--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is always a by-product. It is…" description: "\"Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/robertson-davies-834_brands_happiness-is-always-a-by-product-it-is-p_249013.png" --- # Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter… ![“Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of…” quote by Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/robertson-davies-834_brands_happiness-is-always-a-by-product-it-is-p_249013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/robertson-davies-834_brands_happiness-is-always-a-by-product-it-is-p_249013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/robertson-davies-834_brands_happiness-is-always-a-by-product-it-is-p_249013.png) > “Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.” [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) ## 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 not a direct pursuit; it emerges as a by‑product of temperament and acceptance, and focusing on it can distract from finding value in one's own unique struggles. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from accepting yourself, not chasing it. Key Takeaway Embrace your temperament and seek meaning in personal challenges. Themes happiness temperament self‑acceptance meaning life philosophy Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative work - therapy - mindfulness practice Key Concepts existentialism psychology well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How does your temperament shape your sense of joy? - What treasures can you discover in your own unhappiness? A Different Perspective Happiness may be limited by mental health or external circumstances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Finding happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-happiness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Stop worrying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-worrying/) [Temperament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temperament/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [If you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-are-not-happy-you-had-better-stop-worrying-about-it-and-see/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/happiness-is-always-a-by-product-it-is-probably-a-matter-of-2/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Happiness is a by-product. It is not a primary product of life. It is a thing which you suddenly realize you have because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/happiness-is-a-by-product-it-is-not-a-primary-product-of-life-it-is-a/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I find happiness comes from numerous sources in my life. Most often, the happy moments I cherish most are quiet moments with my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mackay/i-find-happiness-comes-from-numerous-sources-in-my-life-most-often/) [Peter MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mackay/) > [And when you're not happy with your own life, and yourself, you can't be happy with anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-garvis-graves/and-when-you-re-not-happy-with-your-own-life-and-yourself-you-can-t/) [Tracey Garvis-Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-garvis-graves/) > [You have to change your life if you’re not happy, and wake up if things aren’t going the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/you-have-to-change-your-life-if-you-re-not-happy-and-wake-up-if/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/even-a-happy-life-cannot-be-without-a-measure-of-darkness/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [As long as we continue to think we will be happy in the future, we will never be happy in the moment, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminu-kano/as-long-as-we-continue-to-think-we-will-be-happy-in-the-future-we/) [Aminu Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aminu-kano/) > [Canada, having few indigenous prejudices, has been compelled to import them from elsewhere, duty-free, and it is the rare Canadian who is not shaken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/canada-having-few-indigenous-prejudices-has-been-compelled-to-import/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/happiness-is-mostly-a-by-product-of-doing-what-makes-us-feel-fulfilled/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [Happiness is a by-product rather than an end in itself. It pops into your life unbidden, and then tends to pop out again. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-don/happiness-is-a-by-product-rather-than-an-end-in-itself-it-pops-into/) [Monty Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-don/) > [Happiness is a by product of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-critchlow-jr/happiness-is-a-by-product-of-service/) William J. Critchlow, Jr > [Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretta-brooker-palmer/happiness-is-a-by-product-of-an-effort-to-make-someone-else-happy/) Gretta Brooker Palmer > [Happiness will never come if it's a goal in itself; happiness is a by-product of a commitment of worthy causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/happiness-will-never-come-if-it-s-a-goal-in-itself-happiness-is-a-by/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Remember that happiness is a by-product of you living a life true to yourself, and though you can't always force it, if you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-that-happiness-is-a-by-product-of-you-living-a-life-true-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robertson Davies > [“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-irrational-will-have-its-say-perhaps-because-irrational-is-the/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-that-looks-evil-don-t-smear-it-with/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/extraordinary-people-survive-under-the-most-terrible-circumstances/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/although-there-may-be-nothing-new-under-the-sun-what-is-old-is-new-to/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/if-i-had-to-describe-my-remarks-this-evening-frankly-as-if-i-were-in/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-people-of-the-united-states-perhaps-more-than-any-other-nation-in/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I don't suppose God laughs at the people who think He doesn't exist. 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