-take-a-few-pounds-of-happys-advised-the-salesman-they-re-much/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [...it's not just learning that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/it-s-not-just-learning-that-s-important-it-s-learning-what-to-do-with/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Sometimes I find the best way of getting from one place to another is simply to erase everything and begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/sometimes-i-find-the-best-way-of-getting-from-one-place-to-another-is/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/have-you-ever-heard-the-wonderful-silence-just-before-the-dawn-or-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [How can you see something that isn't there?" yawned the Humbug, who wasn't fully awake yet. "Sometimes, it's much simpler than seeing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/how-can-you-see-something-that-isn-t-there-yawned-the-humbug-who-wasn/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [“I wonder where I am," said Milo in a very worried tone. "You're . . . in . . . the . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/i-wonder-where-i-am-said-milo-in-a-very-worried-tone-you-re-in-the/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) [Explore all 185 Norton Juster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) ## More Decides quotes > [“Al-Lah alone decides whether we live or die. The rest is vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-jones/al-lah-alone-decides-whether-we-live-or-die-the-rest-is-vanity/) [Sherry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-jones/) > [When a person in a Russian prison decides to start speaking, to start speaking the truth - they start to reject oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-alyokhina/when-a-person-in-a-russian-prison-decides-to-start-speaking-to-start/) [Maria Alyokhina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-alyokhina/) > [Everyone says you never know what you have till it's gone. You always know what you have, you just choose not to treat it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-says-you-never-know-what-you-have-till-it-s-gone-you-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Live each day like its your last don't take anything for granted because you never know when God decides it's your time. You only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-each-day-like-its-your-last-don-t-take-anything-for-granted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think psychoanalysis has a scientific basis. If we can't explain why a cockroach decides to turn left, how can we explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-do-not-think-psychoanalysis-has-a-scientific-basis-if-we-can-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The rarity is the sudden epiphany or single turning point showing you with dramatic clarity that your marriage is over, although that does happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/the-rarity-is-the-sudden-epiphany-or-single-turning-point-showing-you/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) > [I have to be patient and try to take my opportunity when the boss decides I have to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willy-caballero/i-have-to-be-patient-and-try-to-take-my-opportunity-when-the-boss/) [Willy Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willy-caballero/) > [After a few minutes, it was time for me to leave. I don't know who decides these things. It just happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/after-a-few-minutes-it-was-time-for-me-to-leave-i-don-t-know-who/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Every woman goes through a lot of agony before she decides in favour of her own happiness or that of her children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/every-woman-goes-through-a-lot-of-agony-before-she-decides-in-favour/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [Feelings can come without your permission, but you're still the one who decides whether you want them to grow or stop .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/feelings-can-come-without-your-permission-but-you-re-still-the-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once an Aquarius decides what they want, theyll do everything in their power to achieve it. Giving up is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-an-aquarius-decides-what-they-want-theyll-do-everything-in-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your heart decides who it likes and who it doesn't. You can't tell your heart what to do, it does it on its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-heart-decides-who-it-likes-and-who-it-doesn-t-you-can-t-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trade wars aren't started by countries appealing to respected, independent trade authorities. Rather, trade wars begin when one country decides to violate international trade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/trade-wars-aren-t-started-by-countries-appealing-to-respected/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [It’s like once everyone decides who you are, you’re locked into their version of you and that’s it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/it-s-like-once-everyone-decides-who-you-are-you-re-locked-into-their/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [Freedom of speech and thought matters, especially when it is speech and thought with which we disagree. The moment the majority decides to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/freedom-of-speech-and-thought-matters-especially-when-it-is-speech/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) Browse all 120 Decides quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Who decides whether you shall be happy or unhappy? 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