--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The happier people can be, the unhappier…" description: "\"The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.\" — Paulo Coelho" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg" --- # The happier people can be, the unhappier they are. ![“The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg) > “The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing excessive happiness often leads to deeper dissatisfaction and paradoxical unhappiness. **In simple terms:** Too much happiness can cause unhappiness. Key Takeaway Seek balance, not excess. Themes paradox contentment desire Mood thoughtful melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - goal setting - self‑improvement - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology well‑being Questions to Reflect On - Why do we chase happiness? - What does true contentment look like? A Different Perspective Happiness is complex and can be fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [There is little consolation in the fact that millions of people are unhappier than we are. Why should other people's misery make us happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/there-is-little-consolation-in-the-fact-that-millions-of-people-are/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [They say that extroverts are unhappier than introverts and have to compensate for this by constantly proving to themselves how happy and contented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-say-that-extroverts-are-unhappier-than-introverts-and-have-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You are happier because you made more people happy today. You are sad because you made no one happy today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-happier-because-you-made-more-people-happy-today-you-are-sad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have never seen happier people than those who have repented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-richards/i-have-never-seen-happier-people-than-those-who-have-repented/) [Stephen L. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-richards/) > [Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-days-are-happier-when-we-give-people-a-bit-of-our-heart-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-only-wanted-to-be-happy-it-would-be-easy-but-we-want-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's what I think our jobs as parents are, to educate as much as possible... I tell them to follow their bliss. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/that-s-what-i-think-our-jobs-as-parents-are-to-educate-as-much-as/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [One reason cats are happier than people is that they have no newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/one-reason-cats-are-happier-than-people-is-that-they-have-no/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [The way I ought to measure my life is in terms of the others I helped to become better and happier people. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-way-i-ought-to-measure-my-life-is-in-terms-of-the-others-i-helped/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [When you're unhappy, I guess everything in the world - reading, eating, sleeping - has something buried somewhere inside it that just makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/when-you-re-unhappy-i-guess-everything-in-the-world-reading-eating/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I really realized how much happier I am when I'm doing projects that I'm chosen to do, and on the flip side, how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/i-really-realized-how-much-happier-i-am-when-i-m-doing-projects-that/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [OCD is a really serious condition - it's a proper thing. It's not just, 'Oh, you like your pens to be straight'. For me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/ocd-is-a-really-serious-condition-it-s-a-proper-thing-it-s-not-just/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“More often than not, people who are obsessed with their desires and feelings are generally unhappier in life vs. people that refocus their attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/more-often-than-not-people-who-are-obsessed-with-their-desires-and/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I believe the only thing that we really have control over is our attitude. If we focus on the positive things in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jenner/i-believe-the-only-thing-that-we-really-have-control-over-is-our/) [Brandon Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jenner/) > [“Family and community seem to have more impact on our happiness than money and health. People with strong families who live in tight-knit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/family-and-community-seem-to-have-more-impact-on-our-happiness-than/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Happier quotes > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Smile and show him that life is still going on and is happier without him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika/smile-and-show-him-that-life-is-still-going-on-and-is-happier-without/) [Bhumika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika/) > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [“I do think everyone would be a lot happier if we laid eggs on our own and could just have friendship and didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-do-think-everyone-would-be-a-lot-happier-if-we-laid-eggs-on-our-own/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [Only surround yourself with positive people that bring out the best in you and you'll be surprised at how much happier you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-surround-yourself-with-positive-people-that-bring-out-the-best/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-world-would-be-happier-if-men-had-the-same-capacity-to-be-silent/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [You have to be fulfilled in order for everyone else to be fulfilled. I'm a way happier, more pleasant person to be around when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/you-have-to-be-fulfilled-in-order-for-everyone-else-to-be-fulfilled-i/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [Yes, Im a New Yorker, born and bred. While Im not quite the L.A. snob that Woody Allen is, I do find myself happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/yes-im-a-new-yorker-born-and-bred-while-im-not-quite-the-l-a-snob/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I was much happier when I had less responsibility... when my only responsibility was to my work and to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-was-much-happier-when-i-had-less-responsibility-when-my-only/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I'm much happier since coming out to my friends and family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-most-you-can-do-is-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-i-m-much/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [“Sophia, you’re the best thing that could have happened to Alistair. I’ve never seen him happier than he is now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiane-serruya/sophia-you-re-the-best-thing-that-could-have-happened-to-alistair-i/) [Cristiane Serruya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiane-serruya/) > [Low-cost gear can make restless people like myself feel marginally happier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/low-cost-gear-can-make-restless-people-like-myself-feel-marginally/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) > [I'm certainly much happier when I feel that the work is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-diane-raphael/i-m-certainly-much-happier-when-i-feel-that-the-work-is-good/) [June Diane Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-diane-raphael/) > [We feel much happier and more secure when we think we know precisely what to do, no matter what happens, then when we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kingdon-clifford/we-feel-much-happier-and-more-secure-when-we-think-we-know-precisely/) [William Kingdon Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kingdon-clifford/) [Browse all 940 Happier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paulo Coelho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier-they-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happier" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier-they-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c27/paulo-coelho-10_happier_the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier_727102.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The happier people can be, the unhappier they are.” — Paulo Coelho", "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": "Paulo Coelho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The happier people can be, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier-they-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-happier-people-can-be-the-unhappier-they-are/#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 } } ] } ```