Felicity Quote by Samuel Johnson
“The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment, and losing itself in schemes of future felicity... The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure, but from hope to hope.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Human Desire, 1765
The mind constantly seeks future hopes, never fully content with the present, moving from one aspiration to another.
In simple terms: People are always chasing future hopes, never satisfied now.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate present-moment awareness.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
self‑help
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- goal setting
- creative work
- stress management
Key Concepts
desire
future orientation
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant yearning affect wellbeing?
- What practices help anchor attention in the present?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on future can cause anxiety; present contentment is also valuable.
![“We desire some pleasure, and the material means of obtaining it are lacking. “It is a mistake,” Labruyère tells us, “to be in love without an ample fortune.” There is nothing for it but to attempt a gradual elimination of our desire for that pleasure. [...] But the pleasure can never be realised…” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/270/marcel-proust-114_change_we-desire-some-pleasure-and-the-material_1932257.jpg)
