--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We ask for happiness but what we get is…" description: "\"We ask for happiness but what we get is unhappiness. We all put our efforts into trying to be happy but we make a fundamental mistake: happiness is not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/rajneesh-54_asking_we-ask-for-happiness-but-what-we-get-is_2791113.jpg" --- # We ask for happiness but what we get is unhappiness. We… ![“We ask for happiness but what we get is unhappiness. We all put our efforts into trying to be happy but we make a fundamental mistake: happiness is not related to the effort, happiness is related to not asking for it...” quote by Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/rajneesh-54_asking_we-ask-for-happiness-but-what-we-get-is_2791113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/rajneesh-54_asking_we-ask-for-happiness-but-what-we-get-is_2791113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/rajneesh-54_asking_we-ask-for-happiness-but-what-we-get-is_2791113.jpg) > “We ask for happiness but what we get is unhappiness. We all put our efforts into trying to be happy but we make a fundamental mistake: happiness is not related to the effort, happiness is related to not asking for it...” [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness isn’t achieved by striving for it; it arises when we stop demanding it, highlighting a paradox of desire. **In simple terms:** Stop chasing happiness. Key Takeaway Release the pursuit of happiness. Themes happiness desire paradox Mood thoughtful serious Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - mindfulness practice - meditation - therapy - life coaching Key Concepts spirituality psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does desire influence your wellbeing? - What practices help you let go? A Different Perspective Desire can be motivating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Trying to be happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-be-happy/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [Happiness has nothing to do with what you have or don't have. Happiness is related to what you are. However many things you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/happiness-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-have-or-don-t-have/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [This is the deepest experiment of life. And whatever has been discovered in regard to life, this is the most significant finding of all:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-is-the-deepest-experiment-of-life-and-whatever-has-been/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Most people are searching for happiness. They're looking for it. They're trying to find it in someone or something outside of themselves. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/most-people-are-searching-for-happiness-they-re-looking-for-it-they/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“At liminality, at a transitional point between his last night dream and reality, he realizes he has made a big mistake and happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biuts/at-liminality-at-a-transitional-point-between-his-last-night-dream/) [Lara Biuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biuts/) > [True happiness is not related to external conditions but comes from the unconditioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-happiness-is-not-related-to-external-conditions-but-comes-from/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Before I was abducted, I think that happiness was related to success. Nowadays happiness is related, for me, to rest, peace, serenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-betancourt/before-i-was-abducted-i-think-that-happiness-was-related-to-success/) [Ingrid Betancourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-betancourt/) > [An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-effort-made-for-the-happiness-of-others-lifts-above-ourselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In effort Happiness idleness life pleasure superstition support trouble work The superstition that all our hours of work are a minus quantity in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/in-effort-happiness-idleness-life-pleasure-superstition-support/) [Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/) > [“An effort made for the happiness of other lifts us above.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/an-effort-made-for-the-happiness-of-other-lifts-us-above/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [Effort is not a means to lead us to happiness. Effort itself is happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/effort-is-not-a-means-to-lead-us-to-happiness-effort-itself-is/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [...sometimes we ask ourselves why happiness took so long to arrive, why it didn't come sooner, but appears suddenly, as now, when we've given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/sometimes-we-ask-ourselves-why-happiness-took-so-long-to-arrive-why/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/most-people-ask-for-happiness-on-condition-happiness-can-only-be-felt/) [Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/) > [“In this world when you ask for happiness Pain steps forward”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/in-this-world-when-you-ask-for-happiness-pain-steps-forward/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [“In this world when you ask of happiness Pain steps forward”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/in-this-world-when-you-ask-of-happiness-pain-steps-forward/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [We don’t even ask happiness, just a little less pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/we-don-t-even-ask-happiness-just-a-little-less-pain/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More by Rajneesh > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It all depends on you. You can go on sleeping forever, you can wake up right this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/it-all-depends-on-you-you-can-go-on-sleeping-forever-you-can-wake-up/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Money should not be in the hands of individuals; otherwise it will create this problem of being burdened with guilt. And money can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/money-should-not-be-in-the-hands-of-individuals-otherwise-it-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Marriage is going to disappear, should disappear. And now the point is coming in the history of humanity where it becomes possible that marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/marriage-is-going-to-disappear-should-disappear-and-now-the-point-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A mature mind is one who understands the impossibility of knowing the ultimate, and with this understanding there is a new dimension: the dimension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-mature-mind-is-one-who-understands-the-impossibility-of-knowing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The word religion comes from an origin which means "coming together." But priesthood has been doing just the opposite, it has created splits in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-word-religion-comes-from-an-origin-which-means-coming-together/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Love and laughter go together; and laughter is one of the greatest medicines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/love-and-laughter-go-together-and-laughter-is-one-of-the-greatest/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [There are people who want to become rich; they become rich. If you persist you can fulfill any kind of stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-are-people-who-want-to-become-rich-they-become-rich-if-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [So your life becomes a vital celebration, your relationship becomes a festive thing. Whatsoever you do, every moment is a festival. You eat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-your-life-becomes-a-vital-celebration-your-relationship-becomes-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > ["Serenity" is the flavor of meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/serenity-is-the-flavor-of-meditation/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) [Explore all 1,885 Rajneesh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We ask for happiness but what we get is unhappiness. 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